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Railway History
Information and article supplied by Vince Challenor, Hervey Bay
The first proposals for a railway to Hervey Bay took place in 1865 with the discovery of coal on the Burrum River.
The Maryborough and Urangan Railway Bill received Government approval on 5th December, 1884, later amended in September, 1887.
The contract to construct the rail line - 16 miles 47 chains - from Colton Junction to Pialba was signed off to contractors McArdle and Thompson on 4th Aril 1896. Total cost - 25,249.16.3 pounds ($50,000). This included supply of material.
The first proposals for a railway to Hervey Bay took place in 1865 with the discovery of coal on the Burrum River.
The Maryborough and Urangan Railway Bill received Government approval on 5th December, 1884, later amended in September, 1887.
The contract to construct the rail line - 16 miles 47 chains - from Colton Junction to Pialba was signed off to contractors McArdle and Thompson on 4th Aril 1896. Total cost - 25,249.16.3 pounds ($50,000). This included supply of material.
The line reached Aarlberg (later named Nikenbah) in October, 1896. The first train arrived at Pialba Station on 18th December, 1896. The line to Urangan was built by day labour and officially opened on 19th December, 1913. The first trains to the harbour ran the following day.
The original proposal to establish Urangan as a coal port for the Burrum River mining project did not eventuate due to several factors, Chief of which being that the coal output did not reach original expectations.
Attention then redirected to sugar exports through Urangan and that activity began to grow until the "powers that be" decided to establish Bundaberg port as the main shipping outlet for South Queensland sugar.
This spelt the end of major sugar exports from the Urangan terminal. Timber and general cargo continued to traded as exports.
A bulk fuel terminal was established by Caltex Oil on land opposite the site of the present Botanical Gardens. This area of land is currently under development as a huge residential complex.
After the last ship docked at the Urangan pier in January 1985, Caltex Oil reversed the process of storage, replacing the system of fuel service from Shipping to bulk supply by rail from the Pinkenba and Colmslie port terminals in Brisbane.
Three trains per week each consisting of sixteen rail tank cars ran into the terminal on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, offloaded into the terminal under the direction of lessee Peter Eardley-Harris and the trains returned empty to Brisbane the same day.
A decision was made by Caltex to discontinue the service and the last train to run from the Urangan terminal did so on 29th October 1991.
Over a period of time up to twelve trains a day serviced the Pialba-Urangan branch lines. These included passenger rail motor and railway picnic trains. Older citizens scattered throughout Eastern Australia will recall quite vividly the memories associated with those exciting days when all trains were hauled by steam engines including the picnic trains that converged on Hervey Bay from the Monto-Gayndah branch, the Kingaroy branch, from Bundaberg, Gympie and Maryborough, arriving at Pialba, Scarness, Torquay and Urangan stations to the music of pipe and brass bands leading them to the various locations to enjoy the peaceful and safe beaches of Hervey Bay and various entertainments provided by rail employees and their various committees.
The original proposal to establish Urangan as a coal port for the Burrum River mining project did not eventuate due to several factors, Chief of which being that the coal output did not reach original expectations.
Attention then redirected to sugar exports through Urangan and that activity began to grow until the "powers that be" decided to establish Bundaberg port as the main shipping outlet for South Queensland sugar.
This spelt the end of major sugar exports from the Urangan terminal. Timber and general cargo continued to traded as exports.
A bulk fuel terminal was established by Caltex Oil on land opposite the site of the present Botanical Gardens. This area of land is currently under development as a huge residential complex.
After the last ship docked at the Urangan pier in January 1985, Caltex Oil reversed the process of storage, replacing the system of fuel service from Shipping to bulk supply by rail from the Pinkenba and Colmslie port terminals in Brisbane.
Three trains per week each consisting of sixteen rail tank cars ran into the terminal on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, offloaded into the terminal under the direction of lessee Peter Eardley-Harris and the trains returned empty to Brisbane the same day.
