Article: Rail history on track at museum

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From the Queensland Times --> Rail history on track at museum

Rail history on track at museum

Rail history on track at museum
Geoff Egan 10th Feb 2014

THE Brisbane Valley rail line was once the life blood of the Somerset region.

It carried passengers and cargo into Ipswich and Brisbane, acted as an ambulance, and took children to schools.

One hundred and ten years ago the Toogoolawah Rail Station was set up in the town, with the unique building moved from the Brisbane Exhibition Station to the northern Somerset town.

The milestone was celebrated on Saturday with members of the Toogoolawah and District History Group showing off a museum based out of the old the station which was opened in November last year.

Filled with local memorabilia, most of it about the station and the former condensed milk factory, the station is part of a plan to preserve and show off the history of the town.

Historian Libby De Lacey said the station was filled with items given to the museum by local families, many of them with a long history in the region.

"The day before we opened up a gentleman came in and asked us if we'd like a rail shovel and a phone," she said.

"We said we'd love the old shovel but we don't need a phone. He said 'I bet you don't have one like this' and brought out an old control phone."

According to Queensland Rail historian Greg Hallam the control phone, which was used around the turn of the century on the Brisbane Valley line, was used by train operators to contact Brisbane to update their progress and make sure the rail ahead was clear.

The donations haven't stopped, with a lamp and telegraph machine dropped off while Ms De Lacey was away from the counter speaking to the QT.

Saturday also saw the first of what is planned to become a monthly market at the historic site.

The station is located on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, which Ms De Lacey said is still being used by walkers despite being mothballed by the State Government.

RAIL FACTS

    Regular trains ran on the Brisbane Valley Rail Line operated from June 1884, when the first section from Wulkuraka to Lowood was opened, until December 1988.

    The line at Toogoolawah was designed for the Cressbrook condensed milk factory to get its products to market. The station was initially called the Cressbrook Railway Station which caused confusion with the nearby Cressbrook Station homestead. To avoid confusion it was renamed Toogoolawah.