Glenreagh to Dorrigo - Historic Mountain Rainforest Railway

The Dorrigo railway line branched from the North Coast line at Glenreagh in the Pacific hinterland of Northern NSW and took a winding 69km path to Dorrigo, on the Dorrigo plateau. It opened in 1924 and effectively closed after flood damage in 1972.
Timber was the main revenue source but the Dorrigo line was one of the costliest branch railways built in New South Wales. It had some of the steepest gradients and tightest curves on the NSW railways and high maintenance costs due to the wet climate.
There were two tunnels, 13 sidings and stations, and many bridges.
The line was intended to eventually link Coffs and Grafton with the northern and north west railway lines at Guyra but this was scrapped around WW1.
Dorrigo station and yard are currently used to store Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum’s large rolling stock collection, the largest in the world, including 45 steam locos. The DSRM has plans to one day run trains from Dorrigo to Megan and open their collection to the public.
The station at Glenreagh remains although the old signal gantry and once iconic water tank are gone. The Glenreagh Mountain Railway maintains a small fleet of rolling stock in their shed at a location sometimes known as ‘Glenreagh West’, and some track around Glenreagh with hopes to run trains to Tallawudjah Creek again, among other plans.
From the hot hinterland of the north coast to the cool climes of the plateau, let’s begin our journey here at Glenreagh, alongside the modern North Coast Line.
LINKS:
Glenreagh Mountain Railway: gmr.org.au/
Glenreagh Gold: / @glenreaghgold7163
Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum: www.dsrm.org.au/
Coffs Collections: coffs.recollec...

[@JGrandcourt]

So sad the outcome. Glad at least Glenreagh have produced some form of museum. Sadly the Dorrigo saga, is an example of my way or the highway in Preservation. In the end the vision is not achieved, as community support is not gained and no thinking about succession is actively encouraged. As others said millions will be needed for the rolling stock acquired to make any of it operational. All of it originally with good intent. This is the typical of Australian rail heritage. Government has outsourced to severely underfunded not for profits. Really it is the job of government that profitsed from privatising rail in the first place. Back to the video, once again a beautifully shot, produced and presented video. Thankyou for taking the time to make these. They are wonderful including this.

[@Antechynus]

Absolutely agree with your comment bud... the current state of things is a great disrespect to the men who helped build our world.... Privatisation is selling off history and hard work, nothing else.

[@andrewwarcup684]

I don't think there was ever any intention of opening a museum. What I have read, it was a private group, just there to grab as much railway stuff as they could, to the detriment of other more well meaning societies. As a famous person once said in an interview, you can't save it all. That was the Rev. W. Awdry. There are many pieces of railway 'what ever' that will never be restored and will just rot.

[@shedwork]

Hoarders dream turned rusty relics at Dorrigo. Great video.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks 👍

[@railmediaproductions3677]

Without a doubt, I think this is one of the best videos you have produced. I have been interested in the Glenreagh to Dorrigo branch line for many years, and in the last 12 to 18 months the urge to explore the full length of the railway has been getting stronger. I have spent hours over more than one night researching and pinpointing the line on Google Maps, and finding as many places that would be best to obtain shots of the railway from Glenreagh all the way up the Great Dividing Range to Dorrigo. The opportunity to finally travel to this part of the world looks like it is going to happen between January and April next year, and my plan is to follow the railway over a period of 2 days.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks! Can't wait to see your take on it! I couldn't get access to the tunnels sadly, private property... or a long hike down (up) the track. I also couldn't get to Timbertop, the track into there needs a serious 4WD to tackle the ruts. There's so much more I'd like to have done so really looking forward to seeing you make a video on it.

[@railmediaproductions3677]

@@Outdoorstype I will definitely try to get as much video as possible from the trip to Dorrigo. It would have been a good place to photograph back in steam days, especially with the Standard Goods type locos and the old 19 class. Looking forward to seeing your next video on the channel.

[@railmediaproductions3677]

@@Outdoorstype I have been able to book the trip to explore the Dorrigo Railway Line between the 28th and 31st of this month. I managed to organise the trip much earlier than expected, everything is all ready to go and I am looking forward to tracing the route in person.

[@Outdoorstype]

@@railmediaproductions3677 still time to get in touch with GMR and Dorrigo for a tour! You just never know! Unless you have already... have a great time!

