Apprentices Toby Downes, Oscar Smith, Liam French and Mitch Russell collaborate with David Gellion and Rob Burns from the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Committee of Management.
Apprentices help cement Railway Dog history
7 May 2026
The Loy Yang B Community Partnership Program has helped bring a much-loved Gippsland story to life, with the installation of three Railway Dog sculptures along the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail honouring a legendary local tale.
We supported the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Committee of Management to commission and install three sculptures celebrating the iconic ‘Railway Dog’ story. The incredible sculptures were created by Cowwarr based artist Jo Caminiti using donated scrap metal and are now located at the former railway station sites in Glengarry, Toongabbie and Cowwarr.
As well as funding commission of the sculptures, a team of our apprentices worked alongside the volunteer Rail Trail committee to install the sculptures and supporting infrastructure.
The Railway Dog was a female red kelpie who became well known in the 1930s after adopting the Traralgon rail crew and regularly travelling on Gippsland trains. Her most famous journey took place in December 1935, when she missed a Stratford-bound train and ran an estimated 30 kilometres along the rail line to catch it, an effort that attracted widespread attention at the time.
Two of the three completed Railway Dog statues crafted by Jo Caminiti. (Photo credit: Jo Caminiti)
The sculptures were completed late last year, with the project officially opened in March. Using reclaimed railway sleepers, the apprentice team designed and built plinths at each site, securely positioning the sculptures while ensuring they complemented the surrounding trail environment.
Apprentice Liam French led the work, developing the plans and drawing on his carpentry and metal fabrication skills to build the sculpture supports, and collaborated with the committee and his fellow apprentices on the installation.
Liam said the project provided an opportunity for the apprentices to use their skills in a different setting and work closely with the local community.
“Working alongside the committee members was really enjoyable,” he said. “Everyone involved was genuinely passionate about preserving local history and giving back to the community. It was great to be part of something that will be enjoyed by many people for years to come.”
The Railway Dog sculpture in place at Toongabbie station.
Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Committee of Management member David Gellion acknowledged the contribution, describing the apprentices’ support as critical to delivering the project.
“I don’t know how we would have delivered this important community project without the support of Loy Yang B and the assistance of your apprentices,” he said. “Their planning, problem solving and attention to detail ensured the sculptures were installed securely and in a way that enhances the trail experience.”
Committee Chairperson Helen Hoppner also thanked all those involved, describing the installation as a “wonderful project that proudly shares a unique Gippsland story”.
The sculptures now form a new attraction along the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail, celebrating local history and highlighting the value of community collaboration and skills-based volunteering.
Acknowledgement of Country
Loy Yang B acknowledges the Gunaikurnai People, the Traditional Custodians of the land where we live and work. We acknowledge the continuing connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Country and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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