Re: Map of Nerang Line?

[garry <garry@merddyn.apana.org.au>]

The Nerang line does not follow the old line at any stage.

It continues the general direction of the line from Helensvale for
about 2 kms where it veers to the south west and parallels the Gaven
Way (eastern side) from Smith Street to the hill/bend north of the
Nerang River.  The line sweeps down in a large "s" bend to the Nerang
River crossing and than turns to rejoin the alignment from Smith
Street as it enters the station which is probably about 1-2 kms
south-east of the old station and on the opposite River bank.

The old line from Helensvale was on the western side of the Gold Coast
Highway and went under the highway by a bridge just before the
Junction with the Gaven Way. It then wound its way through the hills
beside the eastern side of Gavin Way to Smith Street where the new
right-of-way crosses it. The formation of the old line from Smith
Street to almost Earnest Junction is still visible and easily walked
although a housing development has been built at the southern end of
the tunnel and across much of the right-of-way to Ernest Junction. The
tunnel is about 1km east of the new right-of-way.

>From Ernest to Nerang the right-of-way has become lost over the years
but it stayed north of the river.

In essence an almost straight line has been built from Helensvale to
Nerang with the line going directly over the Nerang Range in a
straight line with only a slight curve south of Helensvale to gain the
route parallel to the Gavin Way and the large "s" to descend the range
at the southern end and make the shortest crossing of the river before
rejoining the stright line to Nerang station.

The continuation to Robina is nowhere near the old line which wound
its way into the hill country daiury farms from Nerang South before
emerging at Currumbin West and gaining the coast at Tugun for the
FIRST TIME in its journey from Brisbane. The new line is much
straighter anfd far closer (by several kms) to the coast than the old
line ever was (except spur to Southport).

Cheers

Garry