1879 Australia and New Zealand Railways

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Extracted from '1879 Australian Dictionary of Dates and Men of the Time' by J. H. Heaton

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NEW SOUTH WALES. The question of railway construction first seriously occupied the attention of the colonists. A numerous and influential meeting was held in Sydney, when Mr. James Macarthur presided, and a committee of leading colonists was appointed to collect information on the subject of railways. Jan. 29,1846.

The first official duty Governor Fitzroy was called upon to perform was to receive a deputation on the subject of railways for the purpose of bringing certain recommendations relative to the same under the attention of the Ministers. August, 1846.

Sydney Tramroad and Railway Company established, capital £100,000. Sept. 11, 1846.

An important meeting held in connection with the contemplated railway, when a report was brought forward which set forth that the committee had collected subscriptions, that surveys had been effected for lines of railways, extending between Sydney and Goulburn and between Sydney and the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers. The survey embraced three several routes between Sydney and Bong Bong. January, 1848.

The first sod of the Sydney and Goulburn Railway turned at Redfern by the Hon. Mrs. Keith Stuart, daughter of the Governor, Sir C. Fitzroy, in the presence of His Excellency and about 10,000 people. July 3, 1850.

The first railway contract in the colony was accepted. The work to be executed was a portion of the line between Ashfield and Haslem's Creek at a cost of £10,000. March, 1851.

Railway from Sydney commenced. The "Concord" contract, 4.5 miles; contractor, Mr. William Wallis; Mr. Shields and Mr. Mais, the first Engineers-in-Chief. May 1, 1851. [The works were in a few months discontinued for want of labour.] Mr. Randle took a short contract between Sydney and Parramatta, August 9, 1851.

500 railway labourers arrived from England, August, 1852. Mr. Randle undertook the whole line from Sydney to Parramatta, August, 1852. The question of railway communication taken up. A meeting was held in Sydney, at which all the wealthy and influential colonists attended, and a resolution to the effect that in consequence of the rapidly increasing prosperity of the colony, it became imperative on the inhabitants to adopt a comprehensive system in the construction of railways throughout the colony, was adopted. January, 1854.

Hunter River Railway projected for connection between Newcastle and Maitland. A company formed at Maitland; capital £100,000. April 20, 1853. Work commenced, but was continued only a year, when it was handed over to the Government on July 30, 1854.

Sydney and Goulburn Railway Company transferred to Government, September 3, 1854.

The carriages attached to a railway train ran off the line at Haslem's Creek; two passengers were killed (one being Mr. Randolph J. Want, solicitor) and two injured. January 10, 1858.

A collision occurred in Redfern tunnel, two persons being injured, September 10, 1863.

A collision occurred between Homebush and Haslem's Creek, between a goods train and a passenger train following; one passenger injured. October 25, 1864.

A collision occurred at Newtown; one passenger was killed and several injured. Jan., 1868.

A collision took place at Redfern, several persons being injured, September, 1868.

A collision took place between a passenger and a coal truck at Newcastle; several persons slightly injured. January 12, 1874.

Two platelayers were run over and killed at Haslem's Creek, January 21, 1876.

Deniliquin and Moama Railway (private company) opened, July 4, 1876.

A collision took place at Redfern, when two women were injured, July 30, 1877.

A collision occurred at Redfern, in which five passengers were injured, November 5, 1877.

The Government of New South Wales accepted tenders for the railway from Wagga Wagga to Albury - Messrs. Cornell and Mixner, contractors - January 24, 1878.

Two trains collided at Emu Plains, near Penrith, N.S.W.; three people were killed, the engines thrown off the line, and the waggons destroyed by fire. January 30, 1878.

Railway opened to Bathurst by Sir Hercules Robinson: great demonstration by the people, and a public dinner given at the School of Arts. April 4, 1876.

The Great Northern Railway extension to Tamworth opened by Sir H. Robinson. October 15, 1878.

George Perdue found guilty of manslaughter, for the collision at Emu Plains, Feb. 19, 1878.

