Tasmanian Government Railways

Tasmanian Government Railways

TGR network map (at fullest extent)
Locale	Tasmania, Australia
Dates of operation	1871–1978
Predecessor	Tasmanian Main Line Company
Successor	AN Tasrail
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Headquarters	Launceston, Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) was the former operator of the mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia. Formed in 1872, the railway company was managed by the Government of Tasmania, and existed until absorption into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1978.

The early railways of Tasmania were initially constructed by a number of private companies, each using a differing gauge. In 1871, the Launceston and Western Railway (L&WR) opened the first railway line in Tasmania, with a 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) line from Launceston to Deloraine. The Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company (TMLR) later opened their Hobart to Evandale line in 1876, to a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm). Because of the break-of-gauge, the TMLR laid a third rail upon the L&WR line, and operated dual gauge for the final 11 miles (17.7 km) to Launceston.

The Tasmanian Government Railways had already been established in 1872 after progressively taking over failed railway companies across the state, and as financial issues toiled the larger railway companies, the TGR took over the L&WR in 1888 and the TMLR in 1890, thus creating an official public railway service in Tasmania. As a result of this takeover, all Tasmanian railways were relaid or newly constructed in 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.

In 1938, the railway administration was absorbed into the newly created Transport Commission and became its Railway Branch. The Commission was empowered to co-ordinate and improve land transport within the State, and one of its policies was to encourage the use of the railway wherever possible.

In 1978 the Tasmanian government took up an offer by the Whitlam Federal Government to take over the state-owned railways, which resulted in the TGR being absorbed into the new Australian National Railways Commission, operating as Tasrail.