Adelaide River railway station

Last updated

Adelaide River railway station
Station Adelaide River 2.jpg
General information
Coordinates 13°14′37″S131°06′45.85″E / 13.24361°S 131.1127361°E / -13.24361; 131.1127361
Line(s) North Australia Railway
Distance124 km (77 mi)
Platforms1
Tracks2
History
Opened1889
Closed1976

Adelaide River railway station is a former railway station on the now-closed narrow-gauge North Australia Railway, in the Northern Territory, Australia, 124 kilometres (77 miles) south of the Darwin terminus of the line. Now a museum with exhibits that include buildings, rolling stock and memorabilia, it is located on the main north–south road route through the Northern Territory, the Stuart Highway. It was one of the most significant stations on the line; the only station with a refreshment room. Former Commonwealth Railways diesel locomotive NSU 63 is displayed between the highway and the station. [1]

Contents

History

North Australia Railway 1889 – 1976

The station officially opened in 1889, following the completion of the bridge across the Adelaide River in December 1888. The station building featured staff accommodation and a refreshment room for passengers. At the rear of the building, a reservoir and overhead water tank were provided for the steam locomotives working the line. [2] In 1911, when administration of the Northern Territory was transferred to the Commonwealth Government, South Australian Railways control of the line and stations were assumed by Commonwealth Railways. [3]

From 1918, an annual picnic was held at the station, which was shut down for the day to allow railway workers a day of rest and relaxation by the river. The tradition eventually became a public holiday in the Northern Territory even after the closure of the line, with the Picnic Day holiday falling on the first Monday in August each year. Traditional railway picnics are still held at the station by the Friends of the North Australia Railway to mark the occasion. [4]

Improvements were made to the station precinct during the 1920s and 30s, including a turning triangle for locomotives, livestock loading facilities and a new post office, telephone exchange and banking services. [5]

During World War II, the township of Adelaide River became an important military base, and a large field hospital was established near the railway station. A siding was added to serve a hospital train. A large depot was also established on the northern side of the river, served by trains delivering supplies to the military camps from the Port of Darwin, and a spur line constructed to the armoury at Snake Creek. At that time, the traffic on the line had increased eight times compared to the pre-war years [6] and in 1943 Adelaide River station serviced most of the 247 trains per week using the line. [5] On 15 March 1941, a No. 12 Squadron Wirraway aircraft crashed near the railway station, killing both crew members. [7]


Following the war, use of the North Australia Railway began to decline. A hotel and liquor licence were granted to the operators of the station refreshment rooms in the 1940s, but with the introduction of diesel locomotives in 1957 the stopping times at the station were reduced considerably and the licence was transferred to another site. By 1958, the single weekly train to Larrimah only stopped at the station for ten minutes in the evening. [8] [9]

The station yard was rationalised in 1967 and many of the wartime sidings were removed. The rails were upgraded and the loop siding extended to accommodate the heavy iron ore trains from Frances Creek. [10] by then the only significant traffic on the line. Following the failure of that venture and damage caused by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, the Australian National Railways Commission closed the line in 1976; the last passenger service stopped at the station on 29 June. [5]

Preservation

Static-displayed diesel locomotive NSU63 beside the Stuart Highway at the Adelaide River Rail Heritage Precinct Ex-Commonwealth Railways NSU class diesel-electric locomotive no. 63 of the former Central Australia Railway and North Australia Railway, at the Adelaide River Rail Heritage Precinct -- cropped.jpg
Static-displayed diesel locomotive NSU63 beside the Stuart Highway at the Adelaide River Rail Heritage Precinct

The station was abandoned following the closure of the line and began to fall into disrepair. In 1985, the building was added to the Register of the National Estate, [11] because of its historical significance in the early settlement and wartime defence of the Northern Territory. Restoration works were completed in 1988 and the building was opened as a museum.

In 2001, an incorporated charitable association, Friends of the North Australian Railway at Adelaide River, was formed [5] and has operated the museum, known as the Adelaide River Railway Heritage Precinct, on behalf of the National Trust. The society maintains the main station building and some rolling stock, memorabilia and associated infrastructure in the Adelaide River yard and other locations along the former line. A goal for the society has been to restore a section of track north from the station to the Snake Creek armoury and to run a tourist train, although little progress has been made on this since the 2004 opening of the standard-gauge Adelaide–Darwin railway on a parallel route through the town. [12]

In 2004, when the final leg of the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor was opened between Alice Springs and Darwin, new standard gauge tracks were laid through the former yard at Adelaide River, leaving two of the original narrow gauge tracks for use by the museum.

