Bombala Line

Including the Canberra Branch

The Bombala line branches from the main south at Joppa Junction (Goulburn) and is still used for passenger services between Sydney and Canberra. Freight traffic recently ceased on the line with fuel traffic for Canberra being transferred to road haulage in 2010.

The line opened from Joppa Junction to Tarago in January 1885 then Bungendore in March 1885, and Queanbeyan in September 1887 with Michelago being reached in December of that year. The line was opened to Cooma in 1889, Nimmitabel  in 1912 and the terminus of Bombala in 1926.

A separate 8 km branch was opened between Queanbeyan and Canberra in 1924.

The line to Bombala remains intact although closed beyond Queanbeyan. The Cooma – Bombala section closed in 1986, Bredbo – Cooma in 1989, and Queanbeyan to Bredbo during 1990. Between 1993 and 2007, the ACT Division of the ARHS operated over the section south of Queanbeyan, originally as far as Michelago, but the operating section progressively shortened over the years due to deterioration and storm damage. ARHS train now operate on the mainline with regular services between Canberra and Bungendore.

Further South the Cooma Monaro Railway have restored a section of track between Cooma and Chakola, operating restored CPH railcars.

• Pine Mountain

Tarago

2 Photos

Canberra

13 Photos

Michelago

3 Photos

Cooma

5 Photos

Nimmitabel

5 Photos

Jincumbilly

2 Photos

Bukalong

3 Photos

Bombala

6 Photos