Former steam era QLD South Coast Southport Tweed Heads Coolangatta line

[Petan]

Found a 1957 South Coast Bulletin (now Gold Coast Bulletin) in the Council’s Southport Local Studies Library with a reference for various road works including around the former Stapylton station.The scan is a bit dark due to the fact it was from a microfiche reader as 1957 newspapers are not on Trove http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...h3xfc0.jpg

The 1957 Pacific Highway Bridge mentioned in the article as built over the railway south of Stapylton station is still in use as “Eastern Service Road, Stapylton”. It was the southbound Pacific Highway Bridge till c2000 when the new Pacific Motorway bridges were built to the west. I have used the following images before but might be of interest as they show the pre 1957 and post 1957 Stapylton highway bridges mentioned in the 1957 newspaper. The other road works in the newspaper clipping might also interest some on this group.

This image of Stapylton area 1971 shows the earlier Pacific Highway “S bend” under the rail route immediately north of the station as well as the 1957 Pacific Highway deviation east of the station http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...07e02e.jpg

This 1951 image from S.G. (Garth) Fraser shows PB15 470 at the Pacific Highway Stapylton “S bends” heading to South Brisbane https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByB-ppGe...=drive_web

This 1964 image of a train under the 1957 Stapylton deviation bridge was taken by Eric Marggraff and from SE 1998 P.204 http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...14ba12.jpg

My 2011 image of a modern electric train passing under (former) Pacific Highway Stapylton. This is the same Pacific Highway bridge as in the 1964 image for the steam loco hauled train http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...21d36b.jpg

Interesting the 1957 article mentioned Yatala Station as it closed in 1891. The Yatala Station was 24 chains / 483 metres south of the river bank on the western side of the “Southport Road” near the top of the rising slope from the river. The present day rail route is very close to Yatala Station’s location.

[Petan]

If you are still waiting for the train from Tweed Heads, be advised my observations today suggest it will be late as cutting 79 just south of Ernest Junction needs the track gang first :evil

Continuing south from Ernest Junction, the line crossed embankments 124 and 125 for a total of length of 8 chains / 160 metres with a bridge over the road between the two embankments. The embankments had a max height of 21 feet. This road bridge consisted on 4 spans each 20 foot long according to the QR Working Plan and section. The local watercourse passed under a 4 ft concrete culvert just north of the road bridge. The embankments led into cutting 79 which was 6 chains / 120 meters long with a max depth of 17.2 feet. While the two embankments are long gone, the northern end of cutting 79 was still to be found in bushland in 2015 at s27 58.306 e153 21.453

[Petan]

I have found more on the actual timeline for the decision to make the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek railway bridges sufficiently strong to carry engines and rolling stock of 4ft 8½in gauge for possible linking in with the NSW railway. The Nerang Tweed line opened 1903.

29JUNE1901 Memo included the fact that the Minister had decided all important work on the Nerang extension be made fit for the 4ft 8½in gauge. The minister’s decision date was not on the memo http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...5y6qp9.jpg

19OCT1901 Commissioner not in favour of the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek railway bridges sufficiently strong to carry engines and rolling stock of 4ft 8½in gauge. http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...gelmb0.jpg

On 22March1902, the Acting Chief Engineer William Pagan wrote he was arranging to make the bridges carry standard gauge stock http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...msbajm.jpg

The Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek railway bridge plans included the track marked as 4ft 8½in gauge http://i311.photobucket.com/albums/kk478...cb8e4f.jpg

Bridge plans
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByB-ppGe...hHNFU/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByB-ppGe...FNWEU/edit

The 29JUNE1901, 19OCT1901 and 22MARCH1902 documents from QLD State Archive item ID 299672 QR Hard Batch 92; 06/367 QR Hard Batch 92:06/367.
Some images a bit hard to read.

[Graham4405]

(24-Mar-2015, 01:01 PM)Petan Wrote: On 22March1902, the Acting Chief Engineer William Pagan wrote he was arranging to make the bridges carry standard gauge stock

Should probably read: make the bridges [ready to] carry standard gauge stock!

