mount morgan railway museum

The Railway Museum is also the information centre and it is well equipped to handle both tasks. It is very informative and has a large amount of railway equipment.

A visit to this museum is a must if you wish to revive some memories of train and rail motor travel. Well presented in the Railway building along with the information centre staffed by very helpful volunteers. Obtain a Locality map and drive around this historic town for a glimpse into it's well preserved heritage. The mine tour is highly recommended also!

Mount Morgan is nestled at the foot of the Dee Ranges and building the rail to the mine from Rockhampton presented some engineering difficulties as some of the hills were too steep for the train to get traction on the rail. This was overcome by installing a "rack and pinion" rail in the centre of the track that the engine hooked into to drag itself up the hill. This is like a set of teeth like 2 saw blades side by side that a special gear on the engine would engage with to give it traction. Unfortunately the line was ripped up when the mine closed and that little bit of history has been lost forever. There is only one of these trains left operational anywhere in the world. The only bit left from the Mount Morgan train is this old drive gear.

perhaps not for everyone, but I found the old railway station a trip down memory lane. Of course I've been there on many occasions in recent years and taken the short rail motor trip ... but the attraction for me is the memory. From 1950 to 53 my family took the trip to Emu Park for the annual miner's picnic by train...... a wonderful childhood memory. While the memories are still fresh in regard to the activities in Bell Park during the course of the day ........ they pale in comparison to the flash-back you get just seeing the old station again, especially given it is so well preserved.

Staff couldn't be more helpful and even went beyond when they opened up the workshop so my son could photograpgh his scout groups mascot driving a train.