SAR Peterborough-Quorn
m |
m |
||
| Line 202: | Line 202: | ||
<span style="font-weight: 700; background-color: black; color: white;">Opened: </span> 1881-1882<br> | <span style="font-weight: 700; background-color: black; color: white;">Opened: </span> 1881-1882<br> | ||
<span style="font-weight: 700; background-color: black; color: white;">Closed: </span> 1987-1988<br> | <span style="font-weight: 700; background-color: black; color: white;">Closed: </span> 1987-1988<br> | ||
| − | <span style="font-weight: 700; background-color: black; color: white;">Length: </span> 130km<br><br> | + | <span style="font-weight: 700; background-color: black; color: white;">Length: </span> 130km - 81mi<br><br> |
| − | Built as a narrow gauge (3ft6in - 1067mm) line from '''Peterborough''' to '''Orroroo''' in 1881, it was extended to '''Quorn''' in 1882 where it joined the <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;"> SAR Main Northern Line </span> (narrow gauge) from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Oodnadatta'''. The '''Northern Line''' was transferred to the '''Commonwealth Railways''' in the early 1920s. When it was extended to '''Alice Springs''' in 1926-29 it was renamed to | + | Built as a narrow gauge (3ft6in - 1067mm) line from '''Peterborough''' to '''Orroroo''' in 1881, it was extended to '''Quorn''' in 1882 where it joined the <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;"> SAR Main Northern Line </span> (narrow gauge) from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Oodnadatta'''. The '''Northern Line''' was transferred to the '''Commonwealth Railways''' in the early 1920s. When it was extended to '''Alice Springs''' in 1926-29 it was renamed to <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;"> Central Australia Railway </span>.<br> |
When the standard gauge (4ft8½in - 1435mm) '''Transcontinental Railway''' from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Kalgoolie''' was completed in 1917, the <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;"> Peterborough-Quorn Line </span> became the route for all '''Transcontinental''' and '''Central Australia''' rail traffic until 1932 when a more direct broad gauge (5ft3in - 1600mm) line from '''Port Pirie''' to '''Port Augusta''' was completed.<br> | When the standard gauge (4ft8½in - 1435mm) '''Transcontinental Railway''' from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Kalgoolie''' was completed in 1917, the <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;"> Peterborough-Quorn Line </span> became the route for all '''Transcontinental''' and '''Central Australia''' rail traffic until 1932 when a more direct broad gauge (5ft3in - 1600mm) line from '''Port Pirie''' to '''Port Augusta''' was completed.<br> | ||
| − | During the 1940s many of the passing loops on the line were lengthened to handle | + | During the 1940s many of the passing loops on the line were lengthened to handle longer military trains carrying troops and ''war materiel'' to defend Northern Australia.<br> |
| + | |||
| + | In the 1950s the main '''Central Australia Railway''' was diverted away from '''Quorn''' and the remaining line was truncated at '''Hawker'''. This significantly reduced traffic and led to the removal of several passing loops on the '''Peterborough-Quorn''' line. The line from '''Port Pirie''' to '''Broken Hill''' was converted to standard gauge during 1969-1970 which isolated the '''Peterborough-Quorn Line''' from the rest of the narrow gauge network (the '''Port Augusta''' to '''Quorn''' line was closed in 1956).<br> | ||
In the 1960s there were 3 weekly return freight services between '''Peterborough''' and '''Quorn'''.<br> | In the 1960s there were 3 weekly return freight services between '''Peterborough''' and '''Quorn'''.<br> | ||
| − | In January 1970 all steam locos were withdrawn and replaced by two diesel locos based at '''Peterborough''', but one was later withdrawn. Limited regular freight services to '''Orroroo''' ran until 1973 when they were replaced by a road vehicle but trains still serviced the grain silos at '''Orroroo''', when needed. By 1979 there was only one weekly return service to '''Quorn''' and this | + | In January 1970 all steam locos were withdrawn and replaced by two diesel locos based at '''Peterborough''', but one diesel was later withdrawn. Limited regular freight services to '''Orroroo''' ran until 1973 when they were replaced by a road vehicle but trains still serviced the grain silos at '''Orroroo''', when needed. By 1979 there was only one weekly return service to '''Quorn''' and this often terminated at '''Carrieton'''. The last timetabled return freight service to '''Quorn''' ran in 1980. Special steam passenger excursion trains still ran from '''Peterborough''' to '''Quorn''' upto the mid 1980s.</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
