Tasmanian Government
LINC Tasmania
Tasmania's Heritage

Agency Details

Agency Number: TA1736
Title: TRANSPORT COMMISSION, RAILWAY BRANCH
Start Date: 01 Jul 1939
End Date: 01 Mar 1978
Description:

Following an enquiry Parliament passed theTransport Act 1938 establishing a new Authority headed by a Commissioner and two Associate Commissioners one being the General Manager of Railways and the other the Administrator of Road Transport. The Commission was empowered to co-ordinate and improve land transport within the State. One of the Commission's policies was to encourage the use the of railway wherever possible. This Act and subsequent amending legislation had the effect of creating an Administrative Authority unique in Australia because the management and control of all public transport, with minor exceptions, became the responsibility of one central authority.

On 1 July 1939 the railway system was taken over by theTransport Commission and became its Railway Branch.
Information Sources:

NAA Agency Notes for agency CA4942
Legislation Administered:

Transport Act 1938 as amended.
Legislation Creating:

Transport Act 1938 (2&3 Geo VI No. 70)
Legislation Abolishing Agency:

Transport Act 1978 (No. 20)

Rail operations passed to the Commonwealth on the "declared date" of I March 1978 but the Railway Branch was not formally abolished until Statutory Rule 1978 No. 262 brought the Act into force on 1 November.
Functions Performed:
• 2 CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE [1]
• 21 TRANSPORT [1]
Controlling Agencies:
• TA90 TRANSPORT COMMISSION 01 Jan 1938 01 Nov 1981
Previous Agencies:
• TA245 TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS 01 Jul 1872 01 Jul 1939
Subsequent Agencies:
• XX8 AN-TASRAIL 01 Mar 1978 15 Nov 1997
Related Agencies:
• TA1741 TRANSPORT COMMISSION, ROAD TRANSPORT BRANCH 01 Jan 1938
• TA1742 TRANSPORT COMMISSION, ROAD TRANSPORT SERVICES BRANCH 01 Jan 1949
Series Created By Agency:
• P1330  CIVIL ENGINEERING DRAWINGS OF TASMANIAN RAILWAYS AND WORKS 01 Jan 1860 01 Jan 1990
• P2826  COPIED CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DRAWINGS FROM OTHER STATES AND RAIL OPERATORS 01 Jan 1872 01 Jan 1996
• P2829  CLEARANCE, CURVE AND GRADIENT, CANT AND OTHER MEASUREMENTS OF THE TASMANIAN RAILWAYS PERMANENT WAY 01 Jan 1872 01 Jan 1997
• P1297  CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FOR STEAM LOCOMOTIVES AND SELF PROPELLED RAIL CARS 01 Jul 1872 31 Dec 1960
• P2831  ROLLING STOCK REPORTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT RECORDS FOR TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS AND AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS COMMISSION 01 Jan 1873 01 Jan 1992
• P2376  REGISTERS OF SERVICE HISTORY OF TASMANIAN RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, LOCOMOTIVES, SELF PROPELLED RAIL CARS, CAMP WAGONS AND CONTAINERS 01 Jun 1873 30 Aug 1989
• P2093  CORRESPONDENCE FILES, RESIDENT ENGINEER THEN CHIEF CIVIL ENGINEER'S OFFICE 31 Oct 1873 01 Dec 1969
• P2316  LOCOMOTIVE, RAIL CAR, WAGON AND CARRIAGE OUTLINE DIAGRAMS 31 Dec 1875 15 Nov 1997
• P2778  RON K AUBREY COLLECTION 01 Jan 1880 30 Dec 1980
• AC275  PERSONAL HISTORY CARDS FOR RAILWAY BRANCH EMPLOYEES WHO HAD LEFT BY JAN 1947. 01 Jan 1880 31 Dec 1946
• P1275  "OLD" RAILWAY MECHANICAL DRAWINGS 01 Jan 1886 31 Dec 1946
• P1306  INDEX CARDS OF OLD MECHANICAL DRAWINGS 01 Jan 1886 31 Dec 1939
• P1276  REGISTER OF 'OLD' RAILWAY MECHANICAL DRAWINGS 01 Jan 1886 31 Dec 1946
• P2213  CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS 01 Jan 1890 15 Nov 1997
• TC10  GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 01 Aug 1890 31 Dec 1963
• P2324  ASSETS REGISTER (STORES AND EQUIPMENT BOOK), 29 Jan 1892 15 Nov 1997
