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Southern & Silverton Rail was an Australian rail operator. Founded in 1886 as the Silverton Tramway Company, it operated the Silverton Tramway until 1970, before diversifying into operating hook and pull services, being renamed Silverton Rail in the mid-1990s. In 2006 it was purchased by South Spur Rail Services and rebranded as Southern & Silverton Rail, before both were sold to Coote Industrial. In June 2010 it was sold to Qube Logistics and rebranded. ==History== The Silverton Tramway Company was formed in 1886 to build and operate the Silverton Tramway, a long narrow gauge railway running from Cockburn on the New South Wales / South Australia state border to Broken Hill after the Government of New South Wales enacted into legislation the ''Silverton Tramway Act of 1886'' that granted the Silverton Tramway Company the rights to build and operate a railway. It was headquartered in Melbourne, listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1897, later transferring to the Australian Securities Exchange. The line the line opened on 12 January 1888. Initially using hired South Australian Railways Y class locomotives, until it received its own locomotives. By the end of 1888, it had concluded a deal for the South Australian Railways to operate the main line services with Silverton servicing the various mines and sidings in Broken Hill. On 1 July 1893, Silverton resumed operating mainline services. In August 1899, the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) purchased the Tarrawingee Tramway. As it was isolated and to a different gauge from the rest of its operations, the NSWGR contracted Silverton to operate services until the line closed in 1931.〔 Following a new line being opened in February 1970 by the Federal Government, the line was made redundant and the company concentrated on operating shunting and track maintenance services to the mines industry in and around Broken Hill with its remaining two diesel locomotives.〔(Progress in Rail Reform: Submission to the Productivity Commission ) Silverton Tramway Company〕〔"Silverton" ''Railway Digest'' July 1985 page 189〕 Under the 1886 Act, the Government of New South Wales had an option to buy out the company for 21 times the annual divisible profits of the preceding seven years. Silverton calculated it was entitled to $5.8 million, but through legislation this was removed, the company having to settle for a $2 million payment.〔(Silverton Tramway Land Vesting Bill ) New South Wales Legislative Assembly 22 February 1972〕 In 1969, the Dillingham Corporation of Honolulu bought a 33% shareholding, later increasing to 50%. In 1972, it was then taken over by T & G Mutual Life Assurance Society and delisted. It was included in the 1983 purchase of T & G Mutual by National Mutual, and in 1986 was sold in a management buyout to Graham Clements.〔 Having purchased a number of locomotives from FreightCorp and AN Tasrail, in 1995/96 Silverton Rail leased six locomotives to National Rail for use on Adelaide to Melbourne services as bankers to Tailem Bend.〔"Rail Authorities Face Loco Shortage" ''Railway Digest'' December 1995 page 16〕〔"South Australia" ''Railway Digest'' July 1996 page 37〕 With the introduction of an open access regime in New South Wales the business was rebranded as Silverton Rail, and in August 1999 began operating iron ore services from Cobar to Narromine as a subcontractor to National Rail and relocated the majority of its fleet to Parkes Roundhouse.〔"Silverton Rail Update" ''Railway Digest'' October 1999 page 14〕〔"All Change for Cobar ore trains" ''Railway Digest'' March 2000 page 42〕 In August 1999, it also began operating trip workings in Sydney.〔"Silverton Rail" ''Railway Digest'' March 2001 page 21〕 In August 2000, Silverton began operating grain services from Nyngan to Sydney.〔"And Now Silverton Starts Hauling Grain" ''Railway Digest'' September 2000 page 5〕 In February 2006, Silverton Rail was sold to Western Australian-based South Spur Rail Services.〔(Southern Spur takes over Silverton Rail ) ''Rail Express'' 1 March 2006〕 The locomotives and rolling stock were sold to the Allco Finance Group and leased back. Silverton Rail was rebranded as Southern & Silverton Railway.〔(Annual Report 30 June 2009 ) Coote Industrial〕 In March 2007, South Spur Rail Services was purchased by Coote Industrial.〔(South Spur Rail Services joins Coote Industrial ) ''WA Business News'' 26 March 2007〕 Following Allco Finance running into financial trouble, Coote Industrial was able to buy much of the former Silverton rolling stock in January 2008 through controlled subsidiary Greentrains.〔(Annual Report 30 June 2008 ) Coote Industrial〕 In June 2010 South Spur Rail Services was sold to P&O Trans Australia.〔(Sale of South Spur Rail Services Business ) Coote Industrial 7 June 2010〕〔(Coote sells South Spur sale for $16m ) ''BN Western Australia'' 7 June 2010〕 In April 2011, Qube Logistics acquired outright control and majority ownership of P&O Trans Australia and Southern & Silverton Rail was rebranded.〔(History ) Qube Logistics〕 Qube Logistics purchased New South Wales freight operator Independent Transport Group in June 2012.〔(Qube expands regional rail capacity ) Qube Logistics 7 June 2012〕 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「Southern & Silverton Rail」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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