</table> <!-- END Line History Table (part 1) --> | </table> <!-- END Line History Table (part 1) --> | ||
| Line 220: | Line 222: | ||
</table> <!-- END TOP TABLE --> | </table> <!-- END TOP TABLE --> | ||
| − | The line from '''Eurelia''' to '''Quorn''' was closed in March 1987 as it was regarded to be in poor condition. This was followed by the closure of the line | + | The line from '''Eurelia''' to '''Quorn''' was closed in March 1987 as it was regarded to be in poor condition. This was followed by the closure of the line from '''Peterborough''' to '''Eurelia''' to normal traffic in November 1988. The last scheduled services on the line were grain movements to clear the silos at '''Orroroo''' in October 1988 but the '''Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society''' continued to run excursion trains to '''Eurelia''' until 2002. The line was then permanently closed.<br> |
By 2008 the line south of '''Bruce''' had been removed with the original track preserved in only a few places of significance ('''Black Rock''', '''Wallaway''' and '''Eurelia''').<br> | By 2008 the line south of '''Bruce''' had been removed with the original track preserved in only a few places of significance ('''Black Rock''', '''Wallaway''' and '''Eurelia''').<br> | ||
| Line 230: | Line 232: | ||
In the 1890s 6 return passenger services a week were timetabled - all were mixed services with a passenger car attached to a freight train. The journey time from '''Peterborough''' to '''Quorn''' was just over 4 hours.<br> | In the 1890s 6 return passenger services a week were timetabled - all were mixed services with a passenger car attached to a freight train. The journey time from '''Peterborough''' to '''Quorn''' was just over 4 hours.<br> | ||
| − | A through express passenger service, the '''East-West Express''', ran from '''Terowie''' to '''Port Augusta''' from 1917 to 1932. This was replaced by a rail car service until 1938. The mixed freight and passenger services then returned as far as '''Quorn''' with a journey time of close to 6 hours. This continued until 1957 when a faster '''Brill''' diesel rail car running from '''Terowie''' to '''Quorn''' provided 3 return services each week. | + | A through express passenger service, the '''East-West Express''', ran from '''Terowie''' to '''Port Augusta''' from 1917 to 1932. This was replaced by a rail car service until 1938. The mixed freight and passenger services then returned as far as '''Quorn''' with a journey time of close to 6 hours. This continued until 1957 when a faster '''Brill''' diesel rail car running from '''Terowie''' to '''Quorn''' provided 3 return services each week. Passenger services ended in 1969 |
Revision as of 09:17, 23 September 2022
The line from Eurelia to Quorn was closed in March 1987 as it was regarded to be in poor condition. This was followed by the closure of the line from Peterborough to Eurelia to normal traffic in November 1988. The last scheduled services on the line were grain movements to clear the silos at Orroroo in October 1988 but the Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society continued to run excursion trains to Eurelia until 2002. The line was then permanently closed. By 2008 the line south of Bruce had been removed with the original track preserved in only a few places of significance (Black Rock, Wallaway and Eurelia). Passenger Services: The planners believed that the line would attract many settlers, industries and businesses to the region and, as a result, many of the stations were built in a "grand style". The reality never lived up to the expectations. In the 1890s 6 return passenger services a week were timetabled - all were mixed services with a passenger car attached to a freight train. The journey time from Peterborough to Quorn was just over 4 hours. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
