History
The early steam-powered railways in Tasmania were constructed by private companies, the first one, from Launceston to Deloraine, opening in 1871. The Tasmanian Government Railways was established in 1872, with the government progressively taking over the failed private railways. All Tasmanian railways were subsequently constructed in the narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm). In July 1939 the railway administration was absorbed into the newly-created Transport Commission and became its Railway Branch. The Commission was empowered to co-ordinate and improve land transport within the State, and one of its policies was to encourage the use the of railway wherever possible.
In 1978 the Tasmanian government took up an offer by the Whitlam Federal Government to take over the state-owned railways, which resulted in the TGR being absorbed into the new Australian National Railways Commission, operating as TasRail.
Read more about this topic: Tasmanian Government Railways
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