Blayney-Demondrille railway line, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
The Blayney-Demondrille railway line is a railway line in New South Wales
, Australia
. It is used mainly for grain haulage. The line is owned by the NSW government, however in 2004 the Australian Rail Track Corporation
became responsible for operations over the line. The Lachlan Valley Railway
operates heritage and tourist trains over the line, based at Cowra. It previously also operated general goods trains.
Approval was given by the New South Wales Government in April, 1881 for the construction of the 'Blayney-Murrumburrah Railway'. It in fact connects the Main West line
at Blayney
with the Main South Line
at Demondrille, and passes through the towns of Cowra
and Young
.
The section between Demondrille and Young opened on 26 March 1885. The next section, from Young to Cowra (on the west side of the Lachlan River), saw the first government operated train on 2 November 1886, however the contractor operated trains from May 1886. The bridge over the river was tested on 25 August 1887 and the line opened to the current station site forthwith. The final section, from Cowra to Blayney opened in August 1887. The section from Blayney to Cowra was closed in late 1999 after a bridge near Holmwood but the line was reopened April 2000. Today the line along with many other branch lines in New South Wales are being proposed for closure. If this was to occur all freight trains would be diverted to Parks causing delays on the Main western line. There have been a proposal for logs to be transported by rail, if the closure passes the log loads will be moved by road instead. The Lachlan Valley Railway
(LVR) who operate from their base in Cowra could also face an uncertain future if the line is closed down. This also includes the remaining part of the Grenfell branch which also faces closure.
. The line opened to Canowindra
on 4 July, 1910 and to Eugowra on 11 December,1922. It mainly carried grain traffic, but also had a passenger service until 1974. Services are currently suspended and the line is in a poor state and is unlikely to reopen.
In June 2010 the Australian Rail Track Corporation removed three viaducts on the line which were located in Cowra.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is used mainly for grain haulage. The line is owned by the NSW government, however in 2004 the Australian Rail Track Corporation
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Australian Rail Track Corporation is a federal government owned corporation established in 1997 that owns, leases, maintains and controls the majority of main line standard gauge railway lines on the mainland of Australia, known as the Defined Interstate Rail Network .-History:The Interstate...
became responsible for operations over the line. The Lachlan Valley Railway
Lachlan Valley Railway
The Lachlan Valley Railway Society Cooperative Limited is a non-profit rail preservation society based in the NSW Central Western town of Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. The museum's ex-NSWGR fleet ranges from their operational steam and diesel locomotives, to the fleet of heritage passenger...
operates heritage and tourist trains over the line, based at Cowra. It previously also operated general goods trains.
Opening
Main Western railway line, New South Wales
The Main Western Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Blue Mountains, Central West, North West Slopes and the Far West regions.- Description of route :...
at Blayney
Blayney, New South Wales
Blayney is a farming town and administrative centre with a population of 2,745 in 2006, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia...
with the Main South Line
Main Southern railway line, New South Wales
The Main Southern Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the Riverina regions.- Description of route :...
at Demondrille, and passes through the towns of Cowra
Cowra, New South Wales
Cowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia in the Cowra Shire. It is located on the Mid-Western Highway, 317 kilometres west of Sydney on the banks of the Lachlan River at an altitude of 310 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census Cowra had a population of 8,430...
and Young
Young, New South Wales
-Demographics:On census night, 7 August 2001, there were 6,821 people counted in Young. There were 238 people who identified as being of Indigenous origin in the 2001 Census...
.
The section between Demondrille and Young opened on 26 March 1885. The next section, from Young to Cowra (on the west side of the Lachlan River), saw the first government operated train on 2 November 1886, however the contractor operated trains from May 1886. The bridge over the river was tested on 25 August 1887 and the line opened to the current station site forthwith. The final section, from Cowra to Blayney opened in August 1887. The section from Blayney to Cowra was closed in late 1999 after a bridge near Holmwood but the line was reopened April 2000. Today the line along with many other branch lines in New South Wales are being proposed for closure. If this was to occur all freight trains would be diverted to Parks causing delays on the Main western line. There have been a proposal for logs to be transported by rail, if the closure passes the log loads will be moved by road instead. The Lachlan Valley Railway
Lachlan Valley Railway
The Lachlan Valley Railway Society Cooperative Limited is a non-profit rail preservation society based in the NSW Central Western town of Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. The museum's ex-NSWGR fleet ranges from their operational steam and diesel locomotives, to the fleet of heritage passenger...
(LVR) who operate from their base in Cowra could also face an uncertain future if the line is closed down. This also includes the remaining part of the Grenfell branch which also faces closure.
Eugowra branch
A railway line branched from Cowra and headed west to the small township of EugowraEugowra, New South Wales
Eugowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is located in the Cabonne Shire Local Government Area, west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Eugowra had a population of 535....
. The line opened to Canowindra
Canowindra, New South Wales
Canowindra is an historic township located near Cowra in the central west of New South Wales, Australia in Cabonne Shire. Canowindra is on the Belubula River. The curving main street, Gaskill Street, is partly an urban conservation area. At the 2006 census, Canowindra had a population of 1,499...
on 4 July, 1910 and to Eugowra on 11 December,1922. It mainly carried grain traffic, but also had a passenger service until 1974. Services are currently suspended and the line is in a poor state and is unlikely to reopen.
In June 2010 the Australian Rail Track Corporation removed three viaducts on the line which were located in Cowra.