In 2007, a precinct including the railway station was listed under the name of "Adelaide River railway siding and railway bridge" on the Northern Territory Heritage Register. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Ghan</i> Tourist train in Australia

The Ghan is an experiential tourism-oriented passenger train service that operates between the northern and southern coasts of Australia, through the cities of Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin on the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor. Operated by Journey Beyond, its scheduled travelling time, including extended stops for passengers to do off-train tours, is 53 hours 15 minutes to travel the 2,979 kilometres (1,851 mi). The Ghan has been described as one of the world's greatest passenger trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide–Darwin railway line</span> Adelaide–Darwin railway and associated lines

The Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor consists of the 2975-kilometre (1849-mile) long 1435 mm standard-gauge main line between the South Australian capital city of Adelaide and the Northern Territory capital of Darwin, and the lines immediately connected to it. Preceded by a number of other shorter railways, a transcontinental line through to Darwin was only fully realised in 2004, when the final link from Alice Springs was opened. The line is used by interstate freight trains operated by Aurizon and by The Ghan  passenger train operated by Journey Beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Australia Railway</span> Former Australian narrow-gauge railway line

The former Central Australia Railway, which was built between 1878 and 1929 and dismantled in 1980, was a 1241 km (771 mi) 1067 mm narrow gauge railway between Port Augusta and Alice Springs. A standard gauge line duplicated the southern section from Port Augusta to Maree in 1957 on a new nearby alignment. The entire Central Australia Railway was superseded in 1980 after the standard gauge Tarcoola–Alice Springs Railway was opened, using a new route up to 200 km to the west. A small southern section of the original line between Port Augusta and Quorn has been preserved and is operated as the Pichi Richi Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine Creek, Northern Territory</span> Town in the Northern Territory, Australia

Pine Creek is a small town in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, Australia and is situated just off the Stuart Highway; it is 90kms north of Katherine. As at the 2021 Census there were 318 residents of Pine Creek, which is the fourth largest town between Darwin and Alice Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans-Australian Railway</span> Railway between Port Augusta, South Australia and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

The Trans-Australian Railway, opened in 1917, runs from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, crossing the Nullarbor Plain in the process. As the only rail freight corridor between Western Australia and the eastern states, the line is economically and strategically important. The railway includes the world's longest section of completely straight track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide River, Northern Territory</span> Eiver in Australia

Adelaide River is a small but historically significant town located at the crossing of the Stuart Highway over the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory of Australia. The town is upstream of the Adelaide and Mary River Floodplains Important Bird Area. At the 2021 census, Adelaide River had a population of 317. Adelaide River is part of the Coomalie Shire and is the second largest settlement in the local government area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Australia Railway</span> Former railway line in Northern Territory, Australia

The North Australia Railway was a 509 km (316 mi) 1,067 mm narrow gauge railway in the Northern Territory of Australia which ran from the territory capital of Darwin, once known as Palmerston, to Birdum, just south of Larrimah. Initially its name was the Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway. The first section was opened 1889, the last in 1929. The railway closed in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Railways</span> Australian railway operator (1912–1975)

The Commonwealth Railways were established in 1917 by the Government of Australia with the Commonwealth Railways Act to administer the Trans-Australia and Port Augusta to Darwin railways. In 1975, all assets were acquired by the Australian National Railways Commission, branded as Australian National Railways and subsequently Australian National, trademarked as AN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways</span> Government department that ran South Australias railways from 1854 to 1978

South Australian Railways (SAR) was the statutory corporation through which the Government of South Australia built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 until March 1978, when its non-urban railways were incorporated into Australian National, and its Adelaide urban lines were transferred to the State Transport Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benalla railway station</span> Railway station in Victoria, Australia

Benalla railway station is located on the North East line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the town of Benalla, and it opened on 18 August 1873.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albury railway station</span> Railway station in New South Wales, Australia

