Railways have always been important for modernising industry and creating connections between communities. Historically, railways have taken people to work and play, timber to ports, gold to markets and produce and livestock to the broader population. Times change, and where some railways have fallen out of favour thanks to improved road links and trucks, another useful resource has taken their place: rail trails.
One of the best known rail trails in the cycling world is the 152km Otago Central Rail Trail in New Zealand. But we have a longer rail trail that is closer to a larger population – right here in Australia. The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is 161km long and the longest rail trail in Australia. It stretches from Wulkuraka on the outskirts of Ipswich, all the way to Yarraman in the Cooyar range. The rail line was completed in 1913, although work started in 1884 on the twisty route out from Wulkuraka, where expensive bridges and cuttings were avoided by a serpentine route to Fernvale. The rail line
