Western Mail at Cunnamulla Railway Station, November 4th 2021

We were doing a trip out through Cunnamulla, Eulo and Thargominda with the Flying Doctor's Your Story Roadshow. When we went to have a mooch around Cunnamulla Railway Station (as ya do!), we noticed that the boards on the station mentioned the Western Mail... and Roger wrote the tune to a set of words by Arthur Copeland about that rail run a number of years ago. It appeared on our album JUST A BIT OF QUARTZ.
Railway history has been constantly fascinating.... sadly so many lines are no longer in use, as is the case with most of the old Western Mail route.
Read on for a bit more of the history.....
The Western Line route from Brisbane to Cunnamulla was 973 kilometres (605 mi), with a connecting service to Quilpie from Charleville. The initial section of the Western line was built from Toowoomba to Dalby, opening 16 April 1868.
Approval was given for construction of a line beyond Dalby to Dulacca in two separate stages in September 1875. The ‘official’ first sod was turned in Dalby in June 1876.
Ludwig Leichhardt and his overland expedition of 1844 had passed through the area that is today Chinchilla. Originally, it was known as ‘Charley’s Creek’, in honour of Leichardt’s Indigenous guide. ‘Jinchilla’ was the local name describing the stands of cypress pine growing on the western Downs.
Charley’s Creek 325 kilometres on the Western Line, was established as a temporary railway terminus with the opening of the line on 3 January 1878. The opening of the railway virtually created the town of Chinchilla.
From Dalby the line was extended to Roma from 1877. Further extension to Miles took place in August 1878. then to Charleville from 1883, opening 1 March 1888. The line was then extended in a southerly direction, following the Warrego River to Cunnamulla, opening on 10 October 1888.
The photos come from the QR website.

[@Kamperman12]

Nice. Love the historical photos.

[@pelicanpen]

Thanks! I enjoyed putting it together!

[@benbailey5627]

😂😢😮😅😊​@@pelicanpen