Cecil Plains railway line

The Cecil Plains Branch was a branch railway line on the Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. It branched from the Western railway line at Oakey and terminated at Cecil Plains, a distance of 63 kilometres (39 mi). It operated from 1914 to 1994.

A branch line crossing at Oakey, 2014

History
This grader was a traction engine powered designed to operate in the black soil, used in the construction of the Evanslea to Cecil Pains section of the line, 1919

On 5 December 1911, the Parliament of Queensland approved the construction of a 31-kilometre (19 mi) line to run from the Darling Downs town of Oakey southwest to the Mount Russell region.[1]

Work began in May 1914 and the line to Mount Russell opened on 20 September 1915 terminating at the newly named town of Evanslea.[2] En route stops were established at Tangkam, Yargullen, Aubigny, Purrawunda, Motley, Boora-Mugga, Mount Tyson and Mondam.

In 1917, work began on a 32-kilometre (20 mi) extension of the line further west to Cecil Plains,[1] with stops incorporated en route at Norillee, Bongeen, Norwin, Mywybilla, Nangwee and Horraine. That section of the line opened on 29 April 1919.[1]

A passenger rail motor service plied the line fortnightly during the 1940s, and weekly during the 1950s, until withdrawn.[1]

The line closed in 1994.

References
  1. Kerr, John (1990). Triumph of narrow gauge : a history of Queensland Railways. Boolarong Publications. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-86439-102-5.
  2. "Advertising". Darling Downs Gazette (7, 704). Queensland, Australia. 11 September 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 27 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
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