Date of opening to the principal stations in NEW SOUTH WALES:—

• Parramatta (S.W.), September 26, 1855.
• Liverpool (S.), September 26, 1856.
• East Maitland (N.), April 5, 1857.
• Newcastle (N.), March 19, 1858.
• Campbelltown (S.), May 17,1858.
• West Maitland (N.), July 27, 1858.
• Lochinvar (N.), July 2, 1860.
• Blacktown (W.), July 4, 1860.
• Rooty Hill (W.), December 12, 1861.
• Branxton (N.), March 24, 1862.
• South Creek (W.), May 1, 1862.
• Penrith (W.), July 7, 1862.
• Menangle (S.), September 1, 1862.
• Singleton (N.), May 7, 1863.
• Picton (S.), July 1, 1863.
• Morpeth (N.), May 2, 1864.
• Richmond (S.W.), December 1, 1864.
• Mittagong (branch from Blacktown), March 1, 1867.
• Weatherboard (W.), July 11, 1867.
• Sutton Forest (S.), December 2, 1867.
• Mount Victoria (W.), May 1, 1868.
• Marulan (S.), August 6, 1868.
• Muswellbrook (N.), May 19, 1869.
• Goulburn (S.), May 27, 1869.
• Bowenfels (W.), October 18, 1869.
• Wallerawang (W.), March 1, 1870.
• Rydal (W.), July 1, 1870.
• Aberdeen (N.), October 20, 1870.
• Scone (N.), April 17, 1871.
• Wingen (S.), August 1, 1871.
• Murrurundi (N.), April 5, 1872.
• Locke's Platform (W.), April 22, 1872.
• Macquarie Plains (%V.), July 1, 1872.
• Raglan (W.), March 4, 1873.
• Kelso (W.), February 4, 1875.
• Bathurst (W.), April 4, 1876.
• Gunning (S.), November 9, 1875.
• Bowning (S.), July 3, 1876.
• Yass (S.), July 3, 1876.
• Murrumburrah (S.), March 12, 1877.
• Quirindi (N.), August 13, 1877.
• Cootamundra (S.), November 1, 1877.
• Orange (W.), April 19, 1877.
• Junee (S.), July 6, 1878.
• Wagga Wagga (S.), September 3, 1878.
• Tamworth (N.), October 15, 1878.
• Breeza (N.), March 28, 1879.

NEW ZEALAND. Auckland District, in the provincial district of Auckland. The General Government have completed 141 miles of railway, and have considerably more under construction. Also 2 miles 68 chains from the Kawakawa mine to the shipping place have been constructed, and 5 miles 31 chains more are under way. The Waikato railway, which runs from Auckland southwards, was opened for traffic as far as Newcastle (Ngaruawahia), at the junction of the Waikato and Waipa rivers, once the capital of the Maori King, but now the site of a pretty and thriving British township, 1877. The Waikato railway opened to Ohapu, 1878. [The whole southern part of Auckland, and a large portion of the North is thus brought directly into easy communication with the city by railway.] The Maories refused to allow Government surveyors to survey for the railway from Taranaki to Wanganui (the connecting branches between Auckland and Wellington), March 20, 1879.

Otago District - Lyttleton railway opened, December 1, 1863.

Railway to Manaaru. opened, Feb. 21, 1870.

Railway from Christchurch to Dunedin completed and opened at Dunedin, October, 1878.

Railways in New Zealand are open between the following places:— Northern Island, Auckland to Ohaupo, passing through Newmarket, Remuera, Drury, Rangariri, Huntly, Taupiri, Newcastle, Hamilton, a distance of 94 miles; Auckland to Onehunga, connecting Auckland harbour with the Manukau, a distance of 8 miles, with a branch line from Riverhead to Helensville, 16 miles. Napier (commencing at the Spit or Port) to Kopua, a distance of 65 miles, passing Hastings, Waipawa, and Waipakaru. New Plymouth to Inglewood and Waitara, 12 miles. Wanganui to Foxton, 88 miles.

