Boggabilla railway line
The Boggabilla railway line is a disused railway line in New South Wales, Australia. It branches from the Mungindi railway line at Camurra and ran for to Boggabilla.
Construction
When the line was first approved it ran through mainly grazing country, and few could have envisaged the development of grain production after the 1940s in the area. The line was authorised mainly to ensure that the output of grazing properties in the area went south through New South Wales ports rather than north, across the border to Queensland.The line involved only light earthworks, but did include the crossing of a number of watercourses. By mid-1928, clearing had been completed to the point and work steadily continued until 1930 when, due to a shortage of funds, progress was halted for six months.
Opening
The line was eventually opened throughout on 20 June 1932.Traffic
Upon opening, the train service comprised a twice-weekly mixed train running from Moree to Boggabilla on Mondays and Fridays, returning the following day. From 24 February 1936, a weekly CPH railmotor service was introduced, which was later increased to thrice weekly, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The railmotor services were day-returns from Moree. Goods trains operated as well.Bulk wheat storages at locations along the line first appeared in 1956, bringing additional traffic to the line. The use of 48 class diesel locomotives began in 1959, speeding up the movement of grain and other freight.
Passenger services came to an abrupt halt on 3 August 1974, when the railmotor service was cancelled in the name of a fuel crisis. Goods services also diminished at that time, being replaced by road trucks working out of Moree.
By 1978, rail services were largely worked on a seasonal basis, hauling wheat, and an occasional train to Boggabilla to collect sleepers milled locally.