[@railmediaproductions3677]

@ I sent Dorrigo a letter in the mail back in mid November but sadly I haven’t heard anything. I reached out to Glenreagh fairly recently as well and I am waiting to find out if they would be happy for me to film 1919 in the shed. Hopefully we will see this loco in steam at some stage in the not too distant future, it would be good to film a 19 class operating again.

[@johnledingham852]

What a treasure secreted away in its' beautiful Dorrigo location. Thank you for sharing.

[@Antechynus]

It's not secreted... it's being left to rot.

[@jeremykemp5845]

Wow, what a collection in that yard. Also, brilliant drone shots of the bridges & adjacent landscape. Love your video work Mike. I like the background music! ❤

[@Outdoorstype]

Cheers, Jeremy. It's always been number one on my list to make a video that somehow involved the DSRM and I'm just so grateful to have had the opportunity to do it. Thanks heaps for your support mate. 😊

[@kenfowler1980]

It’s a beautiful part of the world & Dorrigo is a lovely little town. Thx for sharing

[@Outdoorstype]

So much to explore!

[@garynich1983]

Great video, Michael! Love to see these locomotives in action, one day.

[@geoffmartin1947]

They used to have an old Melbourne tram with a generator on the back and do short trips to the end of the line and back. The steam engine had just had a new boiler installed and was being tested. Brings back lots of memories for me.

[@slepper98]

Thanks for that, always interested in that line. Top job, well done. Cheers.

[@OzMOTO]

Very interesting. I never knew that there were so many locos and rolling stock at Dorrigo rusting and rotting away. 😮 Unfortunately all governments in Australia dont see existing rail transport outside of the major cities a priority - let alone closed lines. 😥

[@Outdoorstype]

Agreed. Thanks for watching.

[@AussiePom]

That was an absolute joy to watch and seeing Cascade and Briggsvale albeit with the shelter at Cascade close to falling down now and I think the same sort of shelter at Megan has fallen down now. Megan station could be seen from the road where old loco tenders were stored. The last time I was at Ulong station the lines had old louvre vans and tank wagons. But they've been removed I gather back to Dorrigo. The historical photo of Moleton is interesting for the 19 class has been separated from it's old Baldwin bogie tender. Engine and tender weren't often separated unless they were going to turn the loco on a turntable and the turntable wasn't long enough for engine and tender. It's a bit of a mystery with that photo. You can see why it was the most expensive branch line to maintain for the vegetation grows rapidly. I drove the bitumen/dirt road from Coramba to Dorrigo in the last drought and yet it had been raining for there was no cloud of dust behind the car. I filled the car with fuel at the BP servo at Coramba probably the only servo left with driveway service where I got told off for filling my car when there was an attendant there to do it for me just like the old days.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks for watching, and for the information on the engine at Moleton. Love 'The Dorrigo'. A unique part of the world indeed.

[@AussiePom]

@@Outdoorstype As an add to this GMR is not much better than DSRM with most of the line from Glenreagh through to Ulong to be turned into a Rail Trail for cyclists and walkers NOT trains. Tallowood Rail Trails looks to be the new owner of most of the line. There will be some rail activity if it can be called that at Glenreagh and Lowanna but as for the rest it will be a Rail Trail. Most of the membership who started the GMR have been excluded by the current membership or have simply walked away their dreams shattered.

[@Outdoorstype]

Agreed. ​its a sad state of affairs.

[@Outdoorstype]

@@AussiePom depends what you read. Tallowood's rail trails don't appear to be welcomed by contemporary locals who'd rather see trains than cyclists. If you meet Keith, you'll find he's a little mad like the rest of us - a regular guy. Keith mentioned the huge costs council are imposing for works at Dorrigo to suit the 'proposed' museum, then there's the re-sleepering to Megan etc. He's dreaming, but he's a fighter and obviously dug in. Only generational change will make anything happen there, but even then, I wonder what would happen without Keith anyway. Restoring that collection to a safe state for visitation and viewing is obviously something Dorrigo hasn't managed yet and are not likely to without serious action and money. The GMR mentioned running to Tallewudjah, but this Tallowood Ventures thing is yet another spoon stirring the pot now. Again, people can't seem to focus on small things that are possible and would make money - always dreaming. I'd like to stress that they are also nice people who let me in for a look around. They need a lot of help and money to get things running there though. This line's story ended up being the story of a passionate bunch of people who ended up conspiring to ruin everything - and who's got the 20 million lying around to restore a line that'll just get washed away anyway?

