Western Line, Tasmania

Western Line
Overview
Type Heavy rail
Termini Bell Bay Line
Wiltshire
Operation
Opening 1871
Owner TasRail
Operator(s) TasRail
Technical
Track length 78 km (48 mi)
Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Old gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Route map
Legend
Bell Bay Line

Western Junction • South Line
Perth 
South Esk River
Longford
Bishopsbourne
Meander River
Hagley
Meander Valley Highway
Westbury
Exton
Highland Lakes Road
Deloraine
Meander River
Lemana
Mole Creek Line
Dunorlan
Mersey River

Latrobe Road
Railton
Cement Australia

Cement Works Road

Tarleton Road

Sheffield Road

Spreyton

Stony Rise Road

Devonport Road
Bass Highway
Devonport ferry/water interchange
Don River Line
Don River 
Bass Highway
Bass Highway
Forth River

Turners Beach Road

Maskells Road

Buttons Avenue
Buttons Creek

Alexandra Road

Water Street

Main Street

Reibey Street

Ulverstone

Lovett Street
Leven River

Hobbs Parade
Penguin
Penguin Creek
Blyth River
Bass Highway
Emu River
South Burnie
Melba Line
Bass Highway
Burnie ferry/water interchange
Cooee Creek 

Cooee Point Road
Cam River

Falmouth Road

Esplanade

Old Bass Highway

Mount Hicks Road
Cam Creek

Airport Street
Wynyard

Goldie Street

Hales Street

Frederick Street

Belton Street
Baulds Creek

Wilkinson Street
Bass Highway

Calder Road

Stennings Road
Inglis River

Fosters Road
Inglis River

Preolenna Road

Gates Road
Flowerdale River
Fists Lane

Rothwells Road

Dares Road

Myalla Road

Myalla Station Road
Myalla
Sisters Creek
Three Notch Road

Rulia Road
Detention River

Montumana Road

Montumana Road
Yanns Road
Wilsons Creek
Wilsons Creek

Yanns Road
Detention River

Mathers Road
Blackfish Creek
Crayfish Creek

Mawbanna Road

Pipeline Road

Medwins Road
Peggs Creek
Black River

Boyndey Road
Black River
Wiltshire
Smithton Spur
Stanley Spur

The Western Line, previously known as the Launceston and Western Line is a 78 km freight rail corridor that runs from Western Junction to Wiltshire in Tasmania, Australia. The original Line was built in 1871 as a private 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge railway that opened between Deloraine and Launceston to ship agricultural products to port for Victorian markets.[1]

The Railway Act

Although proposals were considered by the Tasmanian Government for the construction of a railway from Hobart to Launceston as early as 1856, it was not until 27 August 1857 that anything of a definite nature was done. At a supporters' meeting on that date, a resolution was passed recommending that a petition for the construction of a railway from Launceston to Deloraine be transmitted to the Governor. In 1858, a Parliamentary Joint Committee reported in favour of railway construction within the Colony. But, nothing was done until 1865 when the Prospectus of the Launceston and Western Railway Company was issued. The first Railway Act was passed later that year which provided for the construction of a railway between Launceston and Deloraine by private enterprise.[2][3]

The Launceston and Western Railway was a Joint Stock Company of £450,000 capital, chiefly borrowed in England, with the interest guaranteed by the Tasmanian Government. The land-holders, whom the line would benefit, entered into an obligation to recoup the State should the returns from the railway fall short of the interest money.[4]

Construction

The Launceston and Western Railway was formed on 9 May 1867 and the first sod of the line was turned on 15 January 1868 by the Duke of Edinburgh who was on a visit to the Colonies.

A Contract for the construction work was let in July 1868. Construction work progressed during the following 18 months, but delays were experienced with the construction of the bridge over the South Esk River. In 1869, the contractors brought from Victoria two tank locomotives for construction work.

The date for completion as set out in the Contract was 10 March 1870, but an extension was given and construction continued to a point where the Opening Date could be set for the following September. Extensive rains resulted in further delays and it was not until 10 February 1871 that the line was opened for traffic by the Governor.

In 1868, two locomotives were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company. These arrived in December 1869, together with goods and passenger vehicles. A repeat order for an additional two locomotives was placed in November 1869 and these were placed in service in November 1870.[2]

Services begin

When the line was opened, a service of three double-headed trains each way per day was operated, but this proved unsatisfactory and later on one locomotive per run was used.

Up until 1880, three classes of passenger accommodation were provided but third class was withdrawn after that year.

By December 1872, it was agreed that a fifth locomotive was required and an order was placed with Sharp Stewart and Company.

The construction contractor continued to operate the railway until November 1871, the Company then took over.[2]

Financial difficulty

During the construction period, the Company had experienced some difficulty in raising the necessary finance to meet the cost of construction. It applied to the Government for assistance. The Government appointed two Railway Commissioners to generally supervise all railway construction and advance the Company the finance to complete the building of the line.

Traffic showed an increase after the Company took over the working of the line, however difficulties were experienced in continuing operations. Negotiations were commenced with a view of the Government taking over the line. These negotiations were concluded and the Government took over the line from 31 October 1873.[2][5]

A Change of Gauge

The line was initially built in 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Broad or Irish gauge. Very shortly after the Government takeover in 1873 a decision was made to convert the line to a narrower gauge.[6][7]

In March 1876, the Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company had completed the construction of a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge line from Hobart to Evandale and entered into negotiation with the Government for the construction of a third rail over the broad gauge tracks of the Launceston and Western Railway between Evandale Junction and Launceston. Approval was given and the TMLRC began operating over a dual gauge line into Launceston on 1 November 1876.

During the early 1880s, the Tasmanian Government decided upon construction of further narrow gauge lines and commenced with a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) line from Deloraine to Devonport which opened on 1 September 1885.

In 1887, the broad gauge rollingstock of the Launceston and Western Railway consisted of 14 passenger carriages, 4 horse boxes and 84 goods vehicles. A proposal to take up the outer rail was examined and it was decided that greater economy of operation would be achieved. The last broad gauge train ran on 20 August 1888.

The rolling stock was converted to the narrow gauge. The four Stephenson locomotives were sold and the Shar Stewart was converted to narrow gauge, emerging with a 4-2-2 wheel arrangement, the only 'Single' to run on the narrow gauge railways of Australia.[2]

See also

References

  1. The Companion to Tasmanian History
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Tasmania's First Railway Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October 1941, pp. 41-44
  3. "The Launceston and Western Railway Act (29 Vic, No 24)". austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
    "The Launceston and Western Railway Act, No 2 (30 Vic, No 28)". austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
    "The Launceston and Western Railway Act, No 3 (31 Vic, No 43)". austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  4. Chamberlain, Brian R (1985), The Launceston and Western Railway Company Ltd., 1867-1904, Regal Press, ISBN 978-0-949457-02-8
  5. "The Launceston and Western Railway Act 1873 (37 Vic, No 20)". austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  6. Scott, E.G. Hagley (A Short history of the early days of the Village and district with notes on the pioneer families). Launceston: Birchalls. pp. 2628. ISBN 0-949-457-05-1.
  7. "The Launceston And Western Railway Act 1883 (47 Vic, No 36)". austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 10 August 2014.

Further reading