Moreton Bay Tramway Company


The Moreton Bay Tramroad Company was a private enterprise attempt to establish railways in the new colony of Queensland. It was stillborn.

People

Land Grant Railway

It had been proposed to fund it as a Land Grant Railway.

Horse power

The tramway was intended to be operated by horses.

Characteristics

*

Gradients

Original proposed MBT company gradient was 1 in 25. The original gauge was 1435mm with horse drawn motive power.
The later railway along the route of the tramway has ruling gradients of 1 in 50. This might be rather steep for horse operation, unless unloaded in uphill direction.

Rails

The line was originally to use rail.

Nomenclature

The Tramway company is sometimes called a Tramroad.

Timeline

1859

1860

  • April – An early mention in a political platform of the need for railways or tramways in Queensland.
  • April – An early mention of the constructing firm of Moreton, Peto and Brassey.
  • November – An advertisement for the company's prospectus in a Sydney newspaper.
  • November – An advertisement for the company's prospectus in a Brisbane paper.

1862

  • April – coal deposits reported next to the proposed route.
  • 29 May – Tramway assets taken over by Government.

1863

  • Insolvent Court
  • 9 May – the Government Railways Bill repeals the Tramway Act, except for court actions already in action.
  • 20 August – Railway Bill in parliament

1865

The three are:
  • Coote,
  • Stephens,
  • Buckley.