The agreements were finally in place and the first sod was turned in the construction.
This occurred at South Brisbane Station for the Queensland section, and later on June 23, 1926, in Kyogle for the New South Wales section.
All the work on the line was performed manually as modern day construction machinery had not been invented.
Camps to house the thousands of workers and support staff, who were employed during the three and a half years construction period, were set up along the track.
The New South Wales section was serviced from the rail head situated at Kyogle, with trains able to carry materials up the newly constructed line.
Beaudesert Tramway could transport materials only as far as Dulbolla.
A special narrow-gauge line was then built to carry materials up from there. This line was used to run a special excursion train to the site in 1927.
In order to cross the Border range, a spiral loop had to be constructed near Coucal.
This loop is only one of two constructed in Australia, both in New South Wales.
The unique aspect of the line can be viewed from a special lookout on the Lions Road.
Round Mountain at Laravale provided much needed material.
A special spur line was built in 1935 to service a ballast quarry at the mountain.
Opened in 1930, the line provided a direct benefit to Beaudesert as passengers to or from Sydney were able to board or disembark the train at Bromelton and Tamrookum.
This train is now express only on the Queensland side.
A special bridge was constructed over the Brisbane River in 1986 to carry the interstate trains to Roma Street Station.
A passenger service for Beaudesert – so near and yet so far?