Wellington to Upper Hutt and Kaitoke, 27 miles. Southern Island—Bluff to Invercargill, 17 miles; Invercargill to Dunedin, 13 miles; Dunedin to Omaru, 38 miles • Omaru to Tivriaru, 53 miles; Timaru to Christchurch, 100 miles; Christchurch to Port Lyttleton, 7 miles, with various branch lines on these routes. Greymouth (West Coast) to Brunner, 8 miles; Nelson to Foxhill, 20 miles, with numerous short lines on the West Coast. The total length of railway opened in New Zealand, 1,068 miles: December 31, 1877.

QUEENSLAND. First sod of Queensland railway turned at Ipswich, February 24, 1864.

First railway, Queensland opened July 31, 1865.

First sod of the Rockhampton railway turned by Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, at Rockhampton, September 26, 1865.

A train proceeding to Warwick was blown off the rails by a violent gale of wind (some passengers were injured), January 27, 1875.

First sod of the Dalby and Roma railway turned by Governor Cairns, June 6, 1876.

Mr. Gresley Lukin, proprietor of The Queenslander, organised an expedition to effect a flying survey of the proposed transcontinental railway from Blackall to Port Darwin, June 21, 1878.

Dates of Opening, and the Length in Miles, of the different Sections of Railway Lines opened for Traffic from the commencement to December 31, 1877.

• Ipswich to Grandchester 21 21 July 3I, 1865
• Total for 1865 21 21
• Grandchester to Gatton 17 17 June 1, 1866
• Gatton to Helidon 11 11 July 30, 1866
• Total for 1866 49 49
• Helidon to Toowoomba 29 29 May 1, 1867
• Rockhampton to Westwood 30 30 Sept. 17, 1867
• Toowoomba to Jondaryan 28 28 Nov. 18, 1867
• Total for 1867 106 30 136
• Jondaryan to Dalby 24 24 April 20, 1868
• Total for 1868 130 30 160
• Gowrie Junction to Allora 46 46 Mar. 8, 1869
• Total for 1869-70 176 30 206
• Allora to Warwick 12 12 Jan. 9, 1871
• Total for 1871-2-3 188 30 218
• Westwood to Gogango 8 8 May 25, 1874
• Gogango to Rocky Creek 6 6 Oct. 1, 1874
• Ipswich to Oxley West 18 18 Oct. 5, 1874
• Total for 1874 206 44 250
• Oxley West to Oxley Point 2 2 Feb. 4, 1875
• Oxley Point to Brisbane 4 '6 4 June 14, 1875
• Rocky Creek to Herbert Creek 9 Nov. 9, 1875
• Total for 1875 212 53 265
• Herbert Creek to Boolburra 5 5 Jan. 10, 1876
• Boolburra to Duaringa 7 7 Mar. 28, 1876
• Duaringa to Dingo 23 23 Sept. 1, 1876
• Total for 1876 212 88 300
• Dalby to Warra 28 28 Sept. 10, 1877
• Dingo to Blackwater 31 31 July.19, 1877
• Total for 1877 240 119 359

NOTE.-The opening of the Ipswich Deviation has shortened the distance between Ipswich and Toowoomba by two miles; consequently the total length travelled over between Brisbane and the present terminal stations, S. and W. Railway, now stands at 238 miles.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The railway from Adelaide to Gawler, a distance of 25 miles, completed October 5, 1857. Railway opened to Kapunda, August 3, 1860. Wallaroo railway commenced, Jan. 17, 1862. The Victor Harbour railway opened, Aug.4, 1862. Railway to the Burra opened, Aug. 29, 1870. Glenelg railway opened, July 14, 1873.

Sir W. D. Jervois turned the first sod of the Port Augusta Railway, being the first instalment of the transcontinental line, Jan. 28, 1878.

Port Augusta line, first section opened to Gordon's, May, 1879.

Dates of Opening of the different sections to the principal Stations from the commencement to December 31, 1877.