[@WeenyBeanyHere]

Always a weird feeling seeing a place I visited as a kid in a KZbin video I rode behind 1919 on the Glenreagh Mountain Railway back when they were still running short train rides in 2007 I also visited the Dorrigo Railway Museum too around the same time I'm surprised my little kid brain could handle the transition from seeing model trains on TV to seeing hundreds of real trains all in one place!

[@greghayes9118]

You have got the drone piloting sorted, there was some spectacular scenes there…

[@Outdoorstype]

Thank you, Greg.

[@michaelsecomb4115]

Really enjoyed that. What a pity more hasn't been done with the hoarded collection. Would be great to see it put to work.

[@KanesTrains]

Beat me to it! Fantastic video, loved every second!

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks, Kane. That means a lot. I've had this video in my head for so many years that it feels surreal to watch it back. I'm curious? You've covered heaps of stuff (which I love to watch) but which line do you obsess the most about capturing one day that you haven't yet?

[@KanesTrains]

@@Outdoorstype the old Ghan line, I’ve always wanted to go along it with a copy of Jeremy Browns book and film all the remnants and add history behind it. I figured it would make a great series.

[@Outdoorstype]

@@KanesTrains some amazing history there. Big job too!

[@Mimosa3163]

Fantastic vision Mike. One area I'd like to take the drone up to as well. Drove over the line photographing it in 1984. Hope you got Keith to show you around the collection at Dorrigo.

[@Outdoorstype]

I did meet Keith. For a boy from far away Adelaide, that was a goal achieved in itself! Might get a tour next time. Thanks for watching!

[@lesoheir8884]

Thank you for the great video. You didn’t mention Tallowood Ventures, the rail trail company who have taken over Glenreagh Mountain Railway.

[@Outdoorstype]

No worries! Yes. We'll see how Tallowood goes. I tend to focus only on what's actually physically happening in my videos so it was difficult to see where Tallowood fits in. I wish them all the best but they have a fight on their hands as far as I know.

[@bushranger51]

A wonderful video, on what could be a very pretty tourist railway. The GMR have really done a lot of work getting the line back as far as they have, but from the video there's still years left to do, The only fly in the ointment is the idiot at Dorrigo with all that rotting and rusty rolling stock that's really going nowhere, by the time the GMR get there there'll be nothing left except a pile of rust and a heap of sawdust where once stood a great collection of NSWGR rolling stock.

[@Outdoorstype]

Old mate reckons the steam engines are good to go and the money he spends stops rolling stock from being scrapped. He still dreams of running to Megan, but the project needs tens of millions for restoration. The only thing that will change anything up there is a new generation needs to take over. Thanks for watching!

[@Antechynus]

Its disgusting what had happened to the old engines and rolling stick.. Dorrigo should be ashamed at the waste and red tape that has crippled the museum for over 30 years now.

[@Outdoorstype]

I met the guy while I was up there. He's just trying to save as much as he can from being scrapped. I reckon the problem is there's no money or manpower left to make it operational.

[@Antechynus]

@Outdoorstype the old driver I took with me knew the whole original story... names, dates, the lot. He summed it up as the bloke basically offsided, offended or just cut out anyone with a different opinion... till there was no one and no will to help him in the local or rail communities.

[@Outdoorstype]

@@Antechynus yeah Some of the things that happened weren't really cool but I'm staying well away from that sh**fight. 😉

[@johnhutchinson9714]

They had the chance to equal the brilliant tourist train which runs from Cairns to Karunda. But not to be. The run up to the plateau would have been brilliantly picturesque from the posts I've seen.

[@Antechynus]

Johnhutchinson.... Just recently I was in Tasmania, and went on the West Coast Wilderness rail and it was great. I could not but think again how disappointing the whole Dorrigo situation is. Particularly knowing my good mate who drove engines for almost 40 years (he can look at an engine number and tell you when and where it ran) is really upset about this stuff... Perhaps if they applied for funding as the "history of women in rail museum" the government would get on board? 😮

[@chatsworthosbornejr6475]

My grandmother was Ivy Briggs daughter of George Largie Briggs & Sons Timber Co. Naturally interested in the Briggsvale Station.

[@Outdoorstype]

It's a beautiful and fairly remote place. Glad I got to see what's left and show it on KZbin.

[@petergallagher730]

Was all the rollingstock at Dorrigo marooned there when the line was washed out and not repaired? The alignment would make a great cycling track, which could generate some funding for limited rollingstock preservation.

