Presenting...The Beginnings of Queensland Railways in the 1860's

QFHS Members Lounge

Greg Hallam, historian with Queensland Rail presents the beginnings of Queensland Rail in the 1860's

It will be 160 years in July 2025 since the first section of railway line opened in Queensland (31 July 1865). Greg Hallam, Queensland Railways historian, will once again tell us the history of Queensland Rail. Charles Douglas Fox, the son of Sir Charles Fox, had read of railways in Norway, and travelled to see what was being achieved in providing an ‘economic’ steam locomotive operated railway, and also to investigate its adaption for the Southern and Western Railway in Queensland. The Foxes used their cross ‘North Sea’ experience with the 1067mm (3’6”) gauge when they endorsed it for Queensland in 1863. The Norwegian equipment was also used as a model when specifying the equipment for Queensland and for the 1067mm gauge railway. The first locomotives that entered service on the Southern and Western Railway were identical to the Avonside engines that were used on Norwegian railways in the early part of the 1860s - although unlike the Norwegian engines that were tank engines, the Queensland engines were tender locomotives.This event will be held online and in person at the QFHS Family History Resource Centre, 46 Delaware St, Chermside and by Zoom - i.e. a HYBRID meeting. Please register your planned attendance whether you are attending in person or by Zoom.Greg will be attending in person at the Resource Centre.Presenting... times vary between 1pm and 7.30pm. Please check the calendar carefully. You are welcome to attend as a visitor.Note: This event is held in QLD time, AEST: no daylight saving. (GMT+10)Image: A10 No 3 Class A Slaughter Gruning locomotive digitised from Queensland State Archives, Series ID S2149: Railway Glass Plate Negatives- Queensland Rail Heritage Collection

Greg Hallam has been with QR/Queensland Rail since 2000, and has been the Historian for the organisation for (nearly) all of the past 25 years.  Greg is a third generation member of the Queensland Railways, with a grandfather commencing as a locomotive cleaner in Bundaberg in 1911.  Greg is a post-graduate of the University of Queensland, and had been active professionally in the community history and cultural heritage field for nearly 30 years.  Greg has some published work behind himself, has travelled Queensland extensively in times past documenting the story of the railways and their connection to the State, and has also been fortunate to have travelled from Brisbane to Mareeba, Longreach and Charleville behind steam locomotives for various anniversary events sponsored by Queensland Rail (and even had his ‘office’ set up for a while in the Guards Van of a steam train between Emerald and Longreach, and to Mareeba…)

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