Belmont Tramway Plaque

Did the ground beneath the Belmont Tramway Plaque ever tremble with the weight of a steam tram? Here at the plaque, we’re standing on a piece of Brisbane’s forgotten railway history. The Belmont Tramway Plaque commemorates a quirky chapter in Brisbane’s transport saga, a testament to a time when trams weren’t electric but powered by steam. The Belmont Tramway, a short-lived but ambitious project, rattled into existence in 1912, thanks to the Belmont Shire Council. Imagine a steam tram chugging along Old Cleveland Road, a plume of smoke trailing behind it. The tramway stretched over six kilometers, connecting the Cleveland railway line near Norman Park to the bustling hub of Belmont. It boasted passenger shelters at various points, including Seven Hills and Carina, and even had proper stations with goods facilities at Springfield and the Belmont terminus. The construction cost a hefty £20,000, a significant investment for the time. Initially, the Queensland Railways operated the line. However, the Shire Council later acquired its own steam tram and carriages, eager to take the reins. The journey wasn’t always smooth. The steep grades and sharp curves, designed to minimize earthworks during construction, made the tramway expensive to operate. Services were suspended in 1915, and the Shire’s tram and carriages were sold. Local outcry led to the line’s reopening, with Queensland Railways once again at the helm. However, the reprieve was temporary. The deteriorating condition of the bridges forced another closure in 1924. A final, brief revival in 1925 couldn’t save the Belmont Tramway. The newly formed Brisbane City Council, which had absorbed the Shire, wasn’t willing to shoulder the financial burden of a loss-making venture. In October 1926, the Belmont Tramway breathed its last. Interestingly, a portion of the old track bed found new life in 1948, becoming part of Brisbane’s electric tram route 06, which connected the Valley to Belmont. So, as you stand before the Belmont Tramway Plaque, remember the puffing steam tram, the challenging terrain, and the short but impactful life of this unique piece of Brisbane’s history.