• P2092  HEAD OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE FILES 01 Dec 1892 15 Nov 1997
• P2323  HOLIDAY RECORD, ROLLING STOCK BRANCH 24 Aug 1899 19 Oct 1956
• P1305  BOILER RECORDS 01 Jan 1900 31 Dec 1956
• AF207  PLANS OF LOCOMOTIVES OF THE EMU BAY RAILWAY 01 Jan 1900 31 Dec 1949
• P2076  TRAIN CONTROL RECORDS FOR SINGLE LINE WORKING (INCLUDING STAFF AND TICKET SYSTEM) 01 Jan 1901 01 Dec 1983
• P2215  RAILWAY SERVICE CLASSIFICATION LIST, (STAFF LIST), TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE 01 Jan 1903 12 Jan 1978
• P2129  CONTRACTS, LICENCES, AGREEMENTS, LEASES, BRIEFS ETC. 01 Jan 1905 01 Jan 1990
• P2121  PHOTOGRAPHS OF PERMANENT WAY AND RAIL OPERATIONS 01 Jan 1906 15 Nov 1997
• TC23  PERSONAL HISTORY CARDS FOR RAILWAY BRANCH EMPLOYEES WHO WERE STILL EMPLOYED IN JANUARY 1947 01 Jan 1908 31 Dec 1959
• P2137  STAFF REGISTERS, TRAFFIC BRANCH 01 Jan 1909 31 Dec 1946
• TC20  REGISTER OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS WHICH WERE DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THE MOVEMENT OF TRAINS AND ROLLING STOCK 01 Jan 1910 31 Dec 1976
• P2832  SURVEYORS' DIAGRAMS AND CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING IDENTIFICATION OF LOTS AT CLOSURE AND DISPOSAL OF PARTS OF THE TASMANIAN RAILWAY SYSTEM 01 Jan 1914 31 Dec 1975
• TC12  ALPHABETICAL REGISTER TO GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 01 Jan 1914 31 Dec 1963
• TC15  INDEX TO CREDIT ACCOUNTS. 01 Jan 1916 31 Dec 1962
• TC17  REGISTER OF FILE NUMBERS. 01 Jan 1916 31 Dec 1963
• P1200  CORRESPONDENCE FILES, ANNUAL SINGLE NUMBER SERIES 01 Jan 1917 31 Dec 1962
• TC18  CARD REGISTER OF FILE NUMBERS. 01 Jan 1917 31 Dec 1963
• P2582  ALPHABETICAL REGISTER OF INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE 01 Jan 1918 31 Dec 1944
• P2139  RECORD OF EXAMINATIONS 31 Dec 1918 01 Jan 1947
• P2590  TESTS, LAUNCESTON RAILWAY WORKSHOPS, VOLUMES 01 Jan 1919 31 Dec 1965
• P2036  PAPERS RELATING TO TASMANIAN RAILWAYS COLLECTED FROM THE CIVIL ENGINEERS OFFICE, INVERMAY, DECEMBER 1990. 01 Jan 1920 01 Dec 1990
• P2527  FILES AND PHOTOGRAPHS RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TASMANIAN RAILWAYS HISTORY AND OPERATIONS 01 Jan 1920 15 Nov 1997
• AF285  ENGINEERING REFERENCE LIBRARY 01 Jan 1920 31 Dec 1980
• P2581  REGISTER OF FILES, CORRESPONDENCE FILES, ANNUAL SINGLE NUMBER SERIES 01 Jan 1921 31 Dec 1956
• P2423  SPECIFICATIONS, RAILWAY MECHANICAL, SINGLE NUMBER SERIES 01 Jan 1925 15 Nov 1997
• AE460  RAILWAY SERVICE CLASSIFICATION LISTS 01 Jul 1925 01 Jul 1976
• P2122  MISCELLANEOUS TASMANIAN RAILWAY INSTRUCTIONS / PUBLICATIONS 01 Dec 1929 01 Jan 1990
• P1332  ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, RAILWAY CIVIL 01 Jan 1930 15 Nov 1997
• P2294  REGISTER CARDS OF ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS (P1332) 01 Jan 1930 01 Oct 1992
• TC16  INDEX TO AUDIT INSPECTION OF STATIONS. 01 Jan 1930 31 Dec 1956
• P2011  INDEX TO PLANS - RAILWAY CIVIL 01 Jan 1934 01 Jan 1954
• P1279  "NEW" RAILWAY MECHANICAL DRAWINGS 01 Jan 1935 15 Nov 1997
• P1304  REGISTER/INDEX OF DRAWING OFFICE FOLDERS 01 Jan 1936 31 Dec 1983
• P2424  DRAWING OFFICE FOLDERS, RAILWAY MECHANICAL 01 Jan 1936 31 Dec 1992
• P2094  CORRESPONDENCE FILES, CIVIL ENGINEERING BRANCH 01 Jan 1936 31 Dec 1990
• TC11  INDEX TO FILE TITLES RELATING TO STAFF ADMINISTRATION. 01 Jan 1936 31 Dec 1967
• P2125  STAFF [HISTORY] RECORD, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BRANCH, LEXICOGRAPHICAL SERIES 01 Jan 1937 15 Nov 1997
• P2679  ALPHABETICAL REGISTER CARDS TO CORRESPONDENCE FILES 01 Jan 1937 31 Dec 1962
• TC1  STAFF FILES. 01 Jan 1939 31 Dec 1996
