Changes
Recent years saw use of the workshops for a very limited space of time - narrow gauge access to the workshops from the main railway line was re-instated in mid-2004, and effectively ceased in late 2007. The Midland Redevelopment Authority appears to have removed the workshops from any significant working rail heritage status by an abiding interest in residential purposes above other interests.
Until late 2007 the Australian Railway Historical Society had performed restoration work and house part of their collection in the workshops.
South Spur Rail Services used to occupy several roads, in part due to their association with the Spirit of the West restaurant train that was stabled in the workshops, they have since moved to an area closer to Bellevue and the Roe Highway overpass.
Transwa used the workshops for storage of the new Prospector and Avonlink railcars during their trials. Transperth used the workshops for storage of the new B series railcars upon delivery from Queensland, until bogie exchanges from standard gauge to narrow gauge could take place, then the cars were moved to either the Claisebrook or Nowergup depots.
Despite its disinterest in supporting working rail heritage to continue at the workshops, the MRA has produced an undated pamphlet that gives an excellent but brief overview of the workshops history - which is derived from various sources including the Midland Railway Workshops Site Conservation Policy of 1994 produced by Heritage and Conservation Professionals
The eastern end of the Workshops site has already been developed in a bulky goods retail area and the Western Australian Police Operations Centre which has incorporated the former Flanging Shop into their centre. While a new major government hospital will also be constructed in the future.
The section of the workshop area to the east of the main railway buildings has been demolished to make way for projects which the Midland Redevelopment Authority has earmarked for further development. The main buildings in the middle of the workshop area remain.
Read more about this topic: Midland Railway Workshops