Normanton to Croydon railway line
| Normanton to Croydon railway line | |
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RM93 and trailer on the Gulflander at Normanton, July 1991
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| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | Normanton Railway |
| Termini |
Normanton Croydon |
| Website | www.gulflander.com.au |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 20 July 1891 |
| Owner | Queensland Rail |
| Operator(s) | Queensland Rail |
| Depot(s) | Normanton |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 152 km (94 mi)151 kilometres |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Operating speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
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| Gulflander | |
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 Location of Gulflander in Queensland
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| Location | Normanton to Croydon, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 17°56′20″S 141°39′18″E / 17.9388°S 141.6549°ECoordinates: 17°56′20″S 141°39′18″E / 17.9388°S 141.6549°E |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1888 - 1891 |
| Official name: Normanton to Croydon Railway Line | |
| Type | state heritage (built, archaeological) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600396 |
| Significant period | 1880s-1970s (fabric) |
| Significant components | railway station, carriage shade (railway), railway, objects (movable) - transport - rail, crane / gantry, shed - shelter, tank stand, residential accommodation - workers' quarters, tank - water, machinery/plant/equipment - transport - rail, bridge/viaduct - railway, shed - goods, ramp |
The Normanton to Croydon railway line is a heritage-listed railway line in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland, Australia. The railway line linking Normanton in the Shire of Carpentaria to Croydon in the Shire of Croydon was built between 1888 and 1891 and is the last isolated line of Queensland Rail still in use. It utilises an innovative system of submersible track with patented steel sleepers and retains buildings of considerable architectural and technical interest at its terminus in Normanton. The only train to operate on the line is the weekly Gulflander service operated by a Gardner diesel propelled railmotor and carriages TP1809 and TP1811.
It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
In 1867 William Landsborough investigated the Norman River area to select a port site to serve the pastoral stations south of the Gulf of Carpentaria. With him was George Phillips who shortly thereafter surveyed the chosen site of Normanton. Phillips later supervised the construction of the Normanton to Croydon Railway, and retained an interest in the area, serving as Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Carpentaria in the 1890s.
A railway line between Normanton and Cloncurry had been discussed as early as 1883 and was approved by Queensland Parliament in 1886. This was a difficult stretch for carriers and a rail link would have been valuable to pastoral stations in the area and was planned to serve the Cloncurry Copper Mine. At that time, it was intended to eventually link the new line from Normanton with the Great Northern Railway at Charters Towers to provide access to the port of Townsville.
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