In the late 19th century, before the age of automobiles and airplanes, the railway was the beating heart of South Australia. And riding the rails right alongside the drivers, guards, and passengers was a scruffy, adventurous Koolie cross named Bob.
Bob wasn’t just a pet; he was a true railwayman. With a custom brass collar that read, “Stop me not, but let me jog, For I am Bob, the driver’s dog,” he became a legendary figure in Australian folklore, wandering the vast railway network and capturing the hearts of everyone he met.
Bob’s story began in the 1880s. Originally part of a pack of stray dogs rounded up in Adelaide, his luck changed when a local publican took him in.
However, Bob was not meant for a quiet life. He soon found his way to the railway yards, where he formed an unbreakable bond with the train drivers and railway workers.
For the next decade, Bob practically lived on the trains. He travelled thousands of kilometres across South Australia, venturing as far as Melbourne and even supposedly taking trips on steamships.
He had no single owner; instead, he belonged to the entire South Australian Railways community.
Bob was fiercely independent and had a distinct personality that endeared him to the railwaymen. A typical day for Bob was nothing short of an adventure:
The Best Seat in the House: Bob’s favourite spot wasn’t a cushy passenger carriage. He preferred riding right up front on the coal box in the locomotive cab, feeling the heat of the fire and the wind in his fur.
The Unofficial Guard: Bob took his “job” seriously. He was known to bark at strangers who got too close to the engines and would proudly clear the tracks of stray sheep or cattle.
The Social Butterfly: When the train pulled into a station, Bob would hop off to visit local butchers or railway dining rooms. The staff always kept a prime cut of meat ready for their famous four-legged guest.
A Mind of His Own: Bob knew the train timetables intuitively. If a train wasn’t going where he wanted, or if he simply didn’t like the look of a particular engine, he would stubbornly wait on the platform for the next one.
When Bob passed away in 1895, the railway community mourned the loss of a true friend. His legend, however, has never faded. Today, a life-sized bronze statue of Bob stands proudly in Peterborough, South Australia, a town steeped in railway history and one of Bob’s favourite stops.
He represents the mateship, resilience, and pioneering spirit of early Australia. His incredible story continues to inspire rail enthusiasts, dog lovers, and children across the country.
Sarlines Books collaborated with Blue Goanna Digital to produce our feature video “A Tribute to Bob The Railway Dog“, to celebrate the release of our 2022 publication “The Amazing Adventures of Railway Bob“, South Australia’s most celebrated canine.
This video was taken in the Burra Railway Station and features the music box version of Bob’s Song which had been composed by Glen Hadden. Glen appears in this video playing classical guitar for the Song of Australia.
Introduce your family to the heartwarming, true-life adventures of South Australia’s most famous dog. These books beautifully capture Bob’s spirit.
These books bring the history of the South Australian Railways to life through the eyes of a very special dog.
A book of historical fiction about Bob the Railway Dog.
