South Western railway line, Queensland

South Western railway line

				413km	Dirranbandi
				403km	Bonathorne
				393km	Noondoo
				383km	Hawkston
				376km	Noondale
				371km	Dunwinne
				350km	Thallon
				338km	Daymar
				315km	Gradule
				289km	Talwood
				267km	Bungunya
				247km	Toobeah
				230km	Gooray
					Carbuckey
					Callandoon North
				208km	Hunter
				202km	Goondiwindi
				188km	Carrington
					Mooroobie
					Kildonan
				174km	Kurumbul
					Gibinbell
				154km	Yelarbon
				134km	Whetstone
				118km	Junction of Texas branch
				117km	Inglewood
				103km	Cobba-Da-Mana
					Oman-ama
					Graysholm
					Yuraraba
				71km	Gore
				58km	Karara
					Durakai
				40km	Thane
					Greymare
					Montrose
					Cunningham
				19km	Wheatvale
					Leslie
					Allan
				0km	From Warwick
					on the Southern Line

The South Western line is a narrow gauge railway line in the southern part of the state of Queensland, Australia. It junctions from the Southern line immediately south of Warwick station and proceeded westwards for a distance of 413 km to the town of Dirranbandi.^[1] A western extension to Boomie in New South Wales, approved by the Queensland Parliament in 1914, was never constructed. The Thallon-to-Dirranbandi section was closed on 2 September 2010.^[2]

It services the small towns of Inglewood (junction of the now closed Texas branch) and Goondiwindi as well as the villages of Yelarbon and Thallon among others.

History

The South Western line opened as far as Thane on 1 July 1904 and was completed to Dirranbandi on 21 May 1913.^[3] A further extension of the line west of Dirranbandi was approved by Parliament in 1914 but never constructed.^[4]

Bonathorne station, in Dirranbandi (28°35′52″S 148°19′35″E / 28.597857°S 148.326381°E / -28.597857; 148.326381),^[5] prior to 28 June 1917 known as Kundilam,^[6] is now abandoned.

Services

The South Western Mail was introduced as a twice weekly service in 1910. Upon the opening of the line to Dirranbandi, the train departed Brisbane at 20:45, arrived at Warwick 04:00, Goondiwindi 10:00 and Dirranbandi 16:30. The return service departed 11.30, arrived Goondiwindi 17.35, Warwick 23.35 and Brisbane 07.10 the following morning.

The South Western line was the last railway in Australia to be serviced by mail trains.^[7] The last Dirranbandi Mail ran on 11 February 1993.^[8]

Passenger services no longer service the South Western line though it is still used for freight as far as Thallon. The line beyond there was extensively damaged in the 2010 floods and was closed on 2 September 2010. Long-distance bus operators Crisps Coaches and Greyhound Australia now serve towns along the route.

Current line standards

The section from Warwick to Goodiwindi is laid with 30, 41 & 47 kg/m rail, 25-50% steel sleepers, a maximum axle load of 15.75 tonnes and a line speed of 80 km/h. The steepest grade on the section is 1 in 44 (~2.3%), and the minimum radius curve is 200m.

The next section to Thallon has similar rail, a 70 km/h line speed to Toobeah, 60 km/h beyond, a maximum grade of 1 in 50 (2%) and minimum 400m radius curves.

The last section to Dirranbandi had 20 kg/m rail, a 10 tonne axle load and 40 km/h line speed.

Consistent with the rest of the Queensland regional railways, the line is narrow gauge (3 ft 6 in or 1,067 mm).

Gallery

1721 turns the Dirranbandi Mail on the triangle on 13 November 1987
The Dirranbandi Mail at Talwood station on 13 November 1987
The westbound Dirranbandi Mail at Goondiwindi on 13 November 1987

References

^ QR Limited (Network Access division) (September 2005). "South Western System: Information Pack (Issue 2)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
^ "End of an era at Thallon". Balonne Beacon. 22 July 2010. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via Back on Track.
^ QR Limited. "QR Corporate – A vision splendid". Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
^ Kerr, J. 'Triumph of Narrow Gauge' Boolarong Publications 1990
^ "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". qldspatial.information.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
^ "Name of Station Changed". The Brisbane Courier. No. 18, 549. Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1917. p. 9. Retrieved 22 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "The Last of the Mail Trains" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin" July 1990 pages 155-166
^ QR Limited. "QR Corporate – Modern competitive railway". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2008.