[Petan]

(24-Mar-2015, 10:43 PM)Graham4405 Wrote:

(24-Mar-2015, 01:01 PM)Petan Wrote: On 22March1902, the Acting Chief Engineer William Pagan wrote he was arranging to make the bridges carry standard gauge stock

Should probably read: make the bridges [ready to] carry standard gauge stock!

Yes Graham and it shows how grammar usage has changed since William Pagan or his secretary wrote the words I quoted. Another thought is they may have actually expected this to happen as that research topic is still in progress.

[Graham4405]

(25-Mar-2015, 07:22 AM)Petan Wrote:

(24-Mar-2015, 10:43 PM)Graham4405 Wrote:

(24-Mar-2015, 01:01 PM)Petan Wrote: On 22March1902, the Acting Chief Engineer William Pagan wrote he was arranging to make the bridges carry standard gauge stock

Should probably read: make the bridges [ready to] carry standard gauge stock!

Yes Graham and it shows how grammar usage has changed since William Pagan or his secretary wrote the words I quoted. Another thought is they may have actually expected this to happen as that research topic is still in progress.

I was having visions of an SS officer saying to the bridge: "You vill carry standard gauge rolling stock." :evil

[Petan]

(25-Mar-2015, 08:57 AM)Graham4405 Wrote: I was having visions of an SS officer saying to the bridge: "You vill carry standard gauge rolling stock." :evil

Sorry Graham as I missed your humour and glad to see humour amongst our friendly group :redface

Another aspect is how the three QR big wigs I quoted used different expressions for designing 4ft 8½in gauge capability. A present day lawyer could have fun with their lack of precision as the minister (the boss) wanted the Nerang extension be made fit for the 4ft 8½in gauge while the other two only mention bridges and in particular the Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek railway bridges. More http://freespace.virgin.net/johnk.pb15/TWEED.HTM

Also interested in how the minister's (boss) directive, before 29JUNE1901, does not get automatic obedience from the commissioner 19OCT1901. Maybe that is how that high level administration works?

[Petan]

QR rails photographed March 2015 in an almost completed monument in the Bay St Tweed Heads NSW medium strip in approx the correct original position including the diagonal angle. Images are looking south east towards the former Tweed Heads Station site in Enid Street. Rails seem original and maybe 1961 sleepers as well. There are road tar remnants still on the rails from when covered over since the 1960s. Several sleeper rail plates under the rails had a small 60A in the outer corner. Rail manufacturing labels include Moss Bay and 1902. Tweed Council should be congratulated for this historical monument.... and in the right place as well!! The rails were discovered in their original site under the Bay St tar during council road works and removed for preservation by the Tweed Council mid-2014. Cokley family images.

General view looking towards former Tweed Heads Station site in Enid Street http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...4.jpg.html

Rail manufacturing label (Moss) and road tar http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...i.jpg.html

Rail manufacturing label (Bay) and road tar http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...p.jpg.html

Rail manufacturing label (1902) http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...s.jpg.html

Rail join including rail plates labelled 60A label http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...x.jpg.html

Rail plate labelled 60A http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...i.jpg.html

View between rails http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...5.jpg.html

EDIT:
Sleepers http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...h.jpg.html

All above images are each less than 200KB size and set for 20 cm image size. Following is the high resolution and full size version of the rail labelled 1902 as some readers might be able to decode the rail marks to the right. Image 115 cm and 4.7 MB. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByB-ppGe...lBNEU/edit

[Petan]

Tweed Heads rails as unearthed 2014 http://s311.photobucket.com/user/petanoz...7.jpg.html

[Petan]

I spoke to the council crew today who said they were some of the same crew that removed the rails mid last year, which explains how come the rails monument is in the correct place including the correct diagonal angle across Bay St. They said the rails and sleepers were the same ones they dug up last year and only had some cleaning done such as the tar etc. Today’s work was placing grey coloured rocks that suggest ballast which were being cementing in for safety reasons. They said signage will explain the monument. All this is an unexpected bonus for me especially as the monument is all starting to look really good visually!!