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RB Dow Public transport advocate Ex soldier RAAMC PTE CPL SGT SSGT LT CAPT (Ret'd) Retired Medical Scientist FAIMS

Feb 9, 2021, 12 tweets

#SEQQRbranchlines
Laidley - Mulgowie (Laidley Valley) line.
Opened in 1911, and was only 11 km in length.

Stations - Cooper's Hill, Goothenda, Paree, Kullee, terminated at Mulgowie. Closed in 1955. audaxqld.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/new…

Minister for Railways, the Honourable Walter Trueman Paget, makes a speech before turning the first sod Laidley Valley railway -1910
hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/10… - #slqdigital @slqld
There had been community advocacy for 30 years to get this line built, so quite a turnout.

Minister for Railways, the Honourable Walter Trueman Paget, turning the first sod for the Laidley Valley Railway Line, 1910
hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/10… - #slqdigital @slqld

The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) Wed 19 Apr 1911 Page 3
LAIDLEY VALLEY RAILWAY.
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…
Interesting to note that Mulgowie was the railway name, locals knew it as Burnside.

Mulgowie Railway Station c. 1925
facebook.com/railshop/posts…
One of the very few photographs on this line.

The line never was that successful. Initial twice-daily service reduced to once daily in 1918, reduced again to a twice weekly service1930s. First attempt to close the line was in 1930.
The Brisbane Courier Mon 22 Sep 1930 Page 3
MULGOWIE LINE CLOSURE
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Wed 24 Sep 1930 Page 5
LAIDLEY-MULGOWIE RAILWAY.
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…
The local farmers agreed to a freight charge increase and the line remained opened.

Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954) Sat 15 Jan 1955 Page 1
6 State Branch Railway lines To Be Closed
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…
The line battled on, only to be closed in 1955 without a grace period. The short run to the cattle yards remained opened to 1969.

There were attempts to get the line extended to Thornton. Had the extension eventuated it may have been more successful.

'The Brisbane Courier Wed 24 Jul 1918 Page 8
Laidley Valley Railway Extension.
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

Map of the Laidley Valley, Thornton is marked.
bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&x=152.…

Loading produce at the Laidley Railway Station - very early 1900s
facebook.com/VintageQueensl…

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