Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway
The Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway is a narrow gauge railway and ran from Darwin, once known as Palmerston, to Birdum, just south of Larrimah.
The John Cox Bray Government in South Australian introduced the Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway Bill in 1883. The £959,300 contract went to C & E Millar of Melbourne on the proviso that they could use coolie labour. The line reached Pine Creek in 1888 and was officially opened on 30 September 1889. Singhalese and Indian gangs did the grubbing and earthwork and 3,000 Chinese labourers laid over 1 km of track per day. A total of 310 bridges and flood openings were built.
The line was extended to Katherine in 1917. The Commonwealth Government took control in 1926. It later extended the line to Birdum.
In 1930 a mixed train, called Leaping Lena ran to an established timetable.
- Depart Darwin at 8.00 a.m. on Wednesdays
- Arrived at Pine Creek at 4.46 p.m.
- Depart Pine Creek 8.00 a.m. on Thursdays.
- Arrived ad Katherine 11.00 a.m. on Fridays.
- Depart Katherine 12:00 p.m. Fridays.
- Arrive Burdam at 5.51 p.m. Fridays.
During the Second World War Larrimah, nine kilometres north of Birdum, became the effective railhead. The busiest time for the railway was during the Second World War. As many as 247 trains ran per week in 1944.
Although a railway line from Alice Springs to Darwin had been discussed and promised by politicians for many years, this line was closed in 1976. However discussions continued and the Adelaide to Darwin Railway was finally completed on 17 September 2003 with the line between Alice Springs and Darwin. The first freight train reached Darwin on 17 January 2004. The passenger service of the Ghan first ran from Alice Springs to Darwin in early February 2004. It runs though some of the same stations as the old narrow gauge line.
The Pine Creek Railway Station is on the National List of Significant Places at the National Trust of Australia.
Locomotives
0-6-0 Shunter
2-6-4 Main Line
