One proposed route by Messrs. Doyne, Major and Willett of the Launceston & Western Railway, was similar to the future line built by T.M.L.

but had an easier grade, was twenty kilometres longer and would enter Hobart via Park Street instead of along the Derwent foreshore.

Henceforth, they pressured the government to build their own railway line, some suggesting to Devonport, with a branch going to Launceston.

Once the report of the Royal Commission was printed in the Hobart newspaper, The Mercury, no time was lost before money was voted by Parliament for a proper survey to be made.

On 11 September 1869, the Government announced that it proposed to ignore certain of the recommendations of the Royal Commission and parts of the Survey Engineers' Report.

[2] A considerable amount of offers and counter-offers ensued, and the promoters of the Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company initially perceived having a 5-foot-3-inch (1,600 mm) gauge such as that of the L.W.R., however the outcome being an acceptance between the T.M.L.R.

With 350 navvies on board, including some of their families, a total of 412 people, as well as 417 tonnes of railway equipment and rail, set sail from London.

In clear conditions, a steam ship later identified as the Murillo, rammed the Northfleet and shattered the timbers of the hull.

In the panic caused, the captain of the Northfleet fired his handgun, and some of the men on board forced their way into lifeboats ahead of women and children.

Despite this, the contractors office in London was besieged daily by men anxious to leave and work in Tasmania.

Construction proceeded until the link was made with the broad gauge Launceston and Western Railway at Evandale in March 1876.

[5] This arrangement was not without its difficulties as the Government, who now owned the Launceston and Western railway line, wanted to charge tolls and other rates for the use of its facilities.

To clear the impasse, the Main Line Company built its own sheds at Launceston and laid the extra rail at its expense.