A decision was made by Caltex to discontinue the service and the last train to run from the Urangan terminal did so on 29th October 1991.
Over a period of time up to twelve trains a day serviced the Pialba-Urangan branch lines. These included passenger rail motor and railway picnic trains. Older citizens scattered throughout Eastern Australia will recall quite vividly the memories associated with those exciting days when all trains were hauled by steam engines including the picnic trains that converged on Hervey Bay from the Monto-Gayndah branch, the Kingaroy branch, from Bundaberg, Gympie and Maryborough, arriving at Pialba, Scarness, Torquay and Urangan stations to the music of pipe and brass bands leading them to the various locations to enjoy the peaceful and safe beaches of Hervey Bay and various entertainments provided by rail employees and their various committees.
Because the branch line has since been ripped up these excursions are no longer possible, but the memories are indelible for those who enjoyed that part of Hervey Bay history. Service personnel on call-up or enlistment for World Wars 1 and 11 travelled to and from their service points through the Pialba station. The last scheduled passenger train to run on the branch did so on 7th August 1972. General freight continued to be transported in and out of the Pialba freight terminal by rail until 1993. The very last train to depart Pialba station was No.7M 44 at 10am on 30th June 1993.
With detonators exploding beneath its wheels the train departed and an important part of Hervey Bay history came to a close. Trains as a means of transport were replaced by large road transport vehicles operated by the Railway Department, which continue to transport small freight to Pialba and all parts of Queensland. This mode of transport is identified throughout Queensland as 'Q Link'.
During the near century existence of the Pialba-Urangan branch line most of the traffic; Freight and passenger; centred on those two terminals operating through various other sidings.
Passenger points existed at Kawungan, Urraween, Nikenbah and Walligan. Nikenbah siding became the centre of the local pineapple industry with loadings of up to ten wagons per day a general clearance. The siding was also established as a site for the local Fruit growers Co-op trade centre where large consignments of fertilizer, produce and general rural commodities were railed into the local warehouse on a regular basis.
Koppers Ltd. established its large logging treatment plant at Takura Siding. Consignments in wagon loads were attached to trains on a daily bases. Burgowan Siding was established with the discovery of coal in that area. An average of six wagons of coal per day were dispatched by train. All of these activities ceased with the closure of the branch on 30th June 1993.
Many people continue to argue the case for the reinstallation of a modern rail link between Hervey Bay and Maryborough.
Time alone will tell if such suggestions become reality, but the tremendous growth rate in this area would indicate serious consideration towards this thinking is very real.
The last appointed Station Master to Pialba was Wally Weaver. The last Assistant Station Master was Vince Challenor.
During the near century existence of the Pialba-Urangan branch line most of the traffic; Freight and passenger; centred on those two terminals operating through various other sidings.
Passenger points existed at Kawungan, Urraween, Nikenbah and Walligan. Nikenbah siding became the centre of the local pineapple industry with loadings of up to ten wagons per day a general clearance. The siding was also established as a site for the local Fruit growers Co-op trade centre where large consignments of fertilizer, produce and general rural commodities were railed into the local warehouse on a regular basis.
Koppers Ltd. established its large logging treatment plant at Takura Siding. Consignments in wagon loads were attached to trains on a daily bases. Burgowan Siding was established with the discovery of coal in that area. An average of six wagons of coal per day were dispatched by train. All of these activities ceased with the closure of the branch on 30th June 1993.
Many people continue to argue the case for the reinstallation of a modern rail link between Hervey Bay and Maryborough.
Time alone will tell if such suggestions become reality, but the tremendous growth rate in this area would indicate serious consideration towards this thinking is very real.
The last appointed Station Master to Pialba was Wally Weaver. The last Assistant Station Master was Vince Challenor.
The dissused Pialba Railway Station has recently been made a conference and support centre for the Vietnam, Veterans' Association in Hervey Bay. The building is registered with the National Trust.