Main Range Railway, Railway heritage site in South East Queensland, Australia
Main Range Railway extends 161 kilometers from Roma Street Station in Brisbane to Toowoomba, crossing mountainous terrain with multiple tunnels and bridges cutting through the landscape. The route follows a winding path that descends from inland plateaus toward the coast, navigating steep gradients and valleys.
Construction occurred between 1865 and 1867, marking the world's first mainline narrow gauge railway and proving this design could handle major transport operations. The pioneering project demonstrated new engineering possibilities for rail networks in challenging terrain.
The railway shaped pastoral communities across the Darling Downs by linking sheep stations directly to coastal ports for wool trading. This connection helped local settlements grow economically and stay connected to distant markets.
The historic stretch from Brisbane to Toowoomba is best experienced during clear weather when views from the winding route are most visible. Visitors should confirm in advance which sections are accessible today, as service patterns have changed since the railway's original operation.
The route features nine tunnels, with the eighth tunnel containing a rare side gallery found nowhere else in Australian railway tunnels. This engineering solution reveals how workers adapted to difficult rock formations when cutting through the mountains.
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