Byellee to Monto Branch Railway was a branch railway that branched off the Boyne Valley west of Gladstone in Queensland, Australia.The Boyne Valley region was predominantly a dairying region and a railway had little justification. However a branch was justified in 1906 on the basis of large traffic in timber, fuel, limestone and flexing ores. Progressively opened between 1910 and 1931 the line branched from the North Coast line at Byellee a short distance west of Gladstone and struck a south-westerly route via Many Peaks and Mungungo to Monto.
The last regular train ran in 2002, and the final train on the line was a steam special run from Monto to Maryborough in 2005. From 2012, conversion of the corridor to a multi-use rail trail was discussed, and Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Inc. was formed in July 2018.
The first section from Byellee (previously known as Boyne Valley Junction) to Many Peaks was opened on 25 July 1910 and sidings were established at Beecher, Burua, Talaba, Calliope River (now Calliope), Taragoola, Barmundu, Boynedale, Wietalaba, Nagoorin, Ubobo, Hellens, Littlemore and Builyan. Governor Fitzroy named Calliope after HMS Calliope which was anchored in Port Curtis (now Gladstone) harbour in 1854. The line was built to transport low grade ore from Many Peaks to Mount Morgan for processing. A train of copper flexing ore ran to Mount Morgan daily and a mixed train to Gladstone and return ran four days a week. Cream and agricultural goods provided the major source of revenue when the Many Peaks mine closed in 1918.
To Barrimoon
The next stage took the line via Golembil to Barrimoon on 17 August 1926. Although there was a sixteen-year gap in building, the route traverses steep mountainous country. A ten-kilometre (six-point-two-mile) section beyond Golembil required the construction of six tunnels totalling 730 metres (2,400 ft) to negotiate a 239-metre (784 ft) climb of the Dawes Range.
To Mungungo
On 7 July 1930, the line was opened via Kalpowar, Dakiel, Bancroft and Crana to Mungungo (then known as "Waratah" ) only 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Monto. It was announced that Waratah would be the terminus, but settlers insisted that Monto must be linked with Gladstone. Kalpowar was a timber milling settlement en route to Monto.
To Monto
On 6 July 1931 the line finally reached Monto via Bukali thus completing a semi circular inland link between Maryborough and Gladstone via the already completed line running north west from Mungar Junction through Biggenden, Gayndah, Mundubbera and Eidsvold. The line was suspended from use in 2002. It awaits the possibility of coal transport from the Monto region to Gladstone port.
Tourism
The Dawes Range Tunnel section of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail was opened on 11th September 2021. The 26.28-kilometre (16.33 mi) section starts at Barrimoon Siding, Kalpowar and finishes at Builyan, Boyne Valley.[1] This section contains 6 tunnels between Barrimoon Siding and Golembil Siding.[2][3] Tunnel Six is the only place 100 year old rail and hogback sleepers are preserved on any of the disused rail corridors in the state. Hogback sleepers have a round top. They are hand hewn from the hard dense iron bark trees growing adjacent to the track.[4] The trail also passes the historic township of Many Peaks with its Local Heritage listed attractions.
While not on the rail trail, the Heritage listed Many Peaks Railway Dam is accessed by getting on to the (very low traffic) bitumen road at Many Peaks and riding back less than a kilometer. There is a new shelter shed, history information signage, toilet block and elevated lookout over the old weir. There is no drinking water available.[5]
^McLachlan, Mark (20 August 2022). "Interactive Maps, Dawes Range Section, BBIRT". Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^McLachlan, Mark (19 June 2018). "Railway Tunnels, Dawes Range between Golembil and Barrimoon sidings". Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Blog. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^Billing, Amy. "Local Heritage Register". Gladstone Regional Council. Many Peaks / Barrimoon Railway Tunnels. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^McLachlan, Mark (17 July 2018). "Is preserving rail and hogbacks in the Boyne Burnett Tunnels and bridges along the corridor important?". Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Blog. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^Billing, Amy. "Local Heritage Register". Gladstone Regional Council. Many Peaks / Barrimoon Railway Tunnels. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
^Billing, Amy. "Local Heritage Register". Gladstone Regional Council. Many Peaks Railway Complex. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^Billing, Amy. "Local Heritage Register". Gladstone Regional Council. Many Peaks Road Bridge. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^Billing, Amy. "Local Heritage Register". Gladstone Regional Council. Many Peaks Railway Dam. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
Triumph of Narrow Gauge: A History of Queensland Railways by John Kerr, 1990 Boolarong Press, Brisbane
"History of Monto & Upper Burnett" by H N C Bandidt 28 July 1988
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gladstone to Monto railway line.
