Explore Black Range State Forest and Toolanghi State Forrest
4 March 2018
Trip Reports
Paul E Harris + Ken Michael
1721
NT Pajero
Participants
Mbr
Number
Vehicle Details
Dan Boyle and Angus Smithett
1833
Mitsubishi Challenger
NT Pajero
Rod Chapple
1841
NM Pajero
Sam Peppie
1756
NT Pajero
The aim of the trip was to explore Explore Black Range State Forest and Toolanghi State Forrest and visit the “Historic Cheviot Railway Tunnel at McLoughlin Gap” .
We all met at the Yara Glen Bakery at 8:30, had some breakfast and exchanged envelopes.
The weather looked promising as we headed off north to “SEC Picnic Ground” via Pauls, Spraggs, Downies, Klondyke and Black Range Road, Marginal, Ginter and Limestone where we had and an early lunch by the river.
After lunch drove up to “Historic Cheviot Railway Tunnel at McLoughlin Gap” via Murrindindi, Marginal, Ginter and Limestone. The dust was very thick on the main after a few weeks of dry summer weather and the convoy became very spread out.
We parked at the tunnel’s western car park and walked along the full length of the 201m tunnel and read all the information on the signs. The Tunnel took 2 years to build and the railway was in operation from 1889 to 1979. It was in excellent condition and some of the bricks looked like they had just been laid and had not been laid over 100 years ago. I found it a very interesting visit and everyone all took plenty of photos. For people who like riding then the ride up to the tunnel would be a challenge.
We drive back a different route down the east side of the park to the Black Spur Inn via Scruby Creek, Boundry Road, Black Range and finished off with a drive up and down Anderson Spur and cleaned our wheels in Stoney Creek which was now very low. We then aired up on Plantation Road before a statutory beer at the inn.
Paul Harris
Trip leader
pajeroclub.com.au
Vol 35 No.2 - Mar/Apr 2018
55