Great Northern Railway (Mt Isa line)
The line stretches nearly 1,000 kilometres linking the port city of Townsville, Australia to the mining town of Mount Isa in north-west Queensland.
Along with a passenger service called the Inlander, it is a major freight route connecting the Mount Isa Mines to the Port of Townsville.
[1] Originally approved in 1877,[2] its construction over nearly thirty years along with the building of other lines in Queensland was dictated by the pressing need to transport minerals and wool from isolated inland areas to the coast for shipment.
The first section of the railway opened on 20 December 1880 and followed a southerly path to Reid River via small sidings at Stuart, Antill Plains, Toonpan, Woodstock and Calcium.
The line then turned westward and climbed the Haughton Range using 1 in 25 (4%) grades and ~65 m (3.5 chain) radius curves in order to minimise construction costs.
The line proved very profitable and a daily mixed train took about thirteen hours to complete the journey from Old Townsville railway station.
Having linked Winton to Townsville, copper mining around Cloncurry and vast numbers of sheep and cattle prompted extension of the line directly west from Hughenden.
About two-thirds of the section opened to Marathon on 15 December 1903 with tiny sidings established at Ballindallock, Boree, Dunluce and Mumu.
Work did not get underway until September 1906 but proceeded rapidly, with temporary crossings of the dry river beds being made ahead of bridge construction so track laying was not delayed.
Sidings on this section were at Eddington, Gilliat, Tibarri, Bookin, Oorindi, Undina, Pymurra, Kaampa and Oonoomurra.
There was an urgent need to connect rail to the area but the Government was reluctant to invest in what could be a limited life of operation.
It brought construction of the Great Northern Railway to an end and gave Mount Isa a crucial link to the eastern seaboard.
Although silver smelting faltered in 1886, the line operated for more than thirty years carrying passengers, cattle, minerals and firewood.
Ravenswood had the unfortunate distinction however of being the first Queensland town to lose its railway in November 1930, and the junction station was renamed Mingela.
[9][10] In July 2022, the line was closed for approximately ten days following a derailment of a containerised freight train between Nonda and Neila.
A Travelling Post Office was introduced in 1899, and remained part of the consist of the mail train until 1932, when it was removed as an economy measure.
A major advantage of the line was the efficient use of wagons, hauling coal west to Mt Isa and metal ingots east for export.
When the Mica Creek Power Station was converted to gas fuel in 2000, some of the coal traffic ceased, adversely affecting wagon efficiency.
