City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Locomotive hauling timber from Upper Coomera Valley to Canungra Mill, Queensland

Locomotive hauling timber from Upper Coomera Valley to Canungra Mill, Queensland

In 1900 the transportation of logs to Lahey's mill at Canungra was becoming an acute problem. The bullock teams were slow and expensive, so the company ventured into building its own railway line into the Pine Creek Valley to bring the timber out. An order was placed in America for a Climax geared locomotive. Three years later the Climax began running on a newly completed line of hardwood with the curves laid with steel rails. After 1910 the Climax was costing too much in repairs and was placed out of service in 1912. [Reference source: Gold Coast Bulletin, 15 January 1977.] The Climax was constructed by the Lima Locomotive Company of Lima, Ohio, USA.