• P2146  PERSONNEL FILES, RAILWAY BRANCH, ANNUAL SINGLE NUMBER SERIES. 31 Dec 1939 31 Dec 1963
• P2335  VOLUMES OF MEMORANDA ISSUED BY CHIEF TRAFFIC MANAGER AND DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, TRAFFIC BRANCH - MISSING 20 Sep 1940 06 Mar 1984
• P2370  COTTAGE AND STATION FOLDERS 01 Jan 1942 01 Mar 1978
• P2096  CORRESPONDENCE FILES, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BRANCH 01 Jan 1944 01 Jan 1986
• P2559  ALTERATION FORMS 23 Jun 1944 15 Nov 1997
• P1290  INDEX OF DRAWINGS, DP CLASS RAILCARS 01 Jan 1946 31 Dec 1948
• P1278  INDEX CARDS OF NEW DRAWINGS, RAILWAY MECHANICAL 01 Jan 1946 15 Nov 1997
• P2300  REGISTER CARDS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING DRAWINGS (P2213) 01 Jan 1946 15 Nov 1997
• P1284  CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FOR DIESEL AND DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES 01 Jan 1946 15 Nov 1997
• P1277  REGISTER OF 'NEW' RAILWAY MECHANICAL DRAWINGS 01 Jan 1946 15 Nov 1997
• TC22  GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. 01 Jan 1946 31 Dec 1996
• P2181  CORRESPONDENCE FILES, HOBART RAILWAY STATION, ANNUAL SINGLE NUMBER SERIES 15 Nov 1946 31 Dec 1985
• P1300  PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVES RELATING TO RAILWAY MECHANICAL OPERATIONS. 01 Jan 1947 31 Dec 1977
• P1299  INDEX OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVES 01 Jan 1947 31 Dec 1977
• P2225  TASMANIAN RAILWAYS WEEKLY, FORTNIGHTLY AND STAFF NOTICES 01 Jan 1947 15 Nov 1997
• P2601  CHIEF MECHANICAL ENGINEER'S STANDARD INSTRUCTIONS, SINGLE NUMBER SERIES 03 Mar 1947 15 Nov 1997
• P2327  RECORD OF GOODS DAMAGED OR MISSING 14 Aug 1947 31 May 1989
• P2097  RECORDS RELATING TO TASMANIAN RAILWAYS COLLECTED FROM THE PAST GENERAL MANAGERS OFFICE, INVERMAY, JANUARY 1991 01 Jan 1948 31 Dec 1976
• P1  PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS RELATING TO RAILWAY MECHANICAL OPERATIONS 01 Jan 1950 31 Dec 1977
• P2616  ENGINE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, NUMERICAL BY ENGINE NUMBER 01 Jan 1950 15 Nov 1997
• P2638  CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS, DISTRICT ENGINEER SOUTH, LOCATION ORDER SERIES 01 Jan 1950 01 Jan 1960
• P1285  INDEXES TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FOR DIESEL AND DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES 01 Jan 1950 15 Nov 1997
• P2328  TECHNICAL ARTICLES RELATING TO CIVIL AND MECHANICAL RAILWAY ENGINEERING 01 Jan 1950 01 Jan 1974
• P2138  DERAILMENT INDEX 01 Jan 1952 01 Dec 1966
• P2147  INDEX TO LEVEL CROSSINGS FILES 01 Jan 1952 31 Dec 1989
• P2206  CORRESPONDENCE FILES, HOBART RAILWAY STATION, ALPHABETICAL SERIES 01 Jan 1952 31 Dec 1985
• P2140  DUTY STATEMENTS 31 Dec 1957 15 Nov 1997
• P2589  PRODUCTION OFFICE JOB REGISTER, ALPHABETICAL SERIES 01 Jan 1960 31 Dec 1979
• P2309  DERAILMENT REGISTER 01 Jan 1960 15 Nov 1997
• P2001  REGISTER OF COLOUR NEGATIVES 01 Jan 1960 31 Jan 1970
• P2421  PAPERS RELATING TO TASMANIAN RAILWAY BRIDGES 01 Jan 1962 31 Dec 1992
• P2378  CIVIL ENGINEERING REPORTS, TENDER DOCUMENTATION, SPECIFICATIONS AND SURVEYS RELATING TO TASMANIAN RAILWAYS 01 Jan 1965 15 Nov 1997
• P2334  TRAIN CONTROL DIAGRAMS 09 Sep 1965 31 Mar 1973
• P1994  CORRESPONDENCE FILES OF THE OPERATIONS BRANCH 01 Jan 1967 01 Jul 1991
• P2114  COTTAGE FILES, CIVIL ENGINEERING BRANCH, NUMERICAL SERIES WITH C PREFIX 01 Jan 1968 01 Mar 1982
• P2255  TRAIN CONTROL LOGS 12 Aug 1969 15 Nov 1997
• P2341  INDEX BOOKLETS TO PROPERTY FILES, CIVIL ENGINEERING BRANCH 01 Dec 1969 31 Dec 1982
• P2136  CORRESPONDENCE REGISTERS, CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE 01 Jan 1971 31 Dec 1988
• P2605  LOCOMOTIVE FOREMANS LOG BOOKS, CHRONOLOGICAL SERIES 01 Jan 1978 15 Nov 1997