Western railway line, Queensland

[citation needed] The line was built to provide reliable transportation to facilitate the development and settlement of the southern Queensland interior by European settlers.

In September 2014, a truck carrying ammonium nitrate exploded near Wyandra, damaging the nearby railway bridge, which has not been repaired, effectively closing the line between Westgate and Cunnamulla.

new coal mines near Chinchilla and Dalby have transported increasing tonnages (1-2M tonnes/month) for export from the Port of Brisbane at Fisherman Islands, which is now the main source of freight on the line.

[citation needed] The current speed and load limits on various sections reflects the level of traffic on them.

[citation needed] West of Roma to Westgate the line speed remains 70 km/h (43 mph) though the rail is 30 kg/m (60.5 lb/yd).

[citation needed] Pengarry Junction – Crows Nest, 55 km, opened December 1886, closed 1961.

Dalby – Jandowae, 48 km, opened August 1914, this line services a significant grain growing district and was upgraded to 15 tonne axle load in the 1990s, but subsequently closed on 25 June 2013.

To connect to that alignment, construction began in 1911 from Westgate (21 km south of Charleville) in a westerly direction.

It was an efficient method for areas with low population, and whilst not quick by today's standards, it was still a vast improvement on the horse-drawn coaches and wagons.

[citation needed] The first *travelling post office (TPO) was introduced in 1877, initially occupying the second class compartments of two composite carriages on the Brisbane-Dalby train.

The Post Office supplied the staff to collect, sort and deliver mail on the TPO vans.

[citation needed] Foot-warmers were introduced to the first class compartments on passenger services in 1911, and provided each winter until 1958.

When the air-conditioned Westlander was introduced in 1954, replacing the earlier Western Mail Train, the dining car was attached at Roma.