1925 map of the Queensland railway system
August 22, 2023
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Byellee to Monto Branch Railway was a branch railway that branched off the Boyne Valley west of Gladstone in Queensland Australia The Boyne Valley region was predominantly a dairying region and a railway had little justification However a branch was justified in 1906 on the basis of large traffic in timber fuel limestone and flexing ores Progressively opened between 1910 and 1931 the line branched from the North Coast line at Byellee a short distance west of Gladstone and struck a south westerly route via Many Peaks and Mungungo to Monto The last regular train ran in 2002 and the final train on the line was a steam special run from Monto to Maryborough in 2005 From 2012 conversion of the corridor to a multi use rail trail was discussed and Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Inc was formed in July 2018 Contents 1 Route 1 1 Byellee to Many Peaks 1 2 To Barrimoon 1 3 To Mungungo 1 4 To Monto 2 Tourism 3 Heritage listing 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksRoute EditByellee to Many Peaks Edit The first section from Byellee previously known as Boyne Valley Junction to Many Peaks was opened on 25 July 1910 and sidings were established at Beecher Burua Talaba Calliope River now Calliope Taragoola Barmundu Boynedale Wietalaba Nagoorin Ubobo Hellens Littlemore and Builyan Governor Fitzroy named Calliope after HMS Calliope which was anchored in Port Curtis now Gladstone harbour in 1854 The line was built to transport low grade ore from Many Peaks to Mount Morgan for processing A train of copper flexing ore ran to Mount Morgan daily and a mixed train to Gladstone and return ran four days a week Cream and agricultural goods provided the major source of revenue when the Many Peaks mine closed in 1918 To Barrimoon Edit The next stage took the line via Golembil to Barrimoon on 17 August 1926 Although there was a sixteen year gap in building the route traverses steep mountainous country A ten kilometre six point two mile section beyond Golembil required the construction of six tunnels totalling 730 metres 2 400 ft to negotiate a 239 metre 784 ft climb of the Dawes Range To Mungungo Edit On 7 July 1930 the line was opened via Kalpowar Dakiel Bancroft and Crana to Mungungo then known as Waratah only 12 kilometres 7 5 mi from Monto It was announced that Waratah would be the terminus but settlers insisted that Monto must be linked with Gladstone Kalpowar was a timber milling settlement en route to Monto To Monto Edit On 6 July 1931 the line finally reached Monto via Bukali thus completing a semi circular inland link between Maryborough and Gladstone via the already completed line running north west from Mungar Junction through Biggenden Gayndah Mundubbera and Eidsvold The line was suspended from use in 2002 It awaits the possibility of coal transport from the Monto region to Gladstone port Tourism EditThe Dawes Range Tunnel section of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail was opened on 11th September 2021 The 26 28 kilometre 16 33 mi section starts at Barrimoon Siding Kalpowar and finishes at Builyan Boyne Valley 1 This section contains 6 tunnels between Barrimoon Siding and Golembil Siding 2 3 Tunnel Six is the only place 100 year old rail and hogback sleepers are preserved on any of the disused rail corridors in the state Hogback sleepers have a round top They are hand hewn from the hard dense iron bark trees growing adjacent to the track 4 The trail also passes the historic township of Many Peaks with its Local Heritage listed attractions While not on the rail trail the Heritage listed Many Peaks Railway Dam is accessed by getting on to the very low traffic bitumen road at Many Peaks and riding back less than a kilometer There is a new shelter shed history information signage toilet block and elevated lookout over the old weir There is no drinking water available 5 Heritage listing EditThe Local Heritage Register of Gladstone Regional Council lists Many Peaks Barrimoon Railway Tunnels 6 Many Peaks Railway Complex 7 Many Peaks Road Bridge 8 Many Peaks Railway Dam 9 See also Edit Queensland portal Railways portal Callide Valley railway lineReferences Edit McLachlan Mark 20 August 2022 Interactive Maps Dawes Range Section BBIRT Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Retrieved 28 September 2022 McLachlan Mark 19 June 2018 Railway Tunnels Dawes Range between Golembil and Barrimoon sidings Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Blog Retrieved 28 September 2022 Billing Amy Local Heritage Register Gladstone Regional Council Many Peaks Barrimoon Railway Tunnels Retrieved 28 September 2022 McLachlan Mark 17 July 2018 Is preserving rail and hogbacks in the Boyne Burnett Tunnels and bridges along the corridor important Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Blog Retrieved 7 October 2022 Trail Guide Trail Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Rail Trails Australia Retrieved 15 October 2022 Billing Amy Local Heritage Register Gladstone Regional Council Many Peaks Barrimoon Railway Tunnels Retrieved 6 October 2022 Billing Amy Local Heritage Register Gladstone Regional Council Many Peaks Railway Complex Retrieved 28 September 2022 Billing Amy Local Heritage Register Gladstone Regional Council Many Peaks Road Bridge Retrieved 28 September 2022 Billing Amy Local Heritage Register Gladstone Regional Council Many Peaks Railway Dam Retrieved 28 September 2022 Triumph of Narrow Gauge A History of Queensland Railways by John Kerr 1990 Boolarong Press Brisbane History of Monto amp Upper Burnett by H N C Bandidt 28 July 1988External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gladstone to Monto railway line 1925 map of the Queensland railway system Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Byellee to Monto railway line amp oldid 1116500077, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