[@Outdoorstype]

Yes. Rolling stock continues to be delivered by road. The only things stopping such a great idea as a rail trail are the locals now used to their privacy (fair enough), and a consensus between the two owners of each end of the route.

[@dennisbailey6067]

When someone hoards pieces of history,whatever they may be,and lets them disintergrate,the govt should step in and rescue said items.

[@alanhaynes4576]

It is sad but also tragic that one man's foolish pride has caused so much grief and ultimate loss. Great to say, look at me, I have the biggest collection of rotting wooden coaches and rusting locomotives in the world. It will all end up a pile of rubble. Has one loco or carriage been restored? I would love to be wrong but I don't think so. I remember when I was a Foreman Shunter for QLD Rail at Clapham, Brisbane in 1983, that word got around about the Dorrigo railway and how a group was being formed to turn the railway into an operating museum. All sorts of promises, promises. People were encouraged to join and pay money to help. Glad I did not. Many railway workers did as they thought it would be a great tourist railway with loads of potential. In the end years ago the Glenreagh group looked like they might get somewhere but the greedy prideful man at the top of the mountain wouldn't give an inch. They had got the line from Glenreagh to Lowanna cleared and had a loco with a steam certificate and were hoping to open to Lowanna but it appears that was just a pipe dream. I have heard from various friends that they have taken a trip to Dorrigo to visit the museum and been treated very poorly by the owner of the junkyard. If you stepped inside the fence you were in trouble. many people today with this hoarding problem are encouraged to seek mental help to deal with this problem. This person must be getting on in years now and I still wonder what might have been. There is an old video, done by the ABC of a AD60 running on the Dorrigo line with a passenger train on an excursion run and it really showed what could have been accomplished but for one man's issues. I do disagree though that it is beyond repair even in 2024. Most of those steam locos have not yet completely rusted away nor have the wooden coaches completely rotted out. So although it would be a Herculean task, which would cost Millions and possibly into the Billion dollar range, it could be restored but, who now would be interested. You can only flog a dead horse for so long. 😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪

[@Outdoorstype]

Yeah it's a mess. Some railfans love fighting over trains so much that they end up losing it all and alienating everyone. If I ever find myself with 500 million dollars to tip in then I'll make it happen.

[@AussiePom]

@@Outdoorstype If you have a spare 500 million don't give it to Jones for he'll spend it on buying more scrap value trains not trying to put in a museum and completely relaying the line. Jones was offered nearly one million dollars back in 1988 in the bicentenary and he turned it down because the state government wanted know exactly how the money was to be spent and Jones refused to give them any information and so the money was not forthcoming. It's my way or the highway mentality. Even if someone did get the line completely relaid to only Megan then they'd have to obtain a licence to operate trains from the Rail Regulator who only gives out that licence if all the safety boxes have been ticked and there are numerous boxes. The old days of redoing a line and then running trains are long gone. Big brother in the shape of the Rail Regulator is ever watchful.

[@Outdoorstype]

@@AussiePom yes it's frustrating. It'd be great if they'd stop buying so much scrap to 'preserve it' and try running a railway with the best of what they have. I understand there's also a fight with Bello Council over access and parking that will cost millions. I'd say just get on with it, Mr Jones, but the costs of even a museum are fast becoming out of anyone's league these days.

[@simonf8902]

One man has hoarded the whole collection of rolling stock The line is in such a bad state it cannot be reopened I have seen it. Sad.

[@geoffmartin1947]

My father Richard (Dick) Martin and a group of volunteers were working to start restoring this line I think back in the late 80's early 90's when I think the guy who owned all the rolling stock plus the engines (Keith Jones I think) tried to take all the line over and start up a tourist train. I think he went bankrupt and result is all the stuff stored at Dorrigo. Total shame as its all scrap now.

[@Outdoorstype]

Keith versus The World. An example of the best intentions gone wildly astray...

[@Brucetiki1]

I can’t see Dorrigo ever getting up. Dorrigo is a tin foil hat area (ok, that may be a tad biased as my ex is from there), so they’re more worried about fluoride in the water (actual sign I saw in a cafe there) than getting this museum up.

[@Outdoorstype]

Yep...

[@Railcorp2001]

Just waiting for KJ to kick the bucket. He can’t live forever. Then Dorrigo will be in safe hands.

[@Outdoorstype]

I met him once and he's a nice guy. We're all just humans but I agree the whole situation is f..k.d. I've spent time in Dorrigo since and didn't waste any of it checking out the train grave yard again. Shame really, because the world should know of this place and be able to explore it and learn from it.