It’s the Annual Report for the Commissioner of Railways for
Queensland Government Railways in 1881 (published 1882). Think about that; this
dates to the time Ned Kelly was having a shoot-out at Glenrowan a thousand
kilometres to the south!
It’s packed with details about stock and locomotives and
traffic and every conceivable detail of what was then still an embryonic
network. It includes a map of the system which shows in effect four separate
railways starting in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville and reaching
inland. The Northern Railway only extends 55 miles to Ravenswood Junction with
an extension to Charters towers under construction and a route surveyed as far
as Hughenden. Significantly, there are no plotted intentions to connect these
separate railways with a line following the coast.
This copy comes without a binding – so I’ll get that sorted –
then she will sit in Clarabelle for quiet contemplation and reading on quiet nights
when the insides are fitted out.
And the bargain? $14.38 for a piece of QR history!
I’m a happy man!
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