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:''The North Coast railway line is also a railway in Queensland, Australia'' The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, Australia, and forms a major part of the Sydney–Brisbane rail corridor. The line begins at Maitland and ends at Roma Street railway station in Brisbane, although freight services terminate at the yard at Acacia Ridge on the outskirts of Brisbane. Along the way, the railway passes through the towns of Dungog, Gloucester, Wingham, Taree, Kendall, Wauchope, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Urunga, Sawtell, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Casino and Kyogle. After the standard gauge line ends at Acacia Ridge, it forms a dual gauge line into Brisbane, running alongside parts of the Beenleigh railway line. Since the closure of the northern part of the Main North Line in 1988, the North Coast line is the only route between Sydney and Queensland. With the closure of former branches to Dorrigo (1972) and Murwillumbah (2004) there are now no operating branches off the line. The Bonalbo branch from Casino was stillborn, with partial construction left incomplete. At the NSW/Queensland border is a long tunnel called Border Tunnel. Immediately south of it was Border Loop, a short crossing loop, which is now closed. About one kilometre south of that is the Cougal Spiral. These two locations are often confused, Border Loop is not Cougal Spiral. The line is owned by RailCorp but leased to the Australian Rail Track Corporation until 2064.〔(Memorandum between The Commonwealth of Australia & The State of New South Wales & Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited ) Australian Rail Track Corporation〕〔(The Agreement in Summary ) Australian Rail Track Corporation〕〔(Annual Report 30 June 2004 ) Australian Rail Track Corporation〕 ==History== The first North Coast railway was opened between Murwillumbah, Byron Bay and Lismore in 1894 and extended to Casino in 1903 and Grafton in 1905. A branch line was built to Kyogle in 1910 and extended to South Brisbane in 1930. The line was built between 1905 and 1932, and when completed, bypassed the Main North line and provided a quicker route up the eastern seaboard. The development of the line was hampered by the many large rivers that flow through the North Coast. The line also features the Cougal Spiral, which is one of only two spirals in New South Wales. A railway was built from Maitland to Paterson and Dungog in 1911. It was extended to Gloucester and Taree in 1913 and Wauchope, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Glenreagh and South Grafton (now Grafton station) in 1915.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=North Coast Line )〕 The Clarence River was the most difficult river to cross and it was not crossed until 1932.〔〔"Crossing the Clarence" ''Roundhouse'' July 1982 pages 4-23〕 In the meantime services were connected by rail ferry that carried the carriages across the river. The opening of the Grafton Bridge in 1932 completed the Sydney – Brisbane line as the first standard gauge inter-capital link. The completion of the Sydney–Brisbane link saw the Casino–Murwillumbah line become a branch line.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Murwillumbah Branch )〕 In 1930 a branch line had been added to Ballina but this closed in 1949.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Ballina Branch )〕 The Murwillumbah branch closed in 2004. A picturesque branch was opened from Glenreagh to Dorrigo in 1924, but was difficult to maintain due to the steep terrain and high rainfall and it was closed in 1972 after a washaway.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Dorrigo Branch )〕 The Glenreagh to Ulong section is proposed for reopening as a heritage tourist railway by the Glenreagh Mountain Railway. The Dorrigo Steam Railway is also being set up in Dorrigo as a museum and working exhibit. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「North Coast railway line, New South Wales」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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