The National Portland Cement Limited tramway was a 2ft gauge rail line that served the cement works at Darlington on Maria Island in Tasmania from 1923[1] to July 1930.[2]
The line connected three quarries (one at Fossil Cliffs on the east coast of the island and two smaller quarries further inland) with both the cement works at Darlington and the new jetty built specifically for the cement works. The tramway was used to bring limestone from the quarries to the works, coal from the jetty to the powerplant and cement kiln, and to take bagged cement from the works to the jetty for shipping. At least 32 4-wheel side-tipping hopper wagons were used.
Two locomotives were used on the line:
| Builder | Type | Date | Works Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudswell Clarke | 0-4-0WT | 1922 | 1423 | Sold in 1934 to Corrimal Colliery,[3] currently in museum in NSW. |
| Fordson (rail tractor) | 4 wheel | 1923? | Unknown | Believed scrapped |
The cement works proved unprofitable due to poor quality limestone, transport costs from the island, and the economic effects of the Great Depression. It closed in July 1930[4] and most of the equipment was shipped to Port Fairy in Victoria.
References
edit- ^ "Industrial Department: Eighth Annual Report". The Mercury. 21 September 1923. p. 8. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ Australian Railway Atlas No.1 - Tasmania. Exeter, UK: The Quail Map Company. June 2004. pp. Map 12 & page 26. ISBN 1-898319-69-3.
- ^ McCarthy, K (April 1978). "The Corrimal Colliery Railway". Light Railways (60): 23–26.
- ^ McCarthy, K (April 1978). "The Corrimal Colliery Railway". Light Railways (60): 24.
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