Clarke Loop is another location
on the Moura Line named after a prominent local family. Located in the middle of the Galloway Plains, a large open
expanse with numerous creeks feeding the Calliope River to the north of the line. The loop was extended in the Up direction
towards Gladstone
during the 2007 upgrade.
4038 and 4016 with 4024 out of sight fourty-four wagons back haul eighty-six wagons over Maxwelton Creek several kilometers
west of Clarke. At the time this photo was taken it was the only DP train operating on the line after the loop extension program completion,
two seventy-five wagon sets hauled by four leading locos also began operation when the loop extension project was completed.
By late August 2007 the new loader at Moura Mine was in action and began to make short work of loading trains with a
maximum capacity of 5000 TPH.
14/08/07
A recently rebuilt 2250 class loco leads two older siblings through the cutting just west of Clarke Loop. The embankment
on the left of the train is the location where the following two shots were taken from.
4036 and 4047 run hard on the approach to Clarke Loop about a kilometer west of the Up Home signal, a strong cross wind
may make for a better photo but greenies may be a bit upset.
17/01/07
An empty Down train passing through Clarke Loop taken from the same spot as the previous photo on the same day. Six months
later and you will be lucky to see one 4000 class train on the line and the large wagons mostly diverted to the Blackwater
System. In their place are trains such as the one below that were the usual consist before the introduction of the 4000 class
trains in 1996.
2207D, 2163 and 2210D exit Clarke on their way west passing the Up Home signal.
13/0707
2265, 2159 and 2260 at Clarke climb the small hump on the western third of the loop. Above the headlights of the
lead loco in the background is where the line crests the Calliope Range at Mt Rainbow.
14/08/07
A loaded train running hard on the approach to the Galloway Plains Road level crossing lifting the dust off the ballast
in the process. 13/07/07
The same location as the previous photo but this time looking east as a empty seventy-five wagon train negotiates the
bumps on the section east of Clarke Loop. 21/09/07
Two 4000 class locos approach the Leslie Rd level crossing after crossing Potters Rd in the background.
It will be somewhere near this location that the proposed line to the East End Branch will depart the Moura Line and
cross the Calliope River on its way north. 12/07/07