• Adelaide and Port Adelaide
• Port Adelaide and Semaphore
• Adelaide and Kapunda
• Dry Creek and Port Adelaide
• Roseworthy and Tarlee
• Tarlee and Burra
• Gawler Tramway
• Strathalbyn, Goolwa, and Victor Harbour
• Port Wakefield and Hoyleton
• Hoyleton and Blyth
• Port Wakefield and Blyth
• Port Pirie and Gladstone
• Gladstone and Jamestown
• Port Pirie and Gladstone
• Port Broughton and Barunga Range
• Kingston and Naracoorte

[NOTE.—The total cost of the South Australian railways to Dec. 31, 1877, was £2;704,404. The maximum speed on the 5ft. 3in. gauge is 25 miles per hour; and on the 3ft. 6in. gauge, 17.5 miles per hour.]

The following lines were completed and opened for traffic during the year 1878:—

• Burra and Hallett 181 miles.
• Kapunda and North West Bend (River Murray) 551
• Port Wakefield and Kadina 34m. 44chns.
• Gladstone and Jamestown 19 miles.

[The first two being extensions of the trunk line are constructed on the 5ft. 3in. gauge; the other two are constructed on the 3ft. 6in. gauge.]

The following contracts have been let and are in various stages of progress, viz.:—

• Port Augusta to Government Gums 198.75 miles.
• Kadina & Barunga Gap, with its extension 33 miles.
• Rivoli Bay and Mount Gambier 51 miles.
• Harnley Bridge and Balaklava 22.5n miles.
• Making a total of 305 miles. All these lines are being constructed on the 3ft. 6in. gauge.

The following railways have been authorised during the Parliamentary session, 1878-9:-

• Hallett to Terowie 20m. 44chns.
• Terowie to Pichi-Richi 93 miles with Branch to Jamestown 21m. 76chns.
• Adelaide to Nairne 33 miles.

TASMANIA. First sod of Launceston and Western Railway turned by H.R.H. Prince Alfred, Jan. 15, 1868.

First train on the first Tasmanian railway started August 19, 1869.

The Mersey and Deloraine Railway opened January 1, 1871.

The L. & W. Railway opened Feb. 3, 1871.

VICTORIA.

Railway from Melbourne to Sandridge commenced, January, 1853.

Geelong and Melbourne Railway incorporated, February 8, 1853.

Melbourne and Geelong Railway works commenced, September 20, 1853.

Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway opened, September 14, 1854.

Melbourne and St. Kilda railway opened, May 13, 1857.

Geelong and Melbourne railway opened, June 25, 1857.

Melbourne and Suburban railway commenced, July 1, 1858. The Melbourne and Williamstown, Hobson's Bay (private company) railway opened, January 17, 1859.

The Victorian Railway department took possession of the Melbourne and Geelong line from the original company, September 4, 1860.

St. Kilda and Brighton railway opened, December 21, 1861.

Railway extension to Castlemaine opened, October 15, 1862.

Victorian Government purchased the extension railway, June 27, 1867.

First sod of Castlemaine and Maryborough railway turned, September 7, 1872.

First colonial-made locomotive delivered to the Victorian Government, February 6, 1873.

Railway from Melbourne to Wodonga, on the Murray, opened, November 19, 1873.

Maryborough and Dunolly railway opened, October 6, 1874.

Geelong and Colac railway began, October 23, 1874.

First sod of the Gippsland railway turned, March 11, 1875.

First sod of the Perth and Hamilton railway, Victoria, turned by Governor Sir George F. Bowen, April 27, 1876.

Experiment of running railway trains with carriage doors unlocked first tried on Williamstown line, January 15, 1877.

A disastrous accident happened to a goods and passenger train on the Echuca line, near the Epsom racecourse. Flood waters had unsettled the ballast, and the engine ran off the line over the embankment; 38 of the goods trucks were smashed, none of the passengers being seriously hurt. February 13, 1877.

Serious accident occurred at Spencer-street terminus; nine of the passengers received severe injuries. June 11, 1877.

Opening celebration of Portland and Hamilton railway, January 9, 1878.

The Government commenced the construction of the Oakleigh line without the sanction of the Legislature, February 19, 1878.

The Gippsland railway from Oakleigh to Sale, a distance of 119 miles, formally opened, Mani 1, 1878.

Messrs. Lyell and Munro, M.L.A's., arranged terms for the purchase by the Government of the Hobson's Bay railway, for the sum of £1,320,820, June 25, 1878.

