Unanderra-Moss Vale railway line, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
The Unanderra – Moss Vale railway line is a cross country railway line in New South Wales
, Australia
. The line branches from the Illawarra (South Coast) railway line
at the town of Unanderra
and winds west over the Illawarra escarpment
to the Southern Highlands
town of Moss Vale
. The line is one of the most scenic in New South Wales, and for the first 20 km after leaving Unanderra has an almost continuous grade 1 in 30 providing spectacular view over the Illawarra coastline.
The line connects the following current and former passenger stations:
The line was first proposed in the 1880s by residents of Moss Vale
and local industry keen for a connection to the port at Port Kembla
. Construction began on 26 June 1925, and was completed on 20 August 1932.
The line initially carried mainly limestone from the Marulan Quarry to Port Kembla
Steelworks, but also vegetables from Robertson to Sydney
and later, coal. Daily steam-hauled passenger trains operated from 1932, which were later replaced by diesel hauled trains, then rail-motors.
A weekend excursion train operated until the early 1990s, prior to its replacement by the privately operated Cockatoo Run steam hauled weekend tourist train. This train, operated by 3801 Limited
continues to operate to the present day but is hauled by a diesel electric locomotive. Limestone freight continues to be hauled, and the line remains a valuable freight link to the Wollongong area and a useful bypass line when engineering works close the Main South Line
. Occasionally, when there is trackwork on the Southern Highlands Line, CountryLink XPT services from Melbourne may operate via this line, and continue to Central via the South Coast Line.
road coach
service is now provided in lieu of the former rail service. The service stops at Wollongong, Dapto and Albion Park railway stations; bus stops on Hoddle Street in both Burrawang and Robertson; then at Bowral, Moss Vale, Exeter and Bundanoon railway stations.
A pre-feasibility report into completing the line was conducted by the Commonwealth Government and found the project could be viable. Following the report a full feasibility study was conducted. The feasibility study has finished but has not yet been released. A spokesperson for NSW Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the study would be released when "properly considered".
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...
. The line branches from the Illawarra (South Coast) railway line
South Coast railway line, New South Wales
The South Coast Line is in the intercity region of Sydney's CityRail services. It serves the coastal region to the south of the Sydney metropolitan area including the Illawarra region, most notably the regional city of Wollongong, and extended services reach as far as Nowra in Shoalhaven.- Line...
at the town of Unanderra
Unanderra, New South Wales
Unanderra is a suburb of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 10 km south-west of the Wollongong CBD. It is bordered to the west by Farmborough, Cordeaux Heights and Farmborough Heights in the Mount Kembla foothills, the north by Figtree, the east by Berkeley...
and winds west over the Illawarra escarpment
Illawarra escarpment
The Illawarra Escarpment is the fold created cliffs and plateau eroded outcrop mountain range west of the Illawarra coastal plain south of Sydney, Australia, enclosing the region known as the Illawarra which stretches from Stanwell Park in the north to Kiama, Gerringong and the Shoalhaven river in...
to the Southern Highlands
Southern Highlands, New South Wales
The Southern Highlands, also locally referred to as the Highlands, is a geographical region and district in New South Wales, Australia and is 110 km south-west of Sydney. The entire region is under the local government area of the Wingecarribee Shire...
town of Moss Vale
Moss Vale, New South Wales
Moss Vale is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. It has a population of 7,339 and is sited on the Illawarra Highway, which connects to Wollongong and the Illawarra coast via Macquarie Pass...
. The line is one of the most scenic in New South Wales, and for the first 20 km after leaving Unanderra has an almost continuous grade 1 in 30 providing spectacular view over the Illawarra coastline.
Course
The length of the line is 57 kilometres, and is double track from Unanderra to Dombarton. The line is single track thereafter with several crossing loops. The double track section was built as part of the now abandoned Maldon to Dombarton railway line, and unfinished staunchions line this section as part of the proposed electrification.The line connects the following current and former passenger stations:
- UnanderraUnanderra railway station, New South Wales-Neighbouring stations:-References:...
- junction with Illawarra line. - Dombarton - end of double line (formerly the site of an unusual crossing arrangement)
- Summit TankSummit Tank railway station, New South WalesSummit Tank was a railway station on the Unanderra-Moss Vale line in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia.- History :In the late 1920s it was decided by the then New South Wales Government that a railway was needed between Moss Vale and Wollongong to get freight trains from southern...
(platform only) (crossing loop) - Mount MurrayMount Murray railway station, New South WalesMount Murray is a former railway station near Mount Murray on the Unanderra to Moss Vale railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The station is listed on local and NSW State Heritage Registers as a rare surviving example of small station infrastructure....
(closed) (crossing loop reopened 1980s) - Ocean View (closed 1968)
- Ranelagh House (platform only)
- RobertsonRobertson railway station, New South WalesRobertson is a small railway station on the Unanderra – Moss Vale railway line, New South Wales, Australia.- History :It was opened with the line in 1932, and has always been equipped with a crossing loop....
(platform) (crossing loop) - Burrawang (closed 1975)
- Calwalla (closed 1976) (crossing loop reopened 1980s)
- Moss ValeMoss Vale railway station, New South WalesMoss Vale Railway Station is a station and intermediate terminus of the Southern Highlands line of the CityRail intercity network, serving the town of Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia. The station opened in on 2 December 1867 as Sutton Forest, but was renamed to Moss Vale ten years later...
- triangular junction with Main South line.
History
Moss Vale, New South Wales
Moss Vale is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. It has a population of 7,339 and is sited on the Illawarra Highway, which connects to Wollongong and the Illawarra coast via Macquarie Pass...
and local industry keen for a connection to the port at Port Kembla
Port Kembla, New South Wales
Port Kembla is a suburb of Wollongong 8 km south of the CBD and part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex , a small harbour foreshore nature reserve, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted...
. Construction began on 26 June 1925, and was completed on 20 August 1932.
The line initially carried mainly limestone from the Marulan Quarry to Port Kembla
Port Kembla, New South Wales
Port Kembla is a suburb of Wollongong 8 km south of the CBD and part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex , a small harbour foreshore nature reserve, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted...
Steelworks, but also vegetables from Robertson to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and later, coal. Daily steam-hauled passenger trains operated from 1932, which were later replaced by diesel hauled trains, then rail-motors.
3801 Limited
3801 Limited is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 5 June 1985; A.C.N. 002 951 671. The registered office of the company is at Australian Technology Park.- Establishment :...
continues to operate to the present day but is hauled by a diesel electric locomotive. Limestone freight continues to be hauled, and the line remains a valuable freight link to the Wollongong area and a useful bypass line when engineering works close 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 :...
. Occasionally, when there is trackwork on the Southern Highlands Line, CountryLink XPT services from Melbourne may operate via this line, and continue to Central via the South Coast Line.
Services
CityRailCityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
road coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
service is now provided in lieu of the former rail service. The service stops at Wollongong, Dapto and Albion Park railway stations; bus stops on Hoddle Street in both Burrawang and Robertson; then at Bowral, Moss Vale, Exeter and Bundanoon railway stations.
Maldon-Dombarton Line
State Rail began construction of a line connecting Maldon, on the Southern Highlands line near Picton, with Dombarton near Port Kembla. The project would have created the longest tunnel in Australia: the 4-km Avon Tunnel. Part of the incomplete tunnel, as well approaches to a bridge over the Cordeaux River, are visible today.A pre-feasibility report into completing the line was conducted by the Commonwealth Government and found the project could be viable. Following the report a full feasibility study was conducted. The feasibility study has finished but has not yet been released. A spokesperson for NSW Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the study would be released when "properly considered".