Friday 5 April - Ida Bay Railway

Today we rode the 2ft gauge Ida Bay Railway, leased from the Tasmanian Government by Meg Thornton. It was a limestone carrying line with ex World War II Malcolm Moore Ford V-8 engined petrol locomotives. Two are now in use fitted with diesel engines. The line now runs 7 kilometres from the depot at Lune River through the bush to Deep Hole.

A work train and the passenger train were both out on the line today.



Shunting at the depot at the start of the day.

The line skirts coastal inlets there are many wonderful views across the water.

 



Work train in the loop at Deep Hole.



On the return trip with driver Dave.

Passenger train returning to Lune River depot . . .

 

 

 . . . followed in by the work train.

Meg told us that although the line is owned by the Tasmanian Government, they have provided very little assistance in its rehabilitation. With an extensive program of sleeper replacement required, a funding boost is urgently required to allow the line to meet new accreditation requirements.

 

Our accommodation was at Oatlands, in Tasmania’s southern Midlands, which has many stone buildings from the 1820s and 1830s including a working windmill.

Supreme Court Building, 1829

Callington Mill, 1836