The Brisbane Courier in 1865 reported the news of QR’s inauguration in the colony of Queensland with these enthusiastic words: "Be that as it may, we, in common with the whole community, hail with pleasure the inauguration of the Railway in Queensland."

In the last weeks of July 1865, the population of Queensland had watched with increasing interest and confidence, the anticipated completion of the first section of the Southern and Western Railway. 

The first section of the railway to be opened to public traffic was similar in many aspects to an English railway. In engineering practices, signalling, was copied from systems available in England. The workforce to operate and maintain the rollingstock on the line was also imported from England. 

An early traveller on the line, Alice Frere, on an around the world trip in August 1865, recalled her experience of travelling on the novelty 3 foot 6 inch (1067mm) narrow gauge railway: 

"The next day we sent on the carriage and horses by an early train to Bigg[e]'s Camp, and followed later. This is the only piece of railroad yet opened in Queensland. The gauge is but three foot, as they could not with anything wider have managed the sharp curves which frequently occur in the course of the twenty-one miles? The carriages take three persons abreast, but, to enable them to do so, are made to project considerably on either side of the wheels; so that, in going around some of the sharpest curves, one can see easily into the next carriage but one. An old woman in our carriage was very proud of this little bit of railroad." 

As part of our 140th anniversary celebrations, on July 25 the Yank steam train steamed back into Brisbane after completing a 15-day return journey from Brisbane to Cairns. Hundreds of rail enthusiasts at regional centres along the way enjoyed the opportunity to board the Yank for a short journey, and learn about QR’s history. 

Visit the QR's 140 years web site: www.140years.qr.com.au