Re: Isolated Rail Lines

["JohnMcCandless" <johnmc@topend.com.au>]

 > >
> Possibly, but this needs some clarification.   The line from Normanton
was
> originally intended to go south to Cloncurry.  It was built from
Normanton,
> being a port on the Normanton River, accessible via the gulf.  Rails,
> sleepers and rolling stock were shipped in around Cape York.  At that
time
> gold was discovered inland at Croydon, so plans were hurriedly changed
and
> the line was pushed east instead.  Normanton never got its line from
> Cloncurry, and the line between Normanton and Cloncurry has miraculously

<insert nitpick> You do mean Croydon, don't you?  <end nitpick>

 survived in operation until this day, now being used by tourists in the
dry
> season, and fulfilling a useful transport role in the wet season when
roads
> in the area become impassable.
 

IIRC, the first X miles (i think it's 4) of the line were on the same route
whether it went to Croydon or Cloncurry, so that was built while they	
were still deciding which way to go.


John Mc

Cloncurry, NWQ