Western Line, Tasmania facts for kids

The Western Line is a railway track in Tasmania, Australia. It's about 223 kilometers (138 miles) long and is mainly used for carrying goods. It runs from a place called Western Junction all the way to Wiltshire. It used to be known as the Launceston and Western Line.

History of the Western Line

The railway line was first built in 1871. It was a private railway, meaning a company owned it, not the government. This first part of the line connected Deloraine and Launceston. Its main job was to help farmers send their crops to ports. From there, the goods could be shipped to markets in Victoria.

Changing the Track Size

When it first opened, the railway used a wider track size called broad gauge (1600mm). But in 1872, the Tasmanian Government Railways took over the company. They wanted all railways in Tasmania to use the same track size. So, they changed the Western Line to use dual gauge. This meant it could handle both the old wide trains and the new, narrower trains (1067mm). By 1885, only the narrower tracks were used.

Modern Changes to the Route

The railway line still mostly follows its original path. However, some small changes have been made over the years. For example, in the 1980s, the line was changed to go around the town of Latrobe. New bridges have also caused slight shifts in its route.

How the Line is Used Today

In the past, the Western Line had many stations and side tracks. These were used for passenger trains and to carry all sorts of goods. Today, the line is mainly used for freight trains. These trains usually travel directly between Western Junction and Burnie. There are still some loops where trains can wait or pass each other. You can still see old platforms and railway buildings in some towns, even if they are no longer used.

Important Railway Structures

The Western Line crosses many rivers, so it has a lot of important bridges and viaducts (long bridge-like structures). It crosses the South Esk and Mersey Rivers, for example.

Crossings and Signals

• At Western Junction, there's a big level crossing where the railway meets Evandale Road.
• The old platform from when passengers used Western Junction is still there. You can also see an old platform building and a water tower.
• Between Western Junction and Perth, the line crosses a main road at Hunter's Mill. This crossing has cameras watching it 24 hours a day to make sure cars don't cross when a train is coming.

Longford's Unique History

At Longford, the railway bridge and viaduct are very important engineering achievements. In the 1960s, the railway line famously crossed a motor racing track in the town. Race cars would even jump over the level crossing! An old passenger platform is still there, but it's not in good shape. There's also an old semaphore signal at the crossing. This is a type of signal that uses movable arms to tell trains what to do.

Along the Bass Highway

The line goes through several cuttings (cuts made in hills) and underpasses to cross the Bass Highway.

• At Westbury and Deloraine, there are still side tracks. These allow trains to wait at the river crossing.
• Right as the line enters Deloraine, there's a major level crossing at a roundabout.
• Further on, a branch line used to connect at Lemana to Mole Creek. A disused side track also remains at Dunorlan.

Railton and Latrobe

• At Railton, the old passenger platform has been turned into a public park. There's also a large area where cement trains are sorted. A newer platform and building are there for the train crews.
• The line continues towards Devonport on raised banks of earth.
• The railway used to go into Latrobe and cross the Mersey River twice. Now, most of the old line in Latrobe is gone. You can still see some old level crossing gates and two old semaphore signals near a bowling club. A shopping area called "Station Square" also reminds people of the old station. The path of the old railway line in Latrobe is now part of a park.