Launceston and Western Railway
Encyclopedia
The Western Line, previously known as the Launceston and Western Line is a 78Km freight rail corridor that runs from Western Junction to Wiltshire in Tasmania
, Australia
. The original Line was built in 1871 as a private broad gauge
railway that opened between Deloraine
and Launceston
to ship agricultural products to port for Victorian markets.
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.
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.
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Up until 1880, three classes of passenger accommodation were provided but third class was withdrawn after that year.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.
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.
had completed the construction of a 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 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 totake 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.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The original Line was built in 1871 as a private broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway that opened between Deloraine
Deloraine, Tasmania
Deloraine is a town on the Meander River, in the central north of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 50 km west of Launceston and 52 km south of Devonport along the Bass Highway. It is part of the Meander Valley Council. At the 2006 census, Deloraine had a population of 2,243.The region was...
and Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
to ship agricultural products to port for Victorian markets.
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.The Launceston and Western Railway was a Joint Stock Company
Joint stock company
A joint-stock company is a type of corporation or partnership involving two or more individuals that own shares of stock in the 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.
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 EdinburghAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
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
Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
. 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.
Services begin
When the line was opened, a service of three double-headedDouble-headed
Double-headed may refer to:* Double-headed eagle, common symbol in heraldry and vexillology* Double-heading, the use of at least two steam locomotives at the front of a train...
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.
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.
A Change of Gauge
In March 1876, the Tasmanian Main Line Railway CompanyTasmanian Main Line Company
The Tasmanian Main Line Company was a private railway that opened a narrow gauge line from Hobart to Evandale, near Launceston, where it connected with the Launceston and Western Railway.- Initial proposals :...
had completed the construction of a 1,067 mm gauge line
South Line, Tasmania
The South Line, also known as the Main Line and sometimes the North/South Line or the North–South Line, is a freight rail corridor connecting Hobart to the northern ports of Tasmania. The Railway Line was built by the Tasmanian Main Line Company...
from Hobart to Evandale
Evandale, Tasmania
Evandale is a small town in northern Tasmania, Australia. It sits on the banks of the South Esk River 18 km south of Launceston. A classified historic town, many of its buildings remain largely in original condition...
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 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 totake 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
Single (locomotive)
In railway terminology, a single is a steam locomotive with a single pair of driving wheels. Some sources use 'Single' only for the 2-2-2 type, also known as a Jenny Lind locomotive, but more commonly singles could have any number of leading or trailing wheels....
' to run on the narrow gauge railways of Australia.
Further reading
- Stokes, H, A Century of Tasmanian Railways Hobart 1971
- Cooper, Greg. and Goss, Grant (1996) Tasmanian Railways 125 years, 1871-1996 : A Pictorial History Devonport, Tas. : CG Publishing Co. ISBN 0646276336