The Government of Victoria obtained a majority of 42 in favour of the purchase of the Hobson's Bay railway. The Opposition voted with them. July 24, 1878.

Messrs. Topham, Angus, and Smith's tender of £58,977 accepted for the construction of the Geelong and Queenscliffe line, August 9, 1878.

Messrs. J. P. Higgins and Co.'s tender of £48,868, accepted for the South Yarra and Oakleigh line, September 13, 1878.

Sale (Gippsland) and Melbourne railway joined at Oakleigh, April 2, 1879.

Dates of Opening, and Length in Miles, of the different Sections of Lines opened to the Principal Stations of Victoria, from the commencement to December, 1878.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

First sod of the Geraldtown railway turned by Governor Weld, November 22, 1874.

Total Length of Railways Open and ire course of Construction throughout Australasia.

• New South Wales 643 217.75
• New Zealand 954 219
• Queensland 357 168
• South Australia 327 404
• Tasmania 172.5
• Victoria 931 193
• Western Australia 68 25
• Total 3452.5 1226.75

Total Expenditure for, in Australasia, to December 31, 1877.

• New South Wales £8,570,000
• New Zealand 6,675,781
• Queensland 3,500,000
• South Australia 2,500,000
• Tasmania 700,000
• Victoria 14,562,984
• Western Australia 100,000
• Total £36,608,765

RAILWAY BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS.

Over the Hunter at Singleton, N.S.W. (N.); length, 400 feet.

Over the Hunter at Aberdeen (N.); length ' 480 feet; cylinders sunk 20 feet below ordinary level of water; height, 41 feet above ordinary level of water; cost, £25,000.

Over the Macquarie at Bathurst (W.); 480 ft. in length; cast iron cylinders 9 ft. in diameter, sunk 14 ft. below ordinary level of water in river; height above ordinary water level, 35 ft.; cost £32,000.

Over the Nepean at Menangle (S.); 498 feet in length; height of bridge above level of water in the river, to underside of girders, 65 feet; length of approaches from Sydney side, 978 feet, and on southern side, 432 feet; cost, £100,000. Opened for traffic, July 11, 1867.

Over the River Nepean at Penrith (W.), 35 miles from Sydney, is constructed for a double line, and carries the Main Western Road and a single line of railway. It consists of three openings of 186 ft. clear span each, and one span of 127 ft. The larger openings have two main girders of the box form, each 594 ft. in length, of an extreme depth of 13 feet, and placed 25 ft. 6 in. apart in the clear. The roadway is carried on wrought-iron cross girders 18 in. deep, and placed 3 ft. apart centre and centre, and covered with 3 in. planking throughout. The span of 127 feet has also wrought-iron girders of the box form, 135 feet in length and 10 feet in depth. The rails are 49 feet above the ordinary level of the river. Cost, £110,000.

Over Murrumbidgee at Wagga Wagga (S.); total length over main channel, 636 feet; cast iron cylinders, 9 feet in diameter, and sunk 34 feet below ordinary level of water in the river; work commenced, 1878.

Over the Macquarie River at Wellington (W.); length, 477 feet, or, including abutments, 648 feet; work commenced, .1878.

Wollondilly River, N.S.W., 122 miles from Sydney (S.); 616 feet in length.

Wollondilly River, 127 miles from Sydney (S.); 614 feet in length; rails 46 feet above ordinary level of water.

Boxer's Creek viaduct, 133 miles from Sydney (S.); 206 feet in length; 46 feet above ordinary water level.

Mulwarree Creek viaduct, near Goulburn (S.); 858 feet in length.

Barber's Creek viaduct, 111 miles from Sydney (S.); 340 feet in length.

Picton viaduct, (S.) 53 miles from Sydney; 276 feet in length; 78 feet in its extreme height from foundations to rail level.

Knapsack Gully viaduct, 38 miles from Sydney (W.); 388 feet in length; greatest height, 126 feet, from foundation to level of rails.

Over the Murray River at Echuca; cost, £40,000; opened, March, 1879.

Over Brisbane River at Oxley; cost, £36,000; opened, 1875.

