Bell Branch railway line

RM 1901 at Bell Station, ~1991

The Bell Branch Railway was a railway line from Dalby, on the Western line, to Bell in Queensland, Australia.^[1]

History

In 1889 Queensland Parliament approved the construction of a line to run northeast from the Darling Downs town of Dalby to the Bunya Mountains but financial hardship prevented the commencement of work. In 1904 further approval enabled construction of a 39 km line to Cattle Creek, later renamed Bell after Lands Minister Sir Joshua Peter Bell.

The branch opened for business on 10 April 1906 and stops were established at Bonyumba, Sanatorium, Mocatta’s Corner, Moffatt, Kaimkillenbun, Squaretop, Warmga and Koondai-i.

A daily service was initially provided, a thrice-weekly service sufficed by 1923 and a rail motor service prevailed between 1928 and 1956. During its time, goods transport was prolific. Farm produce was the initial mainstay but later cream traffic increased as did the carriage of wheat and timber from the Bunya Mountains.

The line was mothballed on 1 January 1994. The Bell station precinct has been restored and houses an historical display.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell Branch railway line.

• 1925 map of the Queensland railway system

Railway lines in Queensland
Main Central Western Main Great Northern New South Wales North Coast Southern South Western Tablelands Western List of approved, never constructed lines
South East Queensland Airport Cleveland Corinda to Yeerongpilly Exhibition Ferny Grove Fisherman Islands Gold Coast Pinkenba Redcliffe Peninsula Shorncliffe Springfield
Country branch Operational List of Queensland branch line locations Blackwater railway system Etheridge Glenmorgan Goonyella Kuranda Millmerran Moura Newlands railway system (GAP) Normanton to Croydon Wandoan Closed List of Queensland branch line locations Amiens Beaudesert Bell Blackall & Yaraka Brisbane Valley Buderim Bulimba Callide Valley Canungra Cecil Plains Cooyar Crows Nest Dajarra & Selwyn Dawson Valley Dugandan Gladstone to Monto Goomburra Haden Injune Isis Jandowae Kajabbi Kilcoy Killarney Mackay & branches Marburg Mareeba to Chillagoe Maryborough to Monto Maryvale Mt Edwards Mount Perry Mulgowie Nanango Pemberton Proston Redbank-Bundamba South Coast Tarong Texas Urangan Wallaville Windera Winton Wooloongabba
Proposed or under construction Cross River Rail Great Western Inland Maroochydore Surat Basin
Tourist & heritage Kuranda Scenic Railway Mary Valley Heritage Railway Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway Savannahlander Southern Downs Steam Railway