The Tumut Railway Condemned

18 August 1891 Wagga Wagga Advertiser

The following telegram from Sydney on Thursday appears in the Gundagai Times:- 

An extract from the report of Mr. Gilliat, Examiner of Public Works Proposals, on the Gundagai to Tumut Railway.

He says there is no apparent justification in either the character of the country, its settlement or population to take a line, as at present proposed, round by Adelong Crossing or Adelong.

The former is already served, within 8 miles along an excellent road, by the railway at Gnndagai; and the latter, over an equally good road, is 20 miles to the same station; while, in the event of direct extension to Tumut, it would be well served at that place in 12 miles, over a road that requires one deviation to make it an easy one; throughout its length it was broken and rugged.

The nature of the country between the valleys of Tumut and Tumbarumba renders any railway extension in that direction improbable.

The land is steep, densely and heavily timbered, and in spite of its richness, will not be in demand, whilst more easy cleared and worked areas are available for agricultural settlement. 

It is probable the line at Tumut will have reached its termination, but at the same time it must be remembered the Tumut district is at present supplying four fifths of the outward traffic to the existing Cootamundra-Gundagai branch, and is yearly bringing more land under cultivation, although none of the proposed extensions would be justified from tho impossibilities of making them pay interest on so large an expenditure.

It may be possible in a few years to find a line which would pay both interest on the capital and working expenses. 

A light line, or tramway, on the standard gauge, starting from South Gundagai, to the west bank of the Tumut river, following the lowland along the river to Tumut. It would not exceed 19 miles in length, or 12 mile less than the present survey, probably with better grades throughout.

The material advantage to owners of land, not only in the neighbourhood of the line, but throughout the district, would be so great that no survey could be advised until a guarantee were made from a responsible number of local land-owners to convey the land required to the Secretary for Public Works, free of cost be given.