Originally known as Duckworth, the town name was changed in 1877 to Bluff to match the name of the railway station.
Bluff Railway Station is a major railway assembly depot for the surrounding coal basin and a must-see destination for train spotters.
Have a beer at the pub, directly across from the railway station and watch the trains go past.
Coal Train Facts An average coal train on the Blackwater Rail Corridor:
- is pulled by either 3 electric or 4 diesel locomotives.
- can be more than 1.7km long with more than 100 wagons.
- holds 85.5 tonnes of coal per wagon.
- carries $500k to $1.5m worth of saleable coal, depending on coal prices.
Fun fact: In 1894, Bluff Colliery began operating the Cambria mine, one of Central Queensland’s first coal mines.
Blackdown Tableland Gateway Dingo (51 km) and Bluff (53 km) are convenient access points to explore Blackdown Tableland National Park and both offer caravan park and hotel accommodation.
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PHOTO CREDITS: Central HIghlands Regional Council