Byellee to Monto Branch Railway was a branch railway that branched off the Boyne Valley west of Gladstone in Queensland, Australia.The Boyne Valley region was predominantly a dairying region and a railway had little justification. However a branch was justified in 1906 on the basis of large traffic in timber, fuel, limestone and flexing ores. Progressively opened between 1910 and 1931 the line branched from the North Coast line at Byellee a short distance west of Gladstone and struck a south-westerly route via Many Peaks and Mungungo to Monto.
The last regular train ran in 2002, and the final train on the line was a steam special run from Monto to Maryborough in 2005. From 2012, conversion of the corridor to a multi-use rail trail was discussed, and Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Inc. was formed in July 2018.
The first section from Byellee (previously known as Boyne Valley Junction) to Many Peaks was opened on 25 July 1910 and sidings were established at Beecher, Burua, Talaba, Calliope River (now Calliope), Taragoola, Barmundu, Boynedale, Wietalaba, Nagoorin, Ubobo, Hellens, Littlemore and Builyan. Governor Fitzroy named Calliope after HMS Calliope which was anchored in Port Curtis (now Gladstone) harbour in 1854. The line was built to transport low grade ore from Many Peaks to Mount Morgan for processing. A train of copper flexing ore ran to Mount Morgan daily and a mixed train to Gladstone and return ran four days a week. Cream and agricultural goods provided the major source of revenue when the Many Peaks mine closed in 1918.
The next stage took the line via Golembil to Barrimoon on 17 August 1926. Although there was a sixteen-year gap in building, the route traverses steep mountainous country. A ten-kilometre (six-point-two-mile) section beyond Golembil required the construction of six tunnels totalling 730 metres (2,400 ft) to negotiate a 239-metre (784 ft) climb of the Dawes Range.
On 7 July 1930, the line was opened via Kalpowar, Dakiel, Bancroft and Crana to Mungungo (then known as "Waratah" ) only 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Monto. It was announced that Waratah would be the terminus, but settlers insisted that Monto must be linked with Gladstone. Kalpowar was a timber milling settlement en route to Monto.
On 6 July 1931 the line finally reached Monto via Bukali thus completing a semi circular inland link between Maryborough and Gladstone via the already completed line running north west from Mungar Junction through Biggenden, Gayndah, Mundubbera and Eidsvold. The line was suspended from use in 2002. It awaits the possibility of coal transport from the Monto region to Gladstone port.
The Dawes Range Tunnel section of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail was opened on 11 September 2021. The 26.28-kilometre (16.33 mi) section starts at Barrimoon Siding, Kalpowar and finishes at Builyan, Boyne Valley. [1] This section contains 6 tunnels between Barrimoon Siding and Golembil Siding. [2] [3] Tunnel Six is the only place 100 year old rail and hogback sleepers are preserved on any of the disused rail corridors in the state. Hogback sleepers have a round top. They are hand hewn from the hard dense iron bark trees growing adjacent to the track. [4] The trail also passes the historic township of Many Peaks with its Local Heritage listed attractions.
While not on the rail trail, the Heritage listed Many Peaks Railway Dam is accessed by getting on to the (very low traffic) bitumen road at Many Peaks and riding back less than a kilometer. There is a new shelter shed, history information signage, toilet block and elevated lookout over the old weir. There is no drinking water available. [5]
The Local Heritage Register of Gladstone Regional Council lists
Mundubbera is a town and a locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Mundubbera had a population of 1261 people.
The Shire of Monto was a local government area in the northern catchment of the Burnett River, Queensland, Australia. The shire covered an area of 4,320.8 square kilometres (1,668.3 sq mi), and existed as a local government area from 1932 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other shires to form the North Burnett Region.
The Boyne Valley is a rural locality in Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. The locality contains four small towns: Nagoorin, Ubobo, Builyan, and Many Peaks. In the 2021 census, Boyne Valley had a population of 301 people.
Ubobo is a rural town in the locality of Boyne Valley in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia.
Builyan is a town in Gladstone Region, Central Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small townships within the locality of Boyne Valley along with Nagoorin, Ubobo, and Many Peaks.
Many Peaks is a town in Gladstone Region in Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small townships within the locality of Boyne Valley along with Nagoorin, Builyan and Ubobo.
Gladstone Region is a local government area in Queensland, Australia. The council covers an area of 10,484 square kilometres (4,048 sq mi), had a resident population at August 2021 of 63,515, and has an estimated operating budget of A$84 million.
The Mungar Junction to Monto railway line is a 267-kilometre (166 mi) railway in Queensland, Australia. Progressively opened in eleven stages between 1889 and 1928 the line branched from the North Coast line at Mungar Junction a short distance west of Maryborough and followed a westerly route towards Biggenden and Gayndah before turning north via Mundubbera and Eidsvold to Monto. It is also known as the Gayndah Monto Branch Railway. In 2012, the line was officially closed.
Didcot is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Didcot had a population of 85 people.
Humphery Railway Bridge is a heritage-listed railway bridge on the Mungar to Monto railway line at Humphery, North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by William Pagan and built in 1913. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Boynedale is a rural locality in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Boynedale had a population of 13 people.
Kalpowar is a town in the North Burnett Region and a locality split between the North Burnett Region and the Bundaberg Region, in Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Kalpowar had a population of 53 people.
Bancroft is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Bancroft had a population of 98 people.
Bukali is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Bukali had a population of 57 people.
Mungungo is a rural town and locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mungungo had a population of 84 people.
Dirnbir is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Dirnbir had a population of 59 people.
Byellee is an industrial suburb of Gladstone in the Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Byellee had "no people or a very low population".
Mount Lawless is a rural locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mount Lawless had a population of 9 people.
Gladstone–Monto Road is a 132 kilometres (82 mi) road route in the Gladstone and North Burnett regions of Queensland, Australia. The entire route is signed as State Route 69.
The Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail is a recreational route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders from Taragoola to Gayndah. It uses the closed Gladstone to Monto and Mungar Junction to Monto railway corridors in Queensland, Australia.
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