Thread by @ozbob13

Goodna (Qld) is now my local railway station. Like most stations it has an interesting history. Open in 1874 on south-western line, duplicated 1886. Sparked 1980. Goodna is adjacent to the Brisbane River and gets flooded from time to time.

Network c. 1920
blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2015/07/17/ear…

Goodna was the spot for sod turning (30/1/73) for Brisbane - Ipswich railway. Toffs wanted in THEIR towns, so compromise was Goodna.
Official party travelled to Goodna wharf by paddle steamer.

The Telegraph Sat 1 Feb 1873 Page 3
MY TRIP TO GOODNA.
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

The Kate, a 150-ton iron, paddle-wheel steamer especially designed for Brisbane’s bay and river trade is mentioned in the article, it too took pax out to Goodna for the big day. The railway killed the river trade.

Paddle steamer Kate Gladstone 1870.
abc.net.au/news/2009-06-0…

From Ipswich river steamer 'Settler' brought 350 pax to Goodna. Kate had 500 on board, the Francis Cadell around 300, from Brisbane. It was a big day!
Good article trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

River steamer Settler - used Brisbane - Ipswich 1863 to 1879
pawkyjohn.com/river-steamer-…

Goodna station after duplication. Sidings were removed from the 1970/80s. Today it is just an island platform on a double main line.
A workers train for Ipswich Workshops was stabled overnight at Goodna up to the 1960s or so.
railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?…

Goodna was going to be the junction station for the Beaudesert line at one stage. Wiser minds prevailed in the end and it went from the South Coast line.

Goodna 1980.
railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?…
Original station building.

Platform numbering at Goodna is reverse of normal numbering on Queensland Rail. UP track is platform 2 and DOWN track is platform 1. I have asked QR why and they haven't been able to come up with a reason.

UP service at Goodna
R Dow 2010
Original station damaged by fire.

Near Goodna on the Brisbane Ipswich Road, travelling towards Goodna 1924
Railway is upper left on embankment in an attempt to mitigate floods.
railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?…

Goodna station is a ' strong swimmer ' having been flooded a number times over the years (as has Goodna).

Goodna having a 'swimming lesson' 2011 floods
goodnaflood.blogspot.com/2012/02/flood-…
Looking towards Gailes (down direction).

Brisbane River Flood at Goodna 12 January 2011 showing
the Ipswich Motorway under water. In the centre left
of the picture is the pedestrian footbridge across the
Ipswich Motorway to the Goodna Railway Station.
goodnaflood.blogspot.com/2012/02/major-…

After the 2011 floods it took 7 months for the lifts to be restored to service. It was a day of great jubilation when lifts operational again. After this photo I had beer to celebrate at the razzle dazzle.
gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/station-l…

New road at Goodna on the left, with the old one to the right - hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/36… - #slqdigital @slqld 1956
Looking west.
Station can be seen, UP train, steam hauled empty coalie.

In 2013 Goodna station scored .....
a water bubbler!
After the ' official ' commissioning we again adjourned to the razzle dazzle for a coldie.
A tradition established at Goodna for such events dating from the sod turning celebrations.
R Dow 2013

Layard St rail over road bridge, this near down end of station. Note where the former loop line bridge was is where the protective beam was placed.
Bridge protection installed in 2017.
R Dow 2017.

Following the 2011 floods the communication/signalling equipment was raised above flood level on stilts. Finally some proactive future proofing.

UP Ipswich train EMU14 lead unit.
R Dow 2012

This photograph shows the newly raised structure for the comms/signal equipment. The old ground level building can be seen. Not a good idea to have it on the ground.
What were they thinking? 🤦‍♂️
R Dow 2012

Goodna is not a grand station by any means, but it does the job. We love it. Has good flood resilience, and that matters.

Loading concrete pipes at Goodna 1960s ipswich.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus…

The days when it had a yard. Station Masters house seen still exists.

Video:
QRN UP Pipe Train Goodna Queensland

Goodna sees a lot of freight trains as well as the suburban service. Also the Westlander.

'Pillar of Courage'
The pillar at Goodna depicts the flood levels (from lowest to highest) in 1898, 2011, 1890, 1974 and 1893 two floods in the one year.
R Dow

Heights are indicated by different coloured sections representing each major flood level.

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