Atherton Tableland Railways

There was a very efficient and encompassing rail transport service on the Atherton Tableland that had developed to open up the area to industry. Because few people had cars the rail motor and train services were in regular use. The rail motor would go north from Ravenshoe through Atherton to Tolga and then wheel around and travel south-south-east to Millaa Millaa and then start back again carrying mail and passengers. A train would leave Cairns and travel up the range and pass through Mareeba on the way to Tolga, Atherton and on to Ravenshoe. It was a daily service from Cairns to Ravenshoe – up every morning and down each afternoon. Tolga was an important railway junction where passengers waited when changing between these rail routes. With other grade six girls Peter's mother as a young girl took the rail motor from Yungaburra via Tolga to Atherton every school Friday to attend the domestic science subject at the Atherton Primary School. The Yungaburra girls loved Fridays. (Refer to the rail line map and stations above).

The Tolga station building has been moved from its position on the east side of the rail network passing through Tolga. It once had a platform to stand on. In its new position it is closer to the road and has become a small museum run by volunteers. Valmae (Peter's Mum) remembers waiting on the Tolga platform for the train to Cairns after getting off the rail motor from Yungaburra. She would make this trip up to Biboohra to visit Big Mumma (her grandmother). She liked to wait at this station as opposed to the Atherton Station because there was a boy who worked at the station who made eyes at her and she him. Valmae would travel back from Biboohra and wait there on her way back to Yungaburra. Much later (1972) on a family holiday to the Chillagoe Caves, Valmae met the person who worked at the Tolga station and had made eyes at her. He remembered her as well. He and his adult son worked as guides for the cave walks at the time. Valmae remarked how well and young he looked for his age (Peter then 19 years old witnessed that conversation).

Grass growth at the Tolga rail yard controlled by poisoning

The railway staff picnic. Once a year the Railways would have a picnic with a free ride to Julattan Station where there was a suitable space for the numbers and games. Everybody took a picnic lunch with them. Valmae thinks that Big Mumma took she and Gloria to two of these events. The organisers would decorate a train engine by painting it silver and a place a coat of arms over the front part. It looked “jolly good”. Valmae remembers a photo of Grace standing in front of this adorned engine. This was during the days when workers were looked after – all workers were given a free ride to a cherished picnic event. So many rail lines are already pulled up – all lost now. The short line to Mt. Molloy also pulled up. Those were the days when no one had a car and went everywhere by train or rail motor.