North Western NSW Railfan Guide

Walgett Branch Status
Opened as an unfenced Pioneer Line with speeds of 25 mph during the day and 15 mph at night.
Current classification is class 3G from Narrabri West to Wee Waa and a class 5 line to Walgett.
81, 82, G, X, EL and lighter units are allowed to run to Wee Waa with the heavy units speed restricted to 35 kph.
Branch line units are allowed 80 kph.
From Wee Waa to Walgett the speed is 30 kph with branch line units only allowed.


Narrabri West - Walgett.

LOCATIONS CURRENTLY LISTED


Narrabri Junction / West
  • See Werris Creek - Mungindi Section.


    Culgoora
  • Status:
    Unattended Intermediate Siding
    Staff & Ticket Section: Narrabri West - Wee Waa
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    583.44 km

  • 1903 Station Layout
  • 1997 Station Layout


    Opened in 1903.
    Originally known as Round Swamp. Name changed to Culgoora on 28 Sept 1913.
    Siding is still opened today with a wheat silo located at the siding. NZCF wagons are stored here when not being used for cotton traffic.
    When originally opened a 130' platform and a 324' siding were provided.



    Wee Waa
  • Status:
    Unattended Staff Station.
    Staff & Ticket: Wee Waa - Narrabri West
    Staff & Ticket: Wee Waa - Merah North
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    598.59 km

  • 1903 Station Layout
  • 1935 Station Layout
  • 1965 Station Layout
  • 1997 Station Layout


    Opened in 1903 and still open today.
    Originally provided with a 130' platform, a 927' crossing loop, a 50' turntable, a weighbridge, a crane, a goods shed, stock loading facilities, a loading bank and watering facilities. Today the remains of the weighbridge, the crane, the loading bank and a reduced platform (with station building) are all that remain.
    Considerable export traffic is generated from Namoi cotton. Generally two container trains a week leave Wee Waa bound for Port Botany with export Cotton.
    Wee Waa yard has been altered significantly since originally opening. Wee Waa is the current limit of operation for 81, 82, EL and G class loco's. Remarkably Wee Waa still has a station building and at one time was the winner of numerous station garden awards.



    Merah North
  • Status:
    Unattended Staff Station.
    Staff & Ticket: Merah North - Wee Waa
    Staff & Ticket: Merah North - Burren Junction
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    613.80 km

  • 1997 Station Layout


    Originally opened as a siding in 1903, Merah North was made a staff station on 25/10/1912. Merah North is still open today.
    When opened the following facilities were provided. A 132' platform, a 1350 siding, a loading ramp and a stock loading ramp. Mention is also made that when Merah became a staff station, an Officer in Charge was provided during daytime only with the Guard of the train performing safeworking duties at other times.



    Carbeen
  • Status:
    Closed.
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    ??? km



    Opened in 1903.
    From the ARHS CD-Rom ... Circular A2 dated 5/1/1904 - Opening of the branch line, Narrabri West to Burren Junction:
            "Carbeen - A platform only, 40ft long by 8ft wide, erected on the Up side of the line, at M.286.40".
            There are no subsequent diagrams to suggest that a siding was subsequently installed.
    Closed ??.



    Cubbaroo
  • Status:
    Intermediate Siding.
    Closed.
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    ??? km

  • Station Layouts


    Opened in 1903.
    On Sept 4, 1961 Cubbaroo siding was extended in a down direction to accommodate wheat loading (total length now 620').
    At opening, Cubbaroo was originally provided with a 134' platform, a 291' siding and a loading bank. Cubbaroo siding in now closed and long ago removed.
    Closed: ??



    Burren Junction
  • Status:
    Unattended Staff Station.
    Staff & Ticket: Burren Junction - Merah North
    Staff & Ticket: Burren Junction - Beanbri
    Staff & Ticket: Burren Junction - Merrywinebone
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    647.96 km

  • 1903 Station Layout
  • 1964 Station Layout
  • 1990 Station Layout
  • 1991 Station Layout
  • 1997 Station Layout


    Opened in 1903 and still open today.
    Junction station for the line to Merrywinebone.
    At opening Burren was provided with a 333' platform, a 993' crossing loop, a triangle, coal stage, engine shed, carriage shed, weighbridge, crane, a 60' x 16' goods shed, stock loading facilities, a loading bank and loco watering facilities. Burren was always an important location on the western line. At one stage a Loco and crew depot, a large refreshment room located on the station and currently a large wheat receival area with plans for expansion.



    Bugilbone
  • Status:
    Intermediate Siding.
    Closed.
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    672 km

  • 1905 Station Layout


    Opened in 1905 and provided with a 128' platform (without shed) and a 263' siding when line was extended to Cryon.
    At some stage large stock yards were built at the site.
    Bugilbone is now closed, but the stock sidings can still be seen from the Walgett Road.
    Closed: ??



    Cryon
  • Status:
    Unattended Staff Station.
    Staff & Ticket: Burren Junction - Cryon
    Staff & Ticket: Cryon - Beanbri
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    685.16 km

  • 1908 Station Layout
  • 1997 Station Layout


    Opened in 1905 and provided with a 123' platform, a 1536' siding, a triangle. a 60 x 16 goods shed, stock race and a loading bank.
    Today the triangle with a silo complex at its end is all that exists..



    Beanbri
  • Status:
    Unattended Staff Station.
    Staff & Ticket: Cryon - Beanbri
    Staff & Ticket: Beanbri - Walgett
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    704.00 km

  • 1908 Station Layout
  • 2002 Station Layout


    Beanbri opened in 1908 with the extension from Cryon to Walgett. At the time of opening, Beanbri was provided with a 128' platform, a 1074' siding, a stock race and a loading bank. Between the time of opening and 2000, all the above infrastructure was removed. In 2001 wheat trains and container trains were loaded on the main line after either running to Walgett and back again or being supplied with pull / pull loco's. In 2002 Beanbri was established as a staff station to allow loading within station limits and a short dead end siding was installed allowing run around movements after much shunting. Forty vehicle wheat trains are loaded by orgar. Container trains when run are generally 20 vehicles with 40 20' boxes.



    Eurie Eurie
  • Status:
    Intermediate Siding..
    Closed.
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    722 km

  • 1908 Station Layout


    Eurie Eurie siding opened in 1908 with the extension from Cryon to Walgett. The siding was removed sometime ago. At opening Eurie Eurie was provided with a 130' platform and a 288' siding.
    Closed: ??



    Walgett Wheat Terminal
  • Status:
    Unattended Staff Station.
    Staff & Ticket: Beanbri - Walgett
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    731.98 km

  • 1997 Station Layout


    Walgett Wheat Terminal is the current terminus of the branch.



    Walgett
  • Status:
    Closed.
  • Rail Distance(from Sydney, via Muswellbrook):
    735 km

  • 1908 Station Layout


    Walgett was the original terminus of the line when completed in 1908. At the time of completion, Walgett was provided with a 177' platform, a 1530' loop, turntable, water tank, engine shed, carriage shed, weighbridge, crane, a 141' long goods shed, stock race and a loading bank.
    Bridge damage in the 1974 flood to the bridge over the Namoi River at the end of the Wheat Terminal sidings lead to services between Walgett Wheat Terminal and Walgett Station being suspended. Repair work was never carried out. Walgett Station site these days has most of the rail removed.
    Brian Ayling's trip to Walgett as a young lad.