On 23rd November 1910, the North Coast Railway Act was introduced into State Parliament. Its purpose was to connect the hitherto isolated sections of railways along Queensland’s eastern coastline thus providing an uninterrupted rail link between Brisbane and Cairns. The legislation gave the Commissioner for Railways power to build 469 miles of new railway and takeover four Council owned railways totalling 119 miles. The North Coast Railway Act received Royal Assent on 21st December 1910, but it took 14 years before the goal was finally realised. On Monday, 8th December 1924, people arrived at Daradgee by special trains to hear Premier Theodore officially declare the 1043 mile North Coast Line open.

Local Authorities

Divisional Boards and Municipal Councils were the predecessors of today’s Shire Councils and Town Councils respectively. Their titles were changed in 1903.

At the time, the Railways Act only empowered the government to build railways. Other bodies wishing to construct a railway needed to obtain authorization under the Tramways Act of 1880 and its later amendments. Such constructions, irrespective of size, were known as tramways.

(Today’s legislation is somewhat different and what were once sugar mill tramways are now described as “Cane Railways” under the Sugar Industry and Transport Infrastructure Acts)

Cairns – Mulgrave Tramway

The Cairns Divisional Board was the first local authority to embark on railway construction. Work commenced on a 14 mile line to the Mulgrave River in June 1896. The line was extended 3 ¾ miles to Aloomba in August 1898. Further extensions were made to Harvey’s Creek in August 1903 and to Babinda in February 1910. The Board purchased B11 N°178 to assist with construction. Two additional engines (B12 N°136 & B12 N°137) were bought from QGR in November 1898 to cope with expanding traffic. A further engine (B12 N°138) was obtained in 1901. In 1907, the Board approached the government in the hope of purchasing a more powerful B13 class engine. However, the request was unsuccessful as the government had no surplus engines available. As a consequence, the Board then placed an order with Baldwin Locomotive Works for a new similar sized machine. This locomotive was typical of American engines of that period with wagon top boiler, large cab and warning bell. Further traffic increases caused the Board to occasionally hire locomotives and rollingstock from the Railway Department to meet peak needs. The 37½ mile line, five locomotives, various passenger coaches and 160 wagons were purchased for £153,650 under the North Coast Railway Act. Although the transaction took place on 1st July 1911, QGR did not assume control of operations until 1st January 1912.

Dimensions

Wheel Arrangement	4-6-0
Cylinders (diameter X stroke) “	13 X 20
Coupled Wheels diameter ins.	40
Length over Buffers	45′ 5″
Boiler Pressure – psi.	140
Coal Capacity – tons	4
Water Capacity – gallons	1200
Tractive Effort – lbs. (80%)	9464

No	QGR Class	Builder	Works No	Year	In QR Service	Sold to Tramway	Acquired from Tramway	Written Off	Notes
(GN5) (GN3) (CS3) 178	B11	Baldwin	4594	1879	.82	.96	12.11	8.13	Sold to O’Rourke & McSharry contractors when erected at Townsville in 1879. Repurchased in 1882 but resold to same contractors in 1884. Repurchased again 1885. Shipped to Cairns 1887.
136(CR4)	B12	Kitson	1988	1874	12.74	11.98	12.11	7.27
137(CR5)	B12	Kitson	1992	1874	7.75	11.98	12.11	10.22
138(CR6)	B12	Kitson	1993	1874	10.75	12.01	12.11	7.22
5	B13	Baldwin	32678	1908	–	–	12.11	10.24	Purchased new by Board Sold to QGR for £2,664

In 1889-90 it was decided to consolidate all locomotives and rollingstock into one register. Prior to that time each isolated railway maintained its own lists. This resulted in most items, except those operating on the original Southern and Western Railway (from Ipswich), being renumbered. Numbers shown are state (or former S & W) numbers. Those in brackets are former numbers of individual railways.

Abbreviations

CR – Central Railway based on Rockhampton
CS – Cairns Railway
GN – Great Northern Railway based on Townsville
Baldwin – Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia USA
Kitson – Kitson & Coy Leeds

Proserpine Tramway

The Bowen Proserpine Joint Tramway Board was formed by the Bowen Municipal Council and Wangaratta Divisional Board to construct and operate a railway between Proserpine and Bowen. Government approval was granted and with the aid of loan monies, a 38 mile 50 chain line was constructed from Proserpine to Don, a mile from Bowen. In 1909, the Board purchased B11 N179 from the Railway Department for the sum of £600. Services commenced on 11th July 1910, just six months before the passing of the North Coast Railway Act. Complete takeover of the line did not occur until 1st July 1917 due to outstanding matters regarding freehold title to some lands.

No	QGR Class	Builder	Works No	Year	In QR Service	Sold to Tramway	Acquired from Tramway	Written Off	Notes
179 (GNR 1)(GNR22) (BN2)	B11	Baldwin	4596	1879	1880	1909	4.11	3.17	Sold to J Bashford contractor in 1884, repurchased in 1886. Transferred to Bowen 1890. Sold to Mount Cuthbert Mine in March 1917 for £550

In 1889 locomotives and rollingstock were consolidated into one rollingstock register. This resulted in most items, except those operating on the original Southern and Western Railway (from Ipswich), being renumbered. Numbers shown are state (or former S & W) numbers. Those in brackets are former numbers of individual railways.

Abbreviations

GNR – Great Northern Railway based on Townsville
BN – Bowen Railway based on Bowen
Baldwin – Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia USA

Ayr Tramway

The Townsville Municipal Council, Thuringowa Divisional Board and Ayr Divisional Board formed the Ayr Tramway Joint Board in September 1899 and submitted a proposal to build a 44 mile railway from Stewart’s Creek (now Stuart) to Ayr. Government approval was granted and the necessary loan obtained. The line was completed on 27th March 1901. The board did not own any locomotives or rollingstock, but hired these as necessary from the Railway Department. The tramway was acquired on 1st November 1911 under the North Coast Railway Act.

Geraldton Tramway

Geraldton Divisional Board had constructed a two foot gauge line from Innisfail to Nerada as part of an intended rail link to Herberton on Atherton Tableland. Nearby, Mourilyan Sugar Mill had also built a narrow gauge line from its factory to Mourilyan Harbour. Under the government’s 1910 legislation it was proposed to construct a 3′ 6″ gauge line from Innisfail to Mourilyan Harbour. The Johnstone Shire Council’s (previously Geraldton Divisional Board) line and the Mourilyan Sugar Mill’s Harbour Line were purchased in July 1914. The Railway Department jointed the two lines to complete a 30 mile 2′ gauge network. The system later became known as Innisfail Tramway and remained in QR’s possession until sold to local sugar industry interests on 21st June 1977. The 3′ 6″ gauge line to the harbour never eventuated.

History referenced from “Triumph of Narrow Gauge” by J D Kerr – 1990