Herveys Range Rail Trail - Trail Description

Features

• 5 Tunnels (1 collapsed due to landslide)
• Spectacular views.
• Will be 11km in length when open.

Description

This trail is partially open - it is still being developed.

This rail trail is located up in the Herveys Range, west of Townsville on a short section of the former Greenvale railway corridor.

However it is not actually open to the general public yet. The Heritage Tea Rooms once had permission to conduct tours traveling through 5 tunnels in an 11 seat ford transit bus but unfortunately in 2009 a landslide caused one tunnel to collapse and the tours no longer operate. This is visible on the satellite view of the map. The closure of the trail due to the landslide is sad because it apparently is spectacular sight. The Tea Rooms are based on the top of Hervey Range and the first tunnel passes under their property. Refer to the link below for more detail.

The Tea Rooms have apparently lobbied for a few years to have the corridor opened to the public and will continue to do so. We are not aware if any investigations have been undertaken into this or other sections of the corridor.

All the remaining tunnels and bridges are in situe and, given the railway's relatively recent and high standard construction, apparently in excellent condition.

Background Information

The railway has a relatively recent and short history. It was 213km long and opened in 1974 to transport ore from a nickel mine at Greenvale to a refinery north of Townsville. It closed in 1993.

Links

The Heritage Tea Rooms web site and contact details

November 2011