IN SEARCH OF THE FRUIT TRAIN
The Story of the
Amiens Branch Railway Line 1919-1974

In Search of the Fruit Train is the history of a short-lived railway line that ran from the main line at Cottonvale (north of Stanthorpe), out through the Soldier Settlement, which was created in the Granite Belt district just after WWI.
The sidings and stations were named
after battlefields in France.
The rail line was created to carry fruit, vegetables and other produce from the farms along the line to join the regular train to access the markets in Brisbane.

This CD features the history of the rail line in a format which encourages its use in a classroom or as a library resource.

The voices of the people who campaigned for the rail line to be built, those who built it, those who used the line and lived alongside it, are brought to life. Some of the people who still remember the line (which closed in 1974) have contributed their voices too. In Search of the Fruit Train is not intended to be a definitive history; it is designed to encourage further exploration and study of local history. The CD is in the form of a 45 minute radio documentary.

IN SEARCH OF THE “FRUIT TRAIN ” The Amiens Branch Railway 1919 to 1974 was produced by Penny Davies & Roger Ilott. This project was funded with the assistance of a grant from the Regional Arts Development Fund - a Queensland Government and Southern Downs Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture.
Cast: BILL HUMBLE, JIM ARMSTRONG, PETER HASELGROVE, KERRY MARIE, PETER MORRIS,NICK HILTON, LEE WILLIAMS, TIM BATTLE, JEFF HARDEN, TIM PAGE, DOREEN WATSON, OCEAN WILSON, PATRICIA ARMSTRONG

ENID HAMILTON, GINO ZANATTA. MARLENE MUIR, GEOFF McMAHON and ALEC HARSLETT told their own stories.

Script and song lyrics by Penny Davies. Music by Roger Ilott. All narration by Penny Davies

TO PURCHASE A COPY (Train Buffs and Local History Buffs will all love this one!) click on the link below or email us

IN SEARCH OF THE FRUIT TRAIN - SOURCES

“The Pikedale Tramway or Amiens Branch Railway”, John D. Kerr.
Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, #448, July 1978

“In Touch” Enid Hamilton, Stanthorpe Border Post (Regular column in Issues from 1970 to 2001)

“The Centenary of the Southern Line”, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, December 1970, p 261,

“They Came To A Plateau”, Jean Harslett & Mervyn Royle

“Notes on the Pikedale Goldfield”, A.Gibb Maitland F.G.S. Qld Department of Mines Geological Survey, Bulletin #2, 1895

“Fruit Marketing Organisation Amendment Regulation (No. 1)”, Queensland Subordinate Legislation 1998 No. 26 Fruit Marketing Organisation Act 1923

“Relics From A Different Era”, Conal Healy Tweed Daily News, 5.11.2.2009

“Fruit Growing – Progress in Stanthorpe” Brisbane Courier  trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20541675

“Pikedale Soldier Settlement – Suggested Railway Routes” Brisbane Courier  trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20242547

“Historical Information – Amiens”  www.southerndownssteamrailway.com.au/historical_info/amiens.php

“Mining News – The Pikedale Goldfield”  trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3579738?searchTerm=&searchLimits=l-publictag=1894

“The Southern Line Of The Queensland Railways, The Railway At Stanthorpe, etc” John K.  freespace.virgin.net/johnk.pb15/SthnLine.htm

“Queensland Parliamentary Debates” Hansard - Legislative Council, Tuesday, 5 August 1919  www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/1919/1919_08_05_C.pdf

“Pikedale Tramway Investigations By Works Commission”, Brisbane Courier  www.trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20358231

“Pikedale Soldier Settlement”, Brian Randall, Queensland Places Coordinator, State Library of Queensland
 www.blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/ww1/2014/11/03/pikedale-soldier-settlement/

“Resources of the Stanthorpe District” Published 1919 https://archive.org/details/ResourcesOfTheStanthorpeDistrict

Bapaume Siding, 2004 Photo P. Davies