RAILWAY CURVES AND GRADIENTS. The smallest curve on the New South Wales line is eight chains, on the Western Line. The steepest gradient, 1 in 30, is also on the Western Line. In Victoria the steepest gradient is 1 in 30, on the Wangaratta and Beechworth Line.

RAILWAY GAUGES. New South Wales, 4 ft. 85 in.; New Zealand, 5 ft. 3 in., 4 ft. 8 in., 3 ft. 6 in.; Queensland, 3 ft. 6 in.; South Australia, 5 ft. 3 in., 3 ft. 6 in.; Tasmania, 5 ft. 3 in.; Victoria, 5 ft. 3 in.

RAILWAY TUNNELS. The longest tunnels in New South Wales are:— The Mount Clarence tunnel, Western line (88.25 miles from Sydney), 539 yards in length; Liverpool Range tunnel, 126 miles from Newcastle (Northern line), is 528 yards in length; the Picton tunnel (Southern line, 54 miles from Sydney) 198 yards in length; the Gibraltar tunnel (Southern line, 79 miles from Sydney), 572 yards in length. In Victoria, the longest tunnel is the Mount Elphinstone (Echuca line), 418 yards in length. The Big Hill tunnel, on the same line, is 413 yards in length. In Queensland, the Victoria tunnel, S. W. line, is 26 chains in length.

ZIG ZAG. One of the greatest engineering works in Australia, and is said to rank among the boldest and most substantial railway constructions in the world. The railway line is across the Blue Mountains, N.S.W., and commences at Penrith, 34 miles from Sydney. The line then ascends 155 feet, and crosses Knapsack Gully by the Viaduct, which is 388 feet long, and has a maximum height of 126 feet. This crossing is 245 feet above Emu Plains, and the line reaches the lower point of the first zig-zag at an elevation of 414 feet above sea-level, and thence an elevation of 470 feet is attained in a distance of 30 chains.

After this the line continues to ascend till it reaches the summit of Lapstone Hill,. and then it follows the range dividing the tributaries of the Nepean and Cox Rivers from those of the Grose River, passing Springwood, Blue Mountain, Weatherboard, Pulpit Hill, Blackheath, 3,494 feet, to near Shepherd's Toll-bar and Mount Victoria, 3,422 feet above the sea. Here the line commences to diverge to the north along Darling's Causeway, which divides the waters of the Lett from the sources of the Grose River to Bell's line of road, or the range dividing the river Lett and Grose River tributaries from those of the river Colo. Following this range to Dargan's Creek the line passes through Mount Clarence by a tunnel 539 yards in length, the rails at the entrance of which are 3,658 feet above sea-level. This is the summit level of the line, 88 miles from Sydney, and 52 miles from the commencement of the ascent of the Blue Mountain Ranges at Emu Plains.

The line then descends on a gradient of 1 in 42 towards Lithgow Valley beyond, reaching the higher points of the Great Zig-zag 91 miles from Sydney, at an elevation of 3,362 feet. At this point the line runs nearly parallel with the main line, but in an opposite direction, for a distance of 67 chains. After passing two viaducts and through a short tunnel it reaches the lower points of the Zig-zag at an elevation of 3,261 feet, and thence further descends towards Bathurst, which is situated 145 miles from Sydney, at an elevation of 2,153 feet.

Between Mount Clarence, 88 miles from Sydney, and Wallerawang, 105 miles, there are seven viaducts, of 2,225 feet in length, averaging in height from 10 to 70 feet, and in span from 10 to 54 feet—the majority being 30 feet; also three tunnels—one at Lithgow Valley Zig-zag 77 yards in length, one at Morangaroo 267 yards in length, and one under the Mudgee Road 47 yards in length. The smallest radius of a curve in this section is 528 feet, the total length of such curves being 5 miles, including those upon the two Zig-zags. There are also 20 miles of curves ranging from 8 chains to 12 chains radius. In the whole work the number of viaducts is 8, of tunnels 4, of bridges 8, and of culverts 268.

The total excavations amounted to about 3,040,000 cubic yards, of which 1,783,000 were through rock. The cost of construction alone was about £812,000.

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