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Queensland
- Canungra Tramway Tunnel
Canungra Tramway Tunnel - Trail Description
Trail
Canungra Tramway Tunnel
| Type: | Rail trail |
| Location: | Canungra, south of Brisbane, 80km from Brisbane |
| Start/end: | Beaudesert - Nerang Road to Canungra |
| Status: | Partially open |
| Length open: | 1km |
| Surface: | Compacted earth |
| Public transport: | Coach |
| Features: | wineries, tourist |
| Contact Region: | S.E. Queensland |
Details
Features
- 90 metre tunnel. The tunnel has been fenced off (2016) You can walk a little way into the Tunnel to see how it was constructed by hand
- Parking nearby.
- Jan 2016
Description
This short rail trail runs through a 90m long rail tunnel near the small town of Canungra.
The tunnel can be accessed from a signed parking area off Beaudesert Nerang Road. From there a path leads down to the tunnel and a small picnic area. A trail can be followed for 500m north of the tunnel to the end of Duncan Street, which leads into Canungra.
A roughly formed trail follows the tramway formation south of the tunnel for an unknown distance. We followed it for about 200m to a creek where a bridge would once have been. If you have further information please let us know.
Background Information
The tunnel was constructed in 1900 by the Lahey brothers as part of a tramway to transport timber from the valleys to the south to their mill in Canungra. The Darlington Range through which the tunnel passes was a considerable obstacle for the line. Even with the tunnel, the line still climbed on an incredibly steep 1 in 12.5 grade out of Canungra. To tackle these grades, Laheys used Climax and Shay geared locomotives. South of Canungra today you will find Shay Drive and Climax Place. The descent into Canungra with a load of logs must have been nerve racking from the loco crew, and as a precaution, a runaway siding was constructed part way down.
Initially timber from Canungra was transported by road, but after much lobbying, a government railway opened to the town in 1915.
By the 1920 most the timber had been exhausted. Occasional trains continued to run until around 1930 and the line closed in 1935.
Links
The trail is managed by the Scenic Rim Regional Council
Please report all issues with the trail to the council.
Laheys Canungra Tramway published by LRRSA
Last updated Jan 2016
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Contact Us About This Trail
Email or click here: qld@railtrails.org.au.
Photos
Canungra Tramway Tunnel - Photos
