Clapham Road and Track Changes

Peter Cokley April 2017

The land now occupied by the Clapham railway yards, west of the Moorooka suburban passenger station, was in use before the Standard Gauge Interstate Railway (1435mm gauge) was opened from NSW in 1930. Part of this area included a residential estate! At that time, the main Ipswich Rd level crossing was near the Moorooka Railway Station.As the Clapham railway transhipping yards required that land, this level crossing was replaced by an underpass further south at the Rocky Water Holes Creek in March 1929. This underpass is still in use for local traffic although the main traffic on Ipswich Rd now crosses over the railway via a large overpass. A comparison of Fairfield Rd on the 1936 and 1944 aerial image will help explain the road realignment.

1936 Clapham Yard before World War Two realignment. Image ADA11-6441 courtesy QLD Dept Natural Resources and Mines

1944 Clapham area after Fairfield Rd was realigned west to allow expansion for World War Two facilities. Image RAAF0003040 courtesy QLD Dept Natural Resources and Mines.

Fairfield Rd Yeerongpilly before realignment.

Fairfield Rd Yeerongpilly after World War Two alignment

Clapham as opened from Sydney and Kyogle to South Brisbane in 1930.