Boulder Creek Tramway

The Boulder Creek Tramway is a 7¹/4" (184mm) gauge miniature bush railway that is currently under construction at Howden, approximately 15 minutes south of Hobart in Tasmania. The track is to be around 600 metres in length featuring a 22 metre long tunnel and several bridges. A steep and winding track means the railway will never resemble a main line in miniature, but is more of a narrow gauge bush tramway hence the name "Boulder Creek Tramway". Due to the lay of the land, a conventional circuit or loop track is not possible and therefore the track is of a point to point design with a reversing loop at each end to allow continuous running. Several stations will be situated along the length of the track and will include passing loops and eventually some form of automated signalling. See track plan.

The theme behind the Boulder Creek Tramway is to be a ¹/3^rd scale miniature of a typical two foot gauge Australian bush railway / tramway in the transition era between steam and internal combustion forms of motive power. That being said, anything that is built to 7¹/4" gauge will be welcome to run here and regular running days are planned when sufficient track has been laid. The facilities for loading and unloading are to be constructed along with a suitable storage shed for locos and rolling stock.

An unofficial club has been formed and prospective members are invited to make contact via the contact page.

Earthworks are currently underway along with the collection of materials for track, bridge and tunnel construction.

Boulder Creek Tramway locos so far consist of a single ¹/3^rd scale, Malcolm Moore 0-4-0 petrol loco as used at the Ida Bay Railway in Tasmania’s far south. These locos were built for the Australian Army and were powered by a side valve Ford V8 engine driving through a 4 speed gearbox and then a reversing box. The miniature version is powered by a 5.5hp Honda engine driving an alternator which in turn powers an electric traction motor. More on using alternators to power traction motors can be read here.

Currently under construction at the Boulder Creek Tramway Workshop are three ¹/3^rd scale 0-6-0 Bundaberg Jenbach sugar cane locos, two of which will be sold on completion to help fund the railway. Also, parts are being collected for a ¹/3^rd scale Hagans J1 articulated steam locomotive which ran on the "North East Dundas Tramway" on Tasmania's West Coast, home of the famous K1 Garratt.

View the Gallery for pictures of the construction of the Boulder Creek Tramway and locos, and the About page for further details on the Boulder Creek Tramway.

Created by deeja Oct 2008