Solving a Brisbane Railway Mystery 

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The rusty metal pole you were standing beside while looking at the new Dutton Park station once held up the overhead wires for the Dutton Park tram line.

The pa hospital line is where the old coal boiler house for the hospital was fed into the furnaces to make hot water. Went electric early 90s from memory. So yes there was still train access in1989. My father used to work in this role and as he had his train drivers license , he was allowed to drive the train that was always in that shed where they would unload the coal.

That brought back some memories Rob. In 1966 or 67 when I was in high scool, the school had a big sports day which was held at the Gabba Cricket Ground. Then, as now, I was bored out of my skull by such things. The gate was guarded by a couple of school prefects (referred to by us as defects) to stop any would be escapees. Not long after lunch they must've been as bored as we were so a classmate and I slipped out the gate and onto Main Street. Crossing straight over there we entered the railyard next to the turntable which stood at the Main Street end of the yard. Once in the yard (still in our green and white school uniforms) we made our way through the yard. I seem to recall a couple of rail workers calling out to us to "not get yerselves run over!" but other than that nobody bothered about us. Eventually we got to the western end of the yard and walked through the tunnel - hoping a train didn't come the other way - and found ourselves on the wharves. A short stroll from there brought us around to the dry dock and from there onto Stanley Street where South Bank is now, where we waited for a number 25 trolley bus to go home. A great adventure and much more fun than the school sports day.

Fantastic video Rob, especially from a non-train person. As a train person, you really did a fantastic job going over the former line. As a kid occasionally catching the train going past area there was a stub that went beyond the PA Hospital, toward Ipswich road. There were closed saw mills within the triangle of the railway lines. To tie in your Marburg video, coal was transported from the Rosewood railway line that use to go all the way to Marburg ( the coal mine was roughly half way along) and was the coal supplied to the hospital before converting to gas. I remember seeing those 4 wheel hoppers servicing the hospital. Some of those wagons went onto the Petrie paper mill. By the 80s majority of coal were transported in bogie wagons for export, so those small hoppers were unusual. For a non train guy you certainly used excellent railway historian references in the credits, hence the quality of this work. Thankyou again for creating and producing these brilliant local history videos. As an ex Brissie person I have learnt so much more.

My grandparents house is in Tamar street a few hundred yards from Dutton Park station. Pop was responsible for obtaining all the hardwood railway sleepers for Queensland Rail and worked at the huge redbank yards until he retired, catching the train at dutton park each day. My uncle crossed the line at the bottom of Sampson Street and walked to the Dutton park ferry to go to uni. He retired as one of the CEO's of Anglo American South Africa. Their house was bought in 1950 for about £100. And sold about two years ago for $1.2million.

Tin shed next to the Morrison is Heritage Listed with the Morrison and I think the Corroboree grounds at the Gabba was where the Bus Terminals are now located as they found artifacts when building it. I think there is a plaque somewhere at the Bus terminal

"Dancing Dickie Daniels Does His Thing " was a local newspaper headline. He was a traffic cop at the Gabba when the steam trains crossed. He was famous for his theatrical gestures . Your video is very good. I learnt a lot.Thanks.

I once went under the Railway hotel floorboards. It was like a scene out of Indiana Jones with the snakes replaced with cockroaches

This is the best time of year, weather wise in Queensland (IMO).

I am amazed Rob how you can make interesting places that I have walked through numerous times without a second thought.

That second track right at the end of the video used to feed coal to a coal boiler . Used for laundry at the old hospital

I grew up in Brisbane but moved away 30 years ago. Enjoying your walks. Lots of memories for me.

Your Dad jokes never fail to amuse. Great work Rob.

I’m fascinated with these old branch lines. Great video mate!

That short joke made me laugh more than I should admit

Omg. The hmas Diamantina. My grandfather served on her and when he passed away I was allowed to spread his ashes in her keel and where his quarters were. Thank you Rob. They need the publicity

Love a good video about rail history. There's probably some comedic value in someone who knows nothing about trains trying to explain a historic train line in great detail.

Great video. Enoteca is one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever eaten at. And for context I’m Italian and grew up in Melbourne. We went there last week for my birthday and go for anniversaries and special occasions maybe once a year. Magnificent authentic Italian food and wines. Not a cheap night out so it’s very much a special occasion. There is a basement where they have functions and wine tastings that looks amazing. It’s worth living on baked beans and toast for a month to have a night there. 😉

A railway turntable was uncovered during construction of the crossriver rail at the corner of Ipswich Rd and Stanley Street

I am the kid that said I love your vids. Honestly the remembered the hat and your content but I forgot your channel name🤦 but I do find it very interesting and informative. Helps to get to know area better. Thanks mate!

Rob i am so old i remember the old line and you were spot on about that mystery curbing, the line ran up there

Another fantastic video as always! Starting with the intro! 🤣 I have always wanted to know exactly where that railway tunnel was, but never made time to look into it! Thank you so much!! Absolutely fascinating! I was chuffed to see that small section of tracks that survive- love hidden gems like that, that are reminders of a big part of Brisbane's history!

