Narrow Gauge Railways in Australia - Railway Lines in Tasmania, Narrow Gauge Lines of the Victorian Railways, Hervey Bay Railway Line (Paperback)

Chapters: Narrow Gauge Lines of the Victorian Railways, Puffing Billy Railway, Walhalla Goldfields Railway, Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania, North Coast Railway Line, Queensland, North Australia Railway, Walhalla Railway Line, Victoria, Lake Margaret Tram, Crowes Railway Line, Victoria, North East Dundas Tramway, Whitfield Railway Line, Victoria, Tyers Valley Tramway, Goonyella Railway Line, Queensland, Powelltown Tramway, Welshpool Jetty Railway Line, Victoria. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 76. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The former Victorian Railways, the state railway authority in Victoria, Australia built a number of experimental 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway lines around the beginning of the 20th century. Although all were closed by the early 1960s, parts of two have been reopened as heritage railways. A depression in the early 1890s brought a halt to the rapid expansion of railways in Victoria. Politicians promoted narrow gauge lines as a way to link remote communities, particularly in hilly country, without the expense of the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge railways. Railways officials opposed them, citing the inconvenience and expense of a break-of-gauge. A parliamentary committee eventually identified 14 possible locations for narrow gauge railways, and recommended that four experimental lines be built. They were: The Warburton line was built in broad gauge, however authority was given for the construction of the other three lines. Subsequently, a further two lines were built, the Moe to Walhalla line, and an extension from Beech Forest to Crowes. At various times other lines and extensions were proposed, but none came to anything. Initial plans were for the railways to be constructed in 2 ft (610 mm) gauge, but following correspondence with Brit...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=714744