Goomburra railway line

Last updated

Contents

Goomburra railway line
BSicon exKBHFa.svg
19km
Goomburra
BSicon exHST.svg
16km
Kunda
BSicon exHST.svg
13km
Berat
BSicon exHST.svg
10km
Kital
BSicon exKBHFaq.svg
BSicon exABZg+r.svg
6km
Allora
BSicon exHST.svg
3km
Kates Siding
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZqlr.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
0km
Southern Line at Hendon
RM1901 at Allora Station ~1991 RM1901 at Allora Station ~1991.jpg
RM1901 at Allora Station ~1991

The Goomburra railway line was a branch railway in the Southern Downs region of Queensland, Australia.

History

Construction of the Southern railway line from Toowoomba to Warwick brought it as far as Dalrymple Creek near Allora in 1869. At that time, Allora was the largest settlement in the region but the line ran about five kilometres to its west and the then terminus was renamed Hendon in the 1870s. [1] A line from Hendon to Allora was surveyed in 1884 but the local residents pushed for connection to a proposed direct link between Brisbane and Warwick. The latter link did not materialise but a line running the short distance from Hendon to Allora was constructed and opened on 21 April 1897.

Up to four trains daily connected via Kates with the main line services at Hendon. After development of land to the east of Allora, moves were afoot to extend the line about 20 kilometres to Goomburra. Approved in 1910, construction of the extension commenced in 1911 and opened on 8 July 1912. Stops were located at Kital, Berat and Kunda. The Goomburra extension was constructed from a point a short distance down from Allora station, turning Allora station and yard into a short spur. Traffic from Allora to Goomburra or vice versa was required to perform a back shunt. [2]

In addition to passenger traffic, freight carried on the Goomburra line included dairy products, timber and seasonal grain but its justification did not last. [2]

The section of the line beyond Allora was closed on 30 June 1961 due to increasing competition from road transport. Service on the Hendon to Allora section was suspended in 1995. [2]

The Hendon to Allora section is now owned by the Southern Downs Steam Railway, [3] a rail heritage organisation based in Warwick which intends to run tourist steam trains on this section. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

North Coast railway line, Queensland

The North Coast railway line is a 1,681-kilometre (1,045 mi) 3-foot 6-inch gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It commences at Roma Street station, Brisbane, and largely parallels the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton. Along the way, the 1680 km railway passes through the numerous towns and cities of eastern Queensland including Nambour, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville. The line though the centre of Rockhampton runs down the middle of Denison Street.

Rail transport in Queensland

The rail network in Queensland, Australia, was the first in the world to adopt 1,067 mm narrow gauge for a main line, and now the second largest narrow gauge network in the world, consists of:

Brisbane Valley railway line

The Brisbane Valley railway line was a railway connection in Queensland, Australia connecting Ipswich, west of Brisbane, to the upper Brisbane River valley. Progressively opened between 1884 and 1913 the railway provided a vital transport link between Ipswich and Yarraman and forged development and prosperity along its path. The line acquired its serpentine reputation because it did not take a straight course when faced with a hill or gully.

Shire of Allora Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Allora was a local government area north of the regional centre of Warwick in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. The shire, administered from Allora, covered an area of 702.0 square kilometres (271.0 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1869 until 1994, when it was dissolved and amalgamated with City of Warwick, Shire of Rosenthal and Shire of Glengallan to form the Shire of Warwick.

South Western railway line, Queensland

The South Western line is a narrow gauge railway line in the southern part of the state of Queensland, Australia. It junctions from the Southern line immediately south of Warwick station and proceeded westwards for a distance of 413 km to the town of Dirranbandi. A western extension to Boomie in New South Wales, approved by the Queensland Parliament in 1914, was never constructed. The Thallon-to-Dirranbandi section was closed on 2 September 2010.

Texas railway line Unused railway line

The Texas railway line is a disused branch railway of the South Western railway line in the south of the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, and was the last traditional branch line railway constructed in Queensland.

