My first destination in Mount Morgan was the railway station—now transformed into a museum. While the trains no longer arrive with dinner bells and guards in English uniforms, the museum ensures the stories don’t go anywhere.

According to their website:
“Officially opened in 1898 as the town’s Railway Station, the building today houses the Mount Morgan Railway Museum. The building takes you a step back in time and offers the opportunity to experience how travel and life in the area once was…”

Inside, I discovered more than train memorabilia. There were exhibits on mining, household life, and the evolution of Mount Morgan itself. I met Eve-lyn Rogers, the passionate and knowledgeable Rail Coordinator for the museum, which is managed by Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc. [MMPAD]. To help bring this part of the story to life, I invited Eve-lyn to share her insight into the railway that transformed Mount Morgan from a remote mine into a thriving industrial centre.*

“Mount Morgan, Queensland, is a name etched into the annals of Australian mining history, synonymous with an extraordinary gold and copper mine that once boasted incredible riches. Yet, the story of this industrial giant is inextricably linked to another feat of engineering: the Mount Morgan Railway. This railway was the thriving artery that delivered lifeblood to the mine, enabling its monumental success and sustaining the very existence of the town that grew around it.

The discovery of gold at Mount Morgan in 1882 sparked a rush, but the rugged, elevated terrain posed an immediate and significant challenge. How would vast quantities of vital supplies – everything from machinery to food – reach the burgeoning mining community? Horse teams were simply inadequate for the scale of operations envisioned, considering it would take a 10-horse team almost a full day to climb the steepest section with a half-tonne load. The answer lay in steel, sleepers, and steam.

The Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company (MMGMC) initiated the concept of a dedicated railway line in the late 1880s, and the Queensland Government commenced construction under the “Guarantee Scheme,” whereby they paid for the construction, but the mine was responsible for any losses.

Construction wasn't a minor undertaking; it was an ambitious project designed to conquer the challenging landscape of the Razorback Range, establishing a crucial link from the mine to the main railway network at Kabra, and subsequently, to the ports of Rockhampton and Port Alma. Construction started in 1897. The line to Mount Morgan railway station officially opened on November 26, 1898, marking a pivotal moment in the mine's evolution.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this railway was its innovative solution to the steep gradients of the Razorback. To overcome sections with punishing grades as steep as 1 in 16.5, an Abt rack railway system was employed. This ingenious Swiss-patented technology featured a toothed rail laid between the running rails, engaged by pinion gears on specially designed locomotives. These powerful rack locomotives were essential for pushing trains up the ascent and controlling their descent, a testament to the engineering ingenuity required to serve the mine. For over five decades, from 1898 until a less steep deviation was opened in 1952, these unique engines were a familiar sight, a symbol of the mine's determination to overcome geographical barriers. The development of the railway line over the mountain to Mount Morgan sped up deliveries with up to 80 tonnes of supplies at any given time – far more than horse-drawn drays could manage.

The railway's connection to the mine was symbiotic and absolutely critical.

The primary function was, of course, the transportation of mining equipment, materials for the chlorination works, and timber to fuel the furnaces. Without this high-capacity transport system, the sheer volume of material would have limited the mine's growth. The mining company developed a deviation and associated infrastructure, such as bridges, from the main line to the mining site.

The railway was the vital conduit for delivering immense quantities of coal from the Baralaba Coal Mine, and MMGMC developed the line to Baralaba, thus opening up the railway for expansion into the Dawson and Callide valleys. Coal was essential to power the mine's crushing plants, smelters, and various treatment facilities. Steam engines required constant water, and during droughts, trains even hauled millions of gallons of water from Stanwell to sustain the mine and town.

Beyond coal and equipment, the railway hauled in every conceivable supply needed for a vast industrial operation: timber for mine props, heavy machinery parts, chemicals for processing, and general merchandise for the burgeoning town of Mount Morgan. The railway effectively sustained the entire ecosystem of the mine and its supporting community.

The railway also carried miners, engineers, and their families, vital to Mount Morgan’s growing workforce. This human element was as crucial as the material resources.

The railway was not static; it evolved with the mine's needs. As operations expanded, the railway infrastructure was upgraded, including the enlargement of the station yard in 1917–18, the relocation of the engine shed, and the installation of a turning triangle to replace the turntable. The extension of the line further south to Wowan and eventually to Theodore in the Dawson Valley also directly supported the mine by providing access to more resources and opening up new agricultural areas that supplied the town.

The railway was Mount Morgan’s second-largest employer, providing steady work for drivers, firemen, track workers, and maintenance crews. Its presence underpinned a significant portion of the local economy, creating a ripple effect of prosperity throughout the region. The railway also created additional employment for the mine with line maintenance crews and operators.

The Mount Morgan Railway continued to serve the mining operations for many decades. Even as the mine's fortunes shifted, and eventually, large-scale extraction ceased in 1981, the railway remained an integral part of the landscape. While the main line is no longer in existence, its legacy is proudly preserved.

The 1898 heritage-listed Mount Morgan Railway Station, designed by Henrik Hansen, now operates as a Railway Heritage Museum and visitor centre. It stands as a tangible link to a past where the rhythm of steam engines and the clatter of ore wagons were the heartbeat of a town built on a ‘mountain of gold.’

Step back in time at the Mount Morgan railway station, where fascinating displays bring the town's rich rail history to life.

One of the star attractions is the 1903 Hunslet Steam Locomotive. This powerful engine, once a workhorse at the local mine, was generously donated to the town. After years spent at No. 7 Dam, it underwent a full restoration in the late 1990s, returning to operation for several years.

You'll also find the sleek 2000 Class Rail Motor, affectionately known as the ‘silver bullet,’ a generous gift to Mount Morgan from the Ipswich Railway Workshops. Beyond these impressive engines, explore a captivating collection of railway memorabilia, tools, and informative displays that paint a vivid picture of the past.

Don't miss the unique 3D presentation housed within a specially restored railway carriage, where you can delve into the captivating story of Mount Morgan's ingenious Rack Railway.

The story of the Mount Morgan Railway is not merely a footnote in the history of mining; it is a fundamental chapter. It demonstrates how innovative engineering and strategic infrastructure were indispensable to unlocking the wealth of the earth, proving that for Mount Morgan, the steel arteries of the railway were as vital as the gold and copper buried beneath the mountain.”

—Rail Coordinator, Mount Morgan Rail Museum.

Standing on the old platform, it’s easy to imagine the clatter of trains, the hiss of steam, and the heartbeat of a mining town that once moved mountains—literally.

*a complimentary article also written by Eve-lyn Rogers was published in the The Mount Morgan Argus