In February 1914, the Queensland Government Printer published a 112-page booklet to mark the 50th anniversary of railways in Queensland. Entitled Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914, the booklet provides a detailed history on the establishment of Queensland’s railways and its administration.
Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Ipswich Railway Station, 1914. From Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
‘A group of early officials, 1864’. From Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
C16 Class Engine, built in Ipswich Workshops. From Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
ABT Rack Engine, Mount Morgan Branch. From Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Railway map of Queensland. From Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
At the time of its release Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914 was mentioned in several Queensland newspapers, including Brisbane’s Daily Standard – “The compilation of the information must have entailed a great deal of research work. It includes the history of the Railway Department from the first action taken to constitute it to the present day, while interspersed are interesting photographs of individuals and rolling stock of the past and present days. One specially interesting picture depicts the opening of the first railway at Ipswich in 1865, the men wearing the old grey top hats, while the ladies are shown in crinoline skirts”.
‘Opening of first railway, Ipswich, 1865’. From Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland have digitised Queensland railways : first half-century, 1864-1914, which can be viewed through our One Search catalogue.
Further reading:
- Railways in Queensland – History in Pictures
- Building the Kuranda Railway – History in Pictures
- Gympie on Track: Opening of the Brisbane – Gympie Railway 1891
- Podcast – The Vital Track: 150 years of Railways in Queensland
- The Railway comes to Brisbane
- Railway Bridge Collapse at Alpha (1941)
- Beautiful Queensland from a Railway Carriage Window
- Queensland places – First Ipswich Railway Station
- and more…
Myles Sinnamon – Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland