About Following the discovery of tin at Herberton in 1879, the ports of Cairns and Port Douglas were established, competing for the role of dominant settlement in the area. The summer tropical rainfall in the region made roads virtually impassable in the wet season, leading to calls for improved land transportation in the region. The region to the west of this section of the Queensland coast was relatively rugged, being mountainous rainforest. Three potential routes were investigated to reach Herberton, via Port Douglas, Cairns and Geraldton (now Innisfail). The shortest route was from Innisfail, but it was the steepest and through very rugged country. The Port Douglas route was the easiest but longest. Cairns had the best port, and the unstable geology of the Barron Gorge was not known at the time. I am proposing the section between Cairns to Forsayth running a total of 230 km (143 mi) be made and set in the 1970s. Possible rolling stock (not sure if all these were used getting information about this line can be difficult) Queensland Railways 1620 class Queensland Railways 1720 class Queensland Railways 1170 class Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor There was likely was more any credible information will be much appreciated and added to this suggestion when I have time. Resources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablelands_railway_line,_Queensland https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forbusiness/the-regional-network/tablelands-system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_1620_class https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_1720_class https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_1170_class https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Railways_2000_class_rail_motor
