The idea of a railway linking Hobart with Launceston went back at least as far as 1855 when a move was put forward by a member of the State Upper House to put $2,000 aside in the estimates for a survey, which in turn led in 1856 to the Surveyor-General being asked to make a preliminary survey. Actual beginnings towards constructing a railway occurred in 1863, when Parliament allocated $10,000 for surveys of the route to the north. One proposed route by Messrs. Doyne, Major and Willett of the Launceston & Western Railway, was similar to the future line built by T.M.L.
The concept of a railway linking Hobart with Launceston originated in 1855 when a State Upper House member suggested setting aside $2,000 for a survey. This suggestion prompted an inquiry from the Surveyor-General about conducting preliminary surveys in 1856. Construction began in 1863 when Parliament allocated $10,000 for route surveys heading north. One proposed route by Messrs. Doyne, Major and Willett of the Launceston & Western Railway was similar to the future line built by T.M.L.