Killarney railway line Former railway line in Queensland

The Killarney railway line was a branch railway in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It travelled from Warwick to Killarney and operated from 1884 to 1964.

Amiens railway line Branch railway line in the Granite Belt region of Queensland, Australia

The Amiens railway line was a branch railway in the Granite Belt region of Queensland, Australia, branching from the Southern Line at Cottonvale between Warwick and Stanthorpe. The Amiens line was the highest in southern Queensland, with the railway reaching an elevation of 946 metres above sea level at Pozieres.

The Maryvale railway line was a branch railway in the Southern Downs region of Queensland, Australia.

Southern railway line

The Southern railway line serves the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The 197-kilometre (122 mi) long line branches from the Western line at Toowoomba, 161 kilometres (100 mi) west of Brisbane, and proceeds south through Warwick and Stanthorpe to the New South Wales/Queensland state border at Wallangarra.

Hendon, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Hendon is a rural town and locality in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Hendon had a population of 200 people.

Construction of Queensland railways

Queensland's railway construction commenced in 1864, with the turning of the first sod of the Main Line by Lady Diamantina Bowen, the wife of Queensland's first governor Sir George Bowen at Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. A narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in was selected due to cost savings in providing a rail link to Toowoomba. Despite being built with bridges wide enough for standard gauge, and the fact that most other lines did not require heavy earthworks, the gauge remained the Queensland system norm.

Glenmorgan railway line

The Glenmorgan Branch is a railway line in south west Queensland, Australia. It opened in a series of sections between 1908 and 1931. It was intended to reach Surat but construction ceased during the 1930s depression and never recommenced.

Wandoan railway line

The Wandoan Branch is a 70 km railway line in the Darling Downs region Queensland, Australia. It links the towns of Miles and Wandoan. It was approved to extend to Taroom, but construction halted during World War I and never recommenced.

Western railway line, Queensland

The Western railway line is a narrow gauge railway, connecting the south-east and south-west regions of Queensland, Australia. It commences at Toowoomba, at the end of the Main Line railway from Brisbane, and extends west 810 km to Cunnamulla, passing through the major towns of Dalby, Roma and Charleville, although services on the 184 km section from Westgate to Cunnamulla have been suspended since 2011. The Queensland Government was the first railway operator in the world to adopt narrow gauge for a main line, and this remains the system-wide gauge.

Main Line railway, Queensland

The Main Line is a railway line in South East Queensland, Australia. It was opened in a series of sections between 1865 and 1867. It commences at Roma St Station in Brisbane and extends west 161 km to Toowoomba. It is the first narrow gauge main line constructed in the world. The section of the line from the end of Murphys Creek railway station to the Ruthven Street overbridge, Harlaxton is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. The Murphys Creek Railway Complex, the Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge (Lockyer), the Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge and Swansons Rail Bridge are also heritage listed.

Central Western railway line, Queensland

The Central Western railway line is a railway line in Queensland, Australia. It was opened in a series of sections between 1867 and 1928. It commences at Rockhampton and extends west 863 kilometres (536 mi) to Winton.

Wallangarra railway station

Wallangarra railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Woodlawn Street, Wallangarra, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1877 along the state border of Queensland and New South Wales It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 March 2003.

Allora Cemetery

Allora Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery on Allora-Clifton Road, Allora, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was established in 1864. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 April 2001.

Warwick railway station, Queensland

Warwick railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Southern railway line in Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1881 to 1910s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999.

References

  1. "Triumph of Narrow Gauge: A History of Queensland Railways" by John Kerr 1990 Boolarong Press, Brisbane
  2. 1 2 3 Southern Downs Steam Railway (2008). "Historical information: (Warwick) – Hendon – Allora – Goomburra". Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  3. QR Limited (Network Access division) (September 2005). "South Western System: Information Pack (Issue 2)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  4. Southern Downs Steam Railway (2008). "About SDSR" . Retrieved 21 November 2008.