The Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) was the former operator of the mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia. Formed in 1872, the railway company was managed by the Government of Tasmania, and existed until absorption into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1978.
History Precursor Launceston & Western Railway The early railways of Tasmania were constructed by a number of private companies, rather than owned by the Government.
Proposals were considered by the Tasmanian Government for the construction of a railway from Hobart to Launceston as early as 1856, when the colony gained responsible government.
In June 1857, railway committees were formed in Deloraine, Carrick, Longford, Perth and Westbury, to lobby for the construction of a railway between Launceston and Deloraine. Delegations from these committees were successful in lobbying the Mayor of Launceston to organise a meeting on the issue on 27 August, with discussions around the need for a railway to assist farmers in getting produce to market, given the poor state of roads and the cost of transporting goods. Subsequently, a petition was organised to deliver to the Governor.
In 1858, a Parliamentary Joint Committee reported in favour of railway construction within the Colony, but nothing was done until 1865 when the Prospectus of the Launceston and Western Railway Company was issued. The first Railway Act was passed later that year which provided for the construction of a railway between Launceston and Deloraine by private enterprise.Tasmania's First Railway Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October 1941, pp. 41–44
The Launceston and Western Railway was a Joint Stock Company of £450,000 capital, chiefly borrowed in England, with the interest guaranteed by the Tasmanian Government. The land-holders, whom the line would benefit, entered into an obligation to recoup the State should the returns from the railway fall short of the interest money.
The Launceston and Western Railway was formed on 9 May 1867. Surveying of the line begun almost immediately, with pegs being laid as far as Perth by July 1867. The first sod of the line was turned on 15 January 1868 by the Duke of Edinburgh who was on a visit to the Colonies.
On 15 July 1868 tenders were opened for the construction of the railway. Shareholders criticised the tenders for being unfair to local firms, preferring those from the other colonies rather than Tasmania. The contracts were awarded to Melbourne-based Overend and Robb, who had worked on railways in Victoria.
In August 1868, construction started at Jingler's Valley near Young Town. The undulating country presented few engineering challenges, with the only major works being a bridge over the North Esk in Launceston, cuttings and embankments climbing from St Leonards to Western Junction, a brick viaduct at Perth, and the Longford Railway Bridge.
Steam transport began earnestly in June 1869, when the contractors began hauling ballast from a quarry in Invermay. On 19 August 1869, the first "ride-on-rails" excursion took place between Jingler's Valley and Launceston, giving residents their first experiences with train travel.
By February 1870, most of the permanent way was complete, except for areas around Westbury and the Longford bridge. New tenders were issued for the construction of station buildings, while further carriages and rolling stock were being fabricated. The date for completion as set out in the contract was 10 March 1870, but an extension was given and construction continued to a point where the opening date could be set for the following September.
In July 1870, the first appointments of stationmasters and staff were made, and sidings had been completed at Perth, Longford and Westbury. Stations at Launceston, Longford, Westbury, Deloraine, and other stops were being built at this time, and the final shipment of rails from England meant completion of the line was expected by mid-August.
Extensive rains resulted in further delays, with flooding in parts requiring the construction of culverts and extra drainage, and it was not until 10 February 1871 that the line was opened for traffic by the Governor. When the line was opened, a service of three double-headed trains each way per day was operated, but this proved unsatisfactory and later on one locomotive per run was used.
During the construction period, the company had experienced some difficulty in raising the necessary finance to meet the cost of construction. It applied to the Government for assistance. The Government appointed two Railway Commissioners to generally supervise all railway construction and advance the company the finance to complete the building of the line. The construction contractor continued to operate the railway until November 1871, the L&WR then took over.
By December 1872, it was agreed that a fifth locomotive was required and an order was placed with Sharp, Stewart and Company. Traffic showed an increase after the company took over the working of the line, however difficulties were experienced in continuing operations and the payment of interest on loans.
Beginning
The Launceston and Western Railway was struggling to pay its creditors, and it became necessary for the Government to step in. Negotiations were commenced with a view of the Government taking over the line, with legislation enacted making the L&WR hand all assets to the Government on 3 August 1873. The Government took over operation of the line from 31 October 1873, and while it was not formally organised as such, the Tasmanian Government Railways were established.
The line was initially built in Broad or Irish gauge. Very shortly after the Government takeover in 1873 a decision was made to convert the line to the narrow gauge as used by the newly created Tasmanian Main Line Railway.
In March 1876, the Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company had completed the construction of a gauge line from Hobart to Evandale and entered into negotiation with the Government for the construction of a third rail over the broad gauge tracks of the Launceston and Western Railway between Evandale Junction and Launceston. Approval was given and the TMLR began operating over a dual gauge line into Launceston on 1 November 1876.
The Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company (TMLR) later opened their Hobart to Evandale line in 1876, to a . Because of the break-of-gauge, the TMLR laid a third rail upon the L&WR line, and operated dual gauge for the final to Launceston.
During the early 1880s, the Tasmanian Government decided upon construction of further narrow gauge lines and commenced with a line from Deloraine to Devonport which opened on 1 September 1885. In 1887, the broad gauge rolling stock of the Launceston and Western Railway consisted of 14 passenger carriages, 4 horse boxes and 84 goods vehicles. A proposal to take up the outer rail was examined and it was decided that greater economy of operation would be achieved. The last broad gauge train ran on 20 August 1888.
The Government had during this time continued to take over failed railway companies across the state, and it soon became apparent that the Tasmanian Main Line Railway would suffer financial issues. With the absorption of the Hobart-Evandale line in 1890, the railway network became whole, and thus created an official public railway service in Tasmania. As a result of this takeover, all Tasmanian railways were relaid or newly constructed in gauge.
Transport Commission On 1 July 1939, the railway administration was absorbed into the newly created Transport Commission and became its Railway Branch. The commission was empowered to co-ordinate and improve land transport within the State, and one of its policies was to encourage the use of the railway wherever possible. Consequently, to aid the railway, Tasmania's road network was divided into nine road transport zones, with levies instituted against trucks which crossed between zones if they were in competition with the railways.
Centenary From 7–14 February 1971, the TGR celebrated its centenary of operations, with special trains scheduled during this time for trips between Launceston and Deloraine with intermediate stops. Special fares were arranged for these trips, with return tickets between the two termini priced at $1.00 (approximately $9.74 in 2012). Trains were arranged with either single, double or triple-headed steam locomotives, depending on the type of stock and number of passengers carried.
On 10 February, the official ceremony was held at Launceston Railway Station, with addresses from the Transport Commissioner George Webb and Minister for Transport Leonard Bessell, as well as the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by the then-Premier of Tasmania William Angus Bethune. Richard Green, the Mayor of Launceston, also presented the Guard of the centenary train with "Scrolls of Greetings", which were presented to the Wardens of the Municipalities of Evandale, Longford, Westbury and Deloraine. The Centenary Train also conveyed special mail from the Launceston Post Office, as well as politicians and invited guests.
After the Centenary train, further special trains were run through to St Marys on the Fingal Line, south down to Ross on the Main Line, and as far up as Railton on the Western line. Several trains were also timetabled to pick up passengers flown from Melbourne to Western Junction.
The centenary celebrations were overall viewed as an astounding success, with most seats booked on each special train. Aside from the use of one Y Class diesel locomotive on a train for "special guests", every train scheduled as part of the centenary used well-maintained steam locomotives that were still in use on Tasmanian main lines.
Absorption In 1975, the Federal Whitlam government sought to nationalise and take control of ailing state rail systems in a bid to revitalise them. Tasmania accepted the proposed Australian National Railways Commission on 23 May 1975, and the Railways (Tasmania) Act 1975 was passed. The Commission took control from the Transport Commission on 1 July 1975. As a result of the transfer, the Tasmanian Government ceased claimancy for funds from the Commonwealth Grants Commission, and was relieved of its debt obligations and interest payments incurred for money borrowed from the Commonwealth in construction of the Bell Bay Line in 1971.
Operations With around 16 lines across the state, the TGR operated a combination of approximately 275 stations, halts and junctions (as of 1949). Large stations were located at Hobart, Derwent Park, New Norfolk, Parattah, Launceston, Zeehan, Burnie and Devonport.
On Hobart's suburban branch spurs, the TGR operated workers trains and freight for the Electrolytic Zinc Company and its zinc works in Lutana, as well as the Cadbury's Chocolate Factory in nearby Claremont. Special trains were also conveyed on Hobart's suburban network, with trains operating to Elwick Racecourse for the Hobart Cup, and to the Royal Hobart Showgrounds for the Royal Hobart Show. The special show trains to the Showgrounds ended in 1978, and were the last TGR passenger trains to be run in Tasmania.
In the 1970s, with the increase in car ownership, funding for highways and the loss of goods consignments, the TGR's operations suffered, and passenger services were eventually ceased across the network. Hobart suburban services ended in 1974, with passenger services ending entirely in 1978.
TGR introduced in 1954 some containers for bulk goods such as cement, sand, gravel and superphosphate.
Network Main Line – Running north/south between Hobart and Launceston. Western Line – Running from Launceston to Wiltshire Junction. Derwent Valley Line – Running from Bridgewater Junction to logging areas in Florentine. Fingal Line – Branching from Conara Junction, south of Launceston, to St Marys on the East Coast.