Normanton - Croydon Railway
A railway line between Normanton and Cloncurry had been discussed as early as 1883. In 1885, the Glasgow based Cloncurry Copper Mining and Smelting Company released its prospectus to develop the Cloncurry mining field. The government decided to proceed with a railway from the port of Normanton to Cloncurry, connecting the copper deposits with the coast.
In November 1885 a major gold strike was reported at Belmore Station, 145 km east of Normanton and just to the north of what would become Croydon. By the end of 1886 the population of the Croydon field was 2,000, rising to 6,000 in the following year. Transportation was a major problem and access to this field became more important than the link to Cloncurry. In November 1887 it was decided to divert the line to Croydon.
The railway line linking Normanton to Croydon was built between 1888 and 1891 and is the last isolated line of Queensland Rail still in use.
The line was technically innovative, in response to the terrain and the conditions. The country was flat but difficult for conventional railway tracks due to flooding, lack of suitable timber for sleepers and termite attack. In 1884 Phillips patented a system for taking railways across such country which utilised special U section steel sleepers laid directly on the ground.
During floods the line could be submerged without washing out the ballast and embankments normally used, so that it could quickly be put back into service once the waters subsided. The steel sleepers were also impervious to termite attack, and although initially more expensive than timber sleepers, were cheaper to lay and maintain. The bridges along the line were also designed to be submersible. This system was particularly suited to the Gulf country and was specified for the Normanton to Croydon line with Phillips engaged to supervise the construction. Tenders were called in July 1887 to supply the steel sleepers and the first section to Haydon began in May 1888.
The construction method involved clearing a three-metre-wide band ahead of the rail which was stumped, ploughed, harrowed, rolled and lightly ballasted. The U-shaped sleepers were then laid on this prepared surface and the rail attached to them by special clips. The construction train then passed over them forcing the U shape down into the ground and depressing the sleepers for above half their depth. Soft spots were then packed. The finished rails were intended to be 25 to 50 mm above the surface. However, in practice the sleepers became more deeply embedded with time.
The first section of 61km to Haydon was opened in May 1889, then to Patterson's (Blackbull) in December 1890, and to Croydon in July 1891.
Heritage recognition ceremonies were held in Normanton on 10 September 2019 and in Brisbane on 14 October 2019.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM) |
| Award Date | 10 September 2019 |
| Heritage Significance | George Phillips qualified as a surveyor. In 1874 he joined the Railway Department and remained in its service until 1886 as surveyor and engineer. In 1888 Phillips was contracted by the government to survey and supervise the construction of the Normanton to Croydon Railway. He demonstrated his ingenuity in challenging the design standards of the day, in developing technical solutions appropriate to the environment and in supervising the construction of the railway. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Available here. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image | Available here. |
