SAR Peterborough-Quorn

Line History:

Opened:  1881-1882
Closed:  1987-1988
Length:  130km

Built as a narrow gauge (3' 6" - 1067mm) line from Peterborough to Orroroo in 1881, it was extended to Quorn in 1882 where it joined the SAR Main Northern Line (narrow gauge) from Port Augusta to Maree. The SAR Main Northern Line was extended to Alice Springs, 1220km from Port Augusta, in 1926 and became known as the Central Australian Line. Ownership was transferred to the Commonwealth Railways.

When the Transcontinental Railway from Port Augusta to Kalgoolie was completed in 1917, the Peterborough-Quorn Lne became the route for all transcontinental rail traffic until 1932 when a more direct line from Port Pirie to Port Augusta was completed.

The line continued to see traffic for the Central Australian Line until 1950 when a new standard gauge (4'8.5" - 1435mm) line was constructed which bypassed Quorn. The original narrow gauge Central Australian Line was terminated at Hawker in 1956 and became known as the Port Augusta-Hawker Line. Operational control of the line was transferred back to the SAR. Traffic on the Peterborough-Quorn line declined significantly afterwards.

The line from Port Pirie to Broken Hill was converted to standard gauge (4'8" - 1435mm) during 1969-1970 which isolated the Peterborough-Quorn line from the rest of the narrow gauge network.

The line from Eurelia to Quorn was closed in 1987 followed by the closure of the line from Peterborough to Eurelia in 1988.

A section of the northern end of the line was used by the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society from its base at Quorn. Likewise at the southern end the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre, located at the Peterborough Loco Depot, ran some services on a section of the line. Both operators have since ceased using the Peterborough-Quorn Line.