Scottsdale Line
The Scottsdale Line was a railway branch line which ran between Launceston and Herrick in Northeastern Tasmania.
History
On 9 August 1889, Tasmanian Government Railways opened a branch line from Launceston to Scottsdale. The line branched off from the Bell Bay Line at Coldwater Creek Junction 8 miles north of Launceston. The line ran initially to Scottsdale passing through twelve stations. The railway was formally opened by Tasmanian Governor, Robert George Hamilton who rode the first train to Scottsdale via Lilydale. The line was 47 miles and one chain in length and cost £395,800 to build.The contractor was Robert Steele Scott, junior partner of Martin Boland of Underwood. Scott needed to raise £5000 to tender and may have used the relationship with Boland to raise this. At the time of construction, the railway required £80,000 a year to keep it running.
In 1911, the line extended to Branxholm. In 1919, a further extension took the line to Herrick via Derby Station. Trains carried passengers and freight, with passenger services ceasing in 1978. From the 1970s onwards, stations began to close and the railway dismantled, with the entire branch line shutting in 2005.
A recreational walking and biking trail follows the original trackbed from Scottsdale to Tulendeena.
Route
1889-1907: Trains set off from the Launceston and Western Railway Station and passed the following stations:Mowbray, Rocher's Lane, Turner's Marsh, Karoola, Lilydale, Tunnel, Lebrina, Denison Gorge, Wyena,
Golconda, Lisle Road, Lietinna,
Scottsdale.
1907:
In 1907, a branch line was constructed from Mowbray Station to Mowbray Racecourse and the station was renamed Mowbray Junction
1911:
Tonganah, Trewalla, Kamona, Tulendeena, Legerwood, Branxholm
1919:
Mara, Ayr, Derby, Herrick.