Melba Line

The Melba Line is a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge railway on the west coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest lasting and successful private railway companies in Australia. While at present the Line travels from Burnie to Melba Flats, it initially ran through to Zeehan carrying minerals and passengers as an essential service for the West Coast community.

History

See Emu Bay Railway

Stopping Places

See : Emu Bay Railway for the larger list of known stopping places

At its peak as a steam operation the railway had approximately 23 stopping or named places on its line and adjacent lines. Current operations, and modifications for dieselisation, and the Pieman Hydro Electric Scheme, and other modifications by the EBR following its change to a freight only operation has seen many of the structures at the locations identified demolished or disused.

• Burnie
• Guildford - junction to the Mount Bischoff tin Mine (no sign of this junction or station remains)
• Farrell Junction with the North Mount Farrell Tramway to Tullah, now known as the Wee Georgie Wood Railway.
• Primrose
• Barkers Crossing
• Rosebery
• Renison Bell
• Argent Tunnel
• Melba Siding (also known as Melba Flats)

Notes

See also

• Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania

References

• Along the Line in Tasmania. Book 2. Private Lines. Traction Publications. 1972. ISBN 0-85829-003-0. 
• Atkinson, H.K. (1991). Railway Tickets of Tasmania. ISBN 0-9598718-7-X. 
• Blainey, Geoffrey (2000). The Peaks of Lyell (6th ed. ed.). Hobart: St. David's Park Publishing. ISBN 0-7246-2265-9. 
• Rae, Lou (1997). The Emu Bay Railway. ISBN 0-9592098-6-7. 

Further reading

• Manny, L.B. (1961) The Emu Bay Railway Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, November, 1961