Substation number 5 probably provided rectified (DC) power to the trams.

The car park at the Morrison always felt like something was meant to be there but wasn’t. And you explained it. Well done Rob!

Awesome adventure, Rob. You took me to some old haunts and places I didn't know existed. Thank you again.

As a Jurgens myself, I pronounce the J, just like my father, and his father before him, Though occasionally I meet the odd person who tells me I pronounce my name incorrectly, which is always a charming conversation enjoyed by all participants.

Wow, this is one of your best vids because I had absolutely no idea about this track! I'm going to have to look for some of those clues on the bike track near the Captain Cook Bridge now....

I absolutely loved this. I like trains and use to work in Wooloongabba many years ago. Thanks Rob! More of these please.

"Wet my whistle", a dad-joke of the worst kind. That is, the sort I would tell. 😆

Kent street isn't the only place where there's still rails, Just one of the few spots where they're still visible. Couple of years back, they tore up a section of Stanley street between Ipswich and Jurgens streets, and the rails were still there, Just covered up by the road surface

I got lost a bit following you until the fiveways. Can't believe I knew nothing of this rail system as a kid which was still in operation as the colour photos show. By-gee I learned a lot from this video! Excellent info thanks Rob.

Great video! I was walking over those tracks the other day and didn’t even realised they were train tracks. Very interesting little history.

"Antipasti, I've always been pro pasti myself!" "Mambo, I mean substation number 5."🥁😂😂😂 Very interesting as always.

At the 18 minute, 30 second mark, you mention that funny looking kerb and guttering. From an old 1967/68 Gregory's street directory of Brisbane (Brisbane's First five colour street directory), that was where Ross Street connected up to Ipswich Road. Ross Street now terminates on the other side of the Pacific Motorway.

Great video Rob! Stanley Street, Wooloogabba & Albert Railway stations closed to passengers in 1891. Following the opening of the line to South Brisbane. Stanley Street building was removed to Clayfield in 1893, Wooloogabba remained as a Goods Office & Albert was a crossing loop with Signal Cabin. The Depot closed in 1967, the Goods Yard in 1969 with final closure in 1970. The section from Dutton Park to Albert remained open as storage & industrial sidings until closure in 1989. The sidings of the Princess Alexandra Hospital remained until 1997. RPSQI 🚂

Minor pedantic point but the wharves moved down river ie towards the coast. Although you say they moved “up river” (at the end of the video) I know you mean “down river”

The woolloongabba train area was also a goods yard, that’s why the railway hotel was named.

The line left the Dutton Park area and ran along Dibley St (I had a pic of a train crossing the level crossing outside Albert station on the Albert St intersection) going under the freeway and exiting at the kerb point you mentioned...there are numerous images of trains crossing Ipswich Rd also with a flagman like the Gabba.

Rob needs to be nominated for father of the year for the level of dad jokes alone 😂 Anyone else get Alby Mangels vibes too?

The old Wooloongabba tunnel would make a fantastic safe pedestrian and cycle link between Southbank, Kangaroo Point and the Gabba precinct today, especially with the new bridges at the bottom of Alice St and at Queens Wharf adding multiple alternative loop routes for joggers, walkers, cyclists and daily commuters. A shame it was filled in.

You missed the underpass where the coal railway went through the triangle. When I worked on Buranda substation we dug up all kinds of remants of the rail yard. Part of that rail yard still exists alongside Kent St.

Thank you, Rob, for another very informative video. I enjoy rail history as I have two great grandfathers who worked for Qld rail as train guards.

Used to live around the corner from and play gigs at at The Railway Hotel and I never actually questioned why it was called the Railway Hotel. Gabba Hotel was always busy on match days.

Awesome Mate, Great pictures of the old Workings, That aerial shot of the Morrison says it all really.

Great video Rob. Always like these videos retracing train routes.

The tunnel was filled in by the 'great mud flood', Tartaria, lol.

A lot of good old pubs

One day, could you please do a history video on Caboolture? I feel like that would be really interesting. I can't find much on it myself but I'm not good at that stuff 😅

I did some research into this line a couple of decades ago. It was a bit harder to find info on it back then. But I saw photos of the freeway construction where they cut open the top of the tunnel and filled it.

A Sponsor. Well done, it reflects the growth of the channel. Congratulations, more financial security means better uploads. Cheers Bloke.

Awesome video Rob… we really appreciate you taking the time to research and share fascinating and interesting information about Brisbane and its surrounds. I always learn so much about my home town. Keep up the great work mate.

Thanks again Rob for a great video and great content. Many memories for me here as I used to live for many years very close the Maritime Museum and saw it and the old railway alignment every day. As a bit of a rail fan I learned very quickly that the path through the Maritime Museum was the old rail line. Keep up the good work mate. 🙂🖖

As always Rob, great work.

your videos are so amazing. you are effortlessly funny in such a dry way. I really hope you keep doing this. I will most certainly be buying you a cofffee.

I don't know when you filmed this, but as I understand it that Jaycar had a fire recently.