Albury railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Railway Place, Albury, New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the border with Victoria, in Australia. It was designed under the direction of John Whitton and built from 1880 to 1881. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide</span> Railway museum at Port Adelaide, South Australia

The National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia is the largest under-cover railway museum in Australia. More than 100 major exhibits, mainly from the South Australian Railways (SAR) and Commonwealth Railways and their successor, Australian National, are displayed at its 3.5 hectares site. A large archival collection of photographs of those railways and records created by them is also managed by the museum. The museum operates with a large number of volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Picnic Day (Australian holiday)</span> Public holiday in the Northern Territory, first Monday of August

Picnic Day is a public holiday in the Northern Territory of Australia which takes place every year on the first Monday of August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum</span> Railway museum at Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

The Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum is an Australian railway museum in Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. It was attached to a narrow-gauge tourist railway line, now closed. The Road Transport Historical Society, which also owns the adjacent National Road Transport Hall of Fame, operates the museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine Creek railway station</span> Former railway station in Northern Territory, Australia

Pine Creek railway station is a disused railway station and museum on the former North Australia Railway in Pine Creek in the Northern Territory of Australia. The station is located 235 km (146 mi) from the original Darwin station, and was the southern terminus of the line until 1914. The station precinct is the most complete remaining example of infrastructure associated with the line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways W class</span> Class of Australian 2-6-0 locomotives

The South Australian Railways W and Wx class was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotives operated by the South Australian Railways. Some were used by the Commonwealth Railways in the Northern Territory and by contractors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darwin railway station</span> Railway station in the Northern Territory, Australia

Darwin railway station, also known as Berrimah Passenger Terminal is the terminus station of the Adelaide-Darwin rail corridor in the Darwin suburb of East Arm, Northern Territory. The station is 2975 km (1849 mi) from Adelaide Parklands Terminal station, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from the end of the line and 18 km (11 mi) by road from Darwin's city centre. In front of the station building is a paved area 60 metres long, but sealed hardstanding extends for a kilometre to accommodate all carriages of the train on the single track. Since this area is not raised, small platforms with stairs are positioned for passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Pirie railway station (Mary Elie Street)</span> One of Port Piries six railway stations, in operation from 1967 to 1989

Port Pirie railway station (Mary Elie Street) was the fifth of six railway stations for passengers that operated at various times from 1876 to serve the small maritime town (later city) of Port Pirie, 216 kilometres (134 miles) by rail north of Adelaide, South Australia. As with several of Port Pirie's other stations before it, the station was built to accommodate a change of track gauge on railway lines leading into the town.

The NDH class railcars are a class of self propelled diesel-hydraulic railcars designed by Commonwealth Engineering and built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company in England for the Commonwealth Railways, Australia in 1954. They were known as Gloucester railcars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways G class</span>

The South Australian Railways G Class locomotives first appeared on the South Australian Railways in 1869 after being purchased from Beyer, Peacock and Company. More locomotives were purchased and in service by 1880, and again in 1886. The G class was extinct by 1923.

References

  1. ↑ Drymalik, C. "Narrow Gauge NSU". ComRails website. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Australian Heritage Places Inventory". Register of the National Estate. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "A History of Australian Road and Rail" (PDF). Department of Infrastructure and Transport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Friends of the North Australia Railway". Friends of the North Australia Railway. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "FNAR History". Friends of the North Australia Railway. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Sunday History Photo". exploreOZ website. 21 August 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  7. ↑ Dunn, Peter. "Crash of a Wirraway at Adelaide River railway station on 15 March 1941". ozatwar.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Submission for an Historic Engineering Marker" (PDF). Engineers Australia. 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 215–216. ISBN   0 730100 05 7.
  10. ↑ Drymalik, C (2012). "Commonwealth, Australian National and South Australian Railways Rollingstock, Version 6". pp. 59–64. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "Adelaide River Railway Station, Stuart Hwy, Adelaide River, NT, Australia- listing on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate (Place ID 51)". Australian Heritage Database . Australian Government . Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Adelaide River Railway Heritage Precinct" (PDF). Northern Territory Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "Adelaide River Railway Siding and Railway Bridge". Northern Territory Heritage Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.