Gwabegar railway line, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
The Gwabegar railway line is a railway line in the west of New South Wales, Australia which passes through the town of Mudgee to Gulgong
and eventually heads to Gwabegar
.
The section from Wallerawang
to Capertee
was opened on 15 May 1882; the section from Capertee to Rylstone
on 9 June 1884; the section from Rylstone to Mudgee on 10 September 1884; the section from Mudgee to Gulgong on 14 April 1909; the section from Gulgong to Dunedoo
on 28 November 1910; the section from Dunedoo to Binnaway
on 2 April 1917; the section from Binnaway to Coonabarabran
on 11 June 1917 and, finally, the section from Coonabarabran to Gwabegar on 10 September 1923.
at Wallerawang and heads north through the townships of Kandos
, Rylstone
and Mudgee before reaching the junction of the Sandy Hollow – Gulgong line
at the township of Gulgong
.
The section between Kandos and Gulgong, which for several years was used only for heritage trains running around once per month, was subject to heavy speed restrictions. The line had previously been closed from 2 March 1992 until 2 September 2000 but was reopened after repairs. The Rail Infrastructure Corporation
(RIC) announced in May 2007 that the line would be suspended from use from 30 June 2007. The effect of this suspension is that the line has ceased carrying trains indefinitely although legally it remains open. The reason for this is because the line needs a $15 million injection or $80 million for freight trains. The line is still waiting for the money. Currently the only freight traffic has been wheat or Super freighters (mainly steel or container trains run by Pacific National which uses the line between From Dubbo to Gulgong and on to Newcastle or Brisbane. As at January 2009, there was only occasional traffic on the remaining section of open line. The Moolarben coal mine had planned to use the line to deliver coal to the Mount Piper power station near Lithgow
but the decision to delay construction of the coal unloader at Mount Piper for up to five years meant that this coal would not have a destination.
The section between Binnaway and Gwabegar is out of use, having closed on 28 October 2005 by the RIC for safety reasons.
Gulgong, New South Wales
Gulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales. The town is located about north west of Sydney, and about 30 km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the 2006 census, Gulgong had a population of 1,907 people...
and eventually heads to Gwabegar
Gwabegar, New South Wales
Gwabegar, New South Wales, Australia, is a village located in the middle of the largest naturally forming cypress pine forest in the Southern Hemisphere, the Pilliga State Forest...
.
The section from Wallerawang
Wallerawang, New South Wales
Wallerawang is a small township in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 14 km northwest of Lithgow on the Main Western railway line at the junction of the Gwabegar line. A now closed railway station opened in 1870. Wallerawang Power Station opened in...
to Capertee
Capertee, New South Wales
Capertee is a village 45km north of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia located on an elevated site above the Capertee Valley. In 2006, the town had a population of 72 people. Situated on the Castlereagh Highway between Lithgow and Mudgee, Capertee is surrounded by National Parks and grazing land...
was opened on 15 May 1882; the section from Capertee to Rylstone
Rylstone, New South Wales
Rylstone is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the Central Tablelands region within the Mid-Western Regional Council local government area. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way road route...
on 9 June 1884; the section from Rylstone to Mudgee on 10 September 1884; the section from Mudgee to Gulgong on 14 April 1909; the section from Gulgong to Dunedoo
Dunedoo, New South Wales
Dunedoo ) is a village of 836 inhabitants situated within the Warrumbungle Shire of central western New South Wales, Australia. Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name...
on 28 November 1910; the section from Dunedoo to Binnaway
Binnaway, New South Wales
Binnaway is a small town located on the Castlereagh River in central New South Wales near the larger centre of Coonabarabran, which is about 35 kilometres to the north. In 2006, the town had a population of 495 people. The road linking these two towns closely follows the meandering Castlereagh River...
on 2 April 1917; the section from Binnaway to Coonabarabran
Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...
on 11 June 1917 and, finally, the section from Coonabarabran to Gwabegar on 10 September 1923.
Description
The line branches from the Main Western railway lineMain 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 Wallerawang and heads north through the townships of Kandos
Kandos, New South Wales
Kandos is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the Mid-Western Regional Council. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way. At the 2006 census, Kandos had a population of 1,306 people.The main non-agricultural industry is the production of cement...
, Rylstone
Rylstone, New South Wales
Rylstone is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the Central Tablelands region within the Mid-Western Regional Council local government area. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way road route...
and Mudgee before reaching the junction of the Sandy Hollow – Gulgong line
Sandy Hollow- Gulgong railway line, New South Wales
The Sandy Hollow- Gulgong railway line is a railway line in northern New South Wales, Australia. The line forms a cross country connection with the Main North line and the Gwabegar line and ultimately on to the Main West line creating a circuitous bypass of Sydney for freight traffic heading...
at the township of Gulgong
Gulgong, New South Wales
Gulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales. The town is located about north west of Sydney, and about 30 km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the 2006 census, Gulgong had a population of 1,907 people...
.
The section between Kandos and Gulgong, which for several years was used only for heritage trains running around once per month, was subject to heavy speed restrictions. The line had previously been closed from 2 March 1992 until 2 September 2000 but was reopened after repairs. The Rail Infrastructure Corporation
Rail Infrastructure Corporation
The Rail Infrastructure Corporation is a New South Wales government owned corporation with responsibility for the management of the railway network in rural New South Wales, Australia....
(RIC) announced in May 2007 that the line would be suspended from use from 30 June 2007. The effect of this suspension is that the line has ceased carrying trains indefinitely although legally it remains open. The reason for this is because the line needs a $15 million injection or $80 million for freight trains. The line is still waiting for the money. Currently the only freight traffic has been wheat or Super freighters (mainly steel or container trains run by Pacific National which uses the line between From Dubbo to Gulgong and on to Newcastle or Brisbane. As at January 2009, there was only occasional traffic on the remaining section of open line. The Moolarben coal mine had planned to use the line to deliver coal to the Mount Piper power station near Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
but the decision to delay construction of the coal unloader at Mount Piper for up to five years meant that this coal would not have a destination.
The section between Binnaway and Gwabegar is out of use, having closed on 28 October 2005 by the RIC for safety reasons.