Hi Rob. Great video I learnt heaps and happy to see we do have history here in Brisbane. We covered a tunnel and got rid of Woolloongabba station, now we are digging 2 new tunnels and putting back in Woolloongabba station 😂 Also notice that @11:55 you were clean shaven and then back to a beard?!?

Very interesting video Rob. I used to catch buses to the city back in the 1980’s and boy has woolloongabba changed a lot since then.

I remember being held up by trains at the woolangabba five ways.

brisbane takes its toll on a person i can understand why rob always finds a pub

At 14:54 you have an aerial shot of the cricket/foobtall stadium (pre grandstands). What's interesting to note is it looks like a rectangular field on a diagonal axis, with the goal posts aligned very similar to the direction they go nowadays in AFL.

Ahhh I see what you did with that whistle. Channelling the inner train conductor...clever allusion to the old train line 😊

I’d love to try that Italian restaurant too. As a kid loved to catch a sight of the whistler, a policeman directing traffic at the five ways. Morrissey Street a touchy subject with my great Aunty, she lost her house to the freeway causing a nervous breakdown. Great weather for a great video.

The Gabba main stretch (near the Chalk Hotel) has been misused for decades. It could have been the south-side's Fortitude Valley but more resembles a hodgepodge. In regard to the Chalk Hotel, Brisbane is in need of new hotels. Too many were demolished in the 1970's and 80's and now there aren't enough to cater for the population. Nice video. Cheers.

Every video you teach me something new, keep it up.

Enotica is great. I highly recommend for a special night out.

I’ve seen that remaining track! I go to a pharmacy on Kent St and the tracks are about halfway down Kent St.

This the the Moreton Rubber building - I bet we have all said that at one stage :) Great video as always

Thank you, great video

Walkabout Wi' Throb Jago Hazzard would be proud of you Shame about The Chalk, it was such a nice pub

Thank you for this video, Rob, I really enjoy learning the history of an area via your vids. Could you please consider doing something similar on where the South Coast line used to run - not the whole thing from Beenleigh to Tweed Heads but a walk+drive-about showing selected highlights like Ernest Junction, the Southport station area, and some remaining traces of the line wherever they may be such as a bit north of Nerang's current station plus at Coolangatta and Kirra.

👍🏻 great episode, very well researched ☝️ i lived in jurgens street at one time , and learnt something new about my old neighbourhood

Love this mate such a different channel. Love the history

8:22 You could get through to Woolloongabba from there, by Burfords Batcave 11:08 Was the largest Bottle-shop I knew of in the 1990s 12:57 at top-left the black line is approximately the route of Burfords from the creek to the river 19:37 Quality Qld infrastructure - Terminated by Main Roads; who think they aren't responsible for what they don't build 22: 43 You got me! - I've been down Kent Street often, and did not know it was a remnant Wool{l}oongabba line!

The old tunnel footage reminds me of old Gloucester st station

Enjoyed the sights and story, thanks.

Another great video

Great old photos in this video, so interesting to know there was a railway in that area. Glad a part of the track still remains near the P. A. Nice job @walkaboutwithrob

Another great video! I’d love to see you do Yarraman! Another great one would be Caboolture! They have a really good little historical village there! Been hoping you do it for a while! 😃

Very good pity there is so little left of this most interesting part of Brisbane

Awesome vid and always well explained 👏👍 love learning more history from watching your channel rob 😀

This video deserves more recognition...

Jeez Rob, I was devastated when you said you didn't like trains. But that aside, you did a great job - for a non-believer!

Another top video from a top bloke. I bought my car from Southside Toyota really nice people to deal with.

Don't ever let pasto and antipasto touch on your plate.

Makes me wonder if where those exposed tracks are now today led into some yards (where that building stands and the rail heads into it at Kent St), where steam trains would be stored overnight? EDIT: Also note the irony of ripping up this line in the 1960s, only for it to be rebuilt (this time through to the city) in the 2020s!

Wow. Great. I loved the old photos.

I like trains. So very interesting video.

Nice one Rob, love your content....😁👍

This was a great video. i love learning things like this. Top job

Thanks, Rob. Great content. I grew up in the West End during the '60s and '70s. I well remember the tunnel that Dad used to drive us through for a bit of fun as kids. I didn't know the history until today. And let's not forget Dancing Dicky Daniels at the Gabba Five Ways... He would line Dad and his mates up for a drag up Vulture St... 🙂🙂

Another great history trek!

Great video Rob, keep up the good work.

Please put a video description in the description. I understand you need to sell ads but I don’t know what this video is about until I’m halfway through now

Great to see that you got a sponsor

More train content plz

A very well researched and entertaining video Rob. Thank you. Any time you're visiting the state of Tasmania you should do a video on the building called Lady Franklin Gallery. Very interesting thats for sure.

8:21 if only there was a nearby drain that went to wooloongabba

Woombye has an old train line for fruit ruins are still next to the existing rail now. Black snake sunshine coast😅

Thanks for another great video Rob. I remember going to see some good Metal bands at The Railway Hotel in 1999. I believe some Sydney property developers were hoping to build a 30 storey apartment building on the site about 10 years ago but nothing has come of it obviously. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether they were colourful characters or not.