Definitely not the purpose

G’day Brooksie
Thanks for the great info.
Nice to meet a fellow Ten Pound Pom.
It’s a shame we’re losing a lot of tracks – but thankfully there is still a lot of country out there to explore on bike.
Regards
Neil

No, you are right Neil, This is my stomping ( mtb riding ) ground. I have been riding this area for 20 years on my mtbs. The third rail on the interstate rail line is Qld 3 ft 6 inch gauge, put in a number of years ago with a federal grant I believe of somewhere in the vicinity of $50 million. It runs from Acacia Ridge out to Bromelton just west of Beaudesert. All the old wooden sleepers were gradually replaced with concrete ones when the third rail was added. . The idea was to link freight depots near Beaudesert through to Acacia Ridge and on to the Port of Brisbane. So far, a decade later, no Qld gauge train has operated on it. The much-talked- about Inland Rail system is supposed to link into it at Kagaru in the next couple of years. Rapid urban development at Flagstone and Greenbank has people asking when it will be used for urban passenger rail services, but currently there are no solid plans for this. Vague promises and talk by politicians only.
Re the missing bridge over Wollaman Creek on Undullah Road; this was initially closed to vehicular traffic, later burnt out by vandals, then demolished. We still often ride this stretch, wheeling our bikes down and up the banks and crossing at a shallow part. It is fenced, but is still a gazetted road. We often rode a quick afternoon one hour dash of 20 km loop along Old Teviot Road, Wyatt Road, Undullah Rd, and Kilmoylah Road (recently bitumened). We also roamed far and wide through the bush and tracks north of Undullah Road (future suburb of Monarch Glen), but much of this is now in the hands of developers, and legal access is becoming more doubtful. A shame, as we watch all our old tracks vanishing. Wild Pig Creek /Washpool Road and Mt Elliott Rd appear to join up on maps, but despite riding from each end, we have never pushed our luck by going past ‘Private property’ signs, which may or may not be bluff by landowners who wish to keep people out. Likewise, much of Rice Road is apparently private. Also, lots of old tracks at Ripley are now going under rapid urban development.
P.S. Recently rode Kilkivan to Wulkaraka using the two Rail trails and Link road. We camped, and towed BoB trailers with our camping and cooking gear and basic food. Tougher going than bare bikes but enjoyable nonetheless.
P.P.S. I came across your blog looking at Ten Pound Pom info with my granddaughter. My wife and family came from England under the scheme in 1966. It’s a bonus that you are a mtb tourer/ photographer/ blogger..
Cheers

Thanks Graham 🙂