The Late Train to Mount Crosby
There was a time when you could catch a train from Mount Crosby to Southport ...
I have the honour to report there was a time when you could catch a train from Mount Crosby to Southport, so long as you didn't mind making a few changes and getting a little older on the way. This fact was well known to local storekeeper James Brown, who in 1917 had a shop at Mount Crosby (tended by himself) and a shop at Southport (tended by his wife). On the Mt Crosby to Ipswich leg you would have to ride in the engine with the driver or in the caboose (if one was on that day) because the rest of it was coal wagons – so says a friend of mine who remembers the thrill of the loco and describes it as: “Well, it wasn’t fast”.
Nothing about our railway happened especially fast. The first mention of a railway to Mount Crosby occurred in 1872 in answer to the question of connecting Ipswich to Brisbane via the fertile lands of Pullen Vale and Brookfield (we just happened to be on the way). The proposed route was described like this: "… from Ipswich terminus through North Ipswich to the Brisbane River at Blackwall, the whole distance over Crown lands and neither culvert nor bridge is required until the river is reached. From thence, over ridgy country to Ugly Creek and Moggill, thence to Brisbane". This route avoided the need to construct a large bridge on the lower Brisbane River but, heck, it would have made up for it with cuttings and contours. You won't be surprised it was never built.
A week before Christmas in 1895, MLA Frederick Lord attended a meeting at Mount Crosby and addressed his constituents, who greeted him warmly. He was sorry, he said, that he hadn't visited earlier, but there had been a lot of work, and a flood, and he must soon be off to Brisbane ... but he had news of the railway (for it was Christmas).
All of the assembled people urged the Minister against his haste – this allowed us time to whinge about the roads, which we said were our only way of getting about and they were so bad they might be improved by filling in the ruts with the bones of all the dead beasts left lying about the neighbourhood. This we intended as a joke, but it seems he took us at our word and went on to mention the greatness of McIlwraith and all of his ministry (which happily included him).
Also, he said his government’s consideration had been given to ten railways, nine of which had been adopted (sorry Esk) and he was aware that the locals were anxious for the proposed extension of the Tivoli line to be carried on to Mount Crosby. It was a "matter he would give every consideration to", which you know was not the same as wanting it or funding it and, in the end, it didn't turn out to be such a great Christmas after all.
It was 1912 before the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board decided they needed a railway more than the Government did and they built it with their own day labour (after seeking permission from the government, because you have to do that with railways). The line from Tivoli to the Brisbane River at Mount Crosby (near the Sportsground) was completed in 1913.
The line had a relatively short life, carrying coal and goods for the pumping station until the installation of electric engines at the station ended the need for coal. The line was rarely used after 1947 and the Railway Department ordered that it be taken up in February 1948.
I remain your ob. servant and chief engineer,
Joe Stewart
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