Cooma Monaro Railway

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Cooma Monaro Railway
Cooma Monaro Railway logo.png
CPH6 Chakola.jpg
CPH6 at Chakola station in March 2012
Coordinates 36°14′11″S149°08′07″E / 36.2364744°S 149.1352844°E / -36.2364744; 149.1352844
Commercial operations
Name Bombala line
Built by NSWGR
Original gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Stations3
Length17.5 km (10.9 mi)
Commercial history
Opened1889
Closed1989
Preservation history
1992started
Headquarters Cooma
Website
Cooma Monaro Railway

The Cooma Monaro Railway is a not-for-profit heritage railway museum that is actively restoring the Cooma Railway Precinct while working on the restoration of tourist trains along the section of track on the Bombala line between Cooma and the terminus at Bombala in New South Wales, Australia. [1] The CMR operates a museum inside Cooma Railway Station called the "Travel for Pleasure" exhibit, showcasing the history and significance of the Bombala Line's previous operations. [2] The museum also showcases a vast array of rolling stock and other former rail assets. CMR are also undertaking multiple restoration efforts, in order to increase revenue and allow the reinstatement of tourist CPH services from Cooma Station to Snowy Junction. The restoration efforts include; [3]

Contents

CMR run a monthly fresh produce market on the second Sunday of the month at Cooma Railway Station. [4]

History

Regular services on the Bombala line ceased south of Queanbeyan with the withdrawal of the Canberra Monaro Express in September 1988. [5] Following a bridge carrying the line over the Numeralla River at Chakola being declared unsafe, freight services south of Queanbeyan ceased in May 1989. [6] However a steam special did operate through to Cooma a few weeks later, albeit without passengers over the bridge in question. [7]

In 1992, the Cooma Monaro Railway was formed with the aim of establishing a tourist railway. It set about negotiating a lease on the Bombala line from Cooma to Chakola with the State Rail Authority. In 1994, it purchased three CPH railmotors 6, 8 and 22 and accompanying trailer CTC55 from the Mountain High Railway, Tumut, and restoration at the former locomotive shed at Cooma commenced. After the line and railmotors were refurbished, operations commenced on 5 December 1998. [8] [9] [10]

Trains ceased operating in January 2014, with major repairs required to the line. [11] [12] [13] In January 2015, 620/720 class railcars 625/725 and 631/731 were purchased from RailCorp. FP Paybus FP11 is also in the collection. [14]

In December 2022, the museum officially reopened, showcasing a "Travel for Pleasure" exhibit, [15] showcasing the past history of the line.

In April 2023, Steam Locomotive 3203 was delivered to Cooma Monaro Railway, after restoration works by Transport Heritage NSW were completed in Broadmeadow. [16] [17] [18] The locomotive was road-hauled, with the first section of locomotive arriving on the 10/05/2023, the tender was delivered a day later on the 11/05/2023.

Rolling Stock

Trains

Steam Locomotive 3203 (ex NSWGR) [16] - Static Display, restored.

CPH Railmotor No.6 - In Storage, awaiting restoration.

CPH Railmotor No.8 - In Storage, awaiting restoration.

CPH Railmotor No.22 - Under restoration, operational. [19] [20]

CTC Railmotor No .55 - In Storage, awaiting restoration.

Trailers

S-Truck Wagons - Static Display [21]

L-Truck Wagons - Static Display [22]

MBC22959, timber bodied refrigerated bogie box van (ex NSWGR) [22] [23] - Static Display, restored.

MB 22493, Steel Framed MB Timber Box Van (ex NSWGR) [24] - Static Display, under restoration.

PV 22318 Powder Van (ex NSWGR) [23] - Static Display, restored.

L759 four-wheel riveted oil tanker (ex NSWGR) - Static Display, planned for restoration. [3]

40ft Bogie Flat Wagon - To be used for Track Maintenance, under restoration. [25]

MHG Guards Van - To be used for Track Maintenance, under restoration. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooma</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Cooma is a town in the south of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 114 kilometres (71 mi) south of the national capital, Canberra, via the Monaro Highway. It is also on the Snowy Mountains Highway, connecting Bega with the Riverina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombala, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Bombala is a town in the Monaro region of south-eastern New South Wales, Australia, in Snowy Monaro Regional Council. It is approximately 485 kilometres (301 mi) south of the state capital, Sydney, and 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of the town of Cooma. The name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "Meeting of the waters". The town lies on the banks of the Bombala River. At the 2021 census, Bombala had a population of 1,892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSW Rail Museum</span> Railway museum in New South Wales, Australia

The NSW Rail Museum is the main railway museum in New South Wales, Australia. A division of Transport Heritage NSW, it was previously known as the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM), Rail Heritage Centre and Trainworks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lachlan Valley Railway</span> Railway museum in Campbell Street, Cowra

The Lachlan Valley Railway Society is an Australian rail preservation society based in the New South Wales Central Western town of Cowra. It was established in 1974 to preserve and operate former New South Wales Government Railways locomotives and rolling stock. It operates regular heritage train tours to a variety of locations across New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 620/720 class railcar</span>

The 620/720 class railcars were a class of diesel multiple unit built by the New South Wales Government Railways and operated from 1961 until 2007.

The railways of New South Wales, Australia, use a large variety of passenger and freight rolling stock. The first railway in Sydney was opened in 1855 between Sydney and Granville, now a suburb of Sydney but then a major agricultural centre. The railway formed the basis of the New South Wales Government Railways. Passenger and freight services were operated from the beginning. By 1880, there was a half hourly service to Homebush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombala railway line</span> Railway line in Australia

The Bombala railway line is a branch railway line in the south of New South Wales, Australia. The northern part of it forms part of the main line from Sydney to Canberra, but the southern part is closed. It branches off the Main South line at Joppa Junction, south of Goulburn. The line is used by NSW TrainLink Xplorer services running between Sydney Central and Canberra station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CPH railmotor</span>

The CPHrail motors were introduced by the New South Wales Government Railways in 1923 to provide feeder service on country branch lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 900/800 class railcar</span>

The 900/800 class railcars were diesel multiple units built by the New South Wales Government Railways between November 1951 and November 1960.

The Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway inc (OTHR) is a volunteer association aiming to reopen the Oberon to Tarana railway line in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, and run heritage trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Railway Museum</span> Railway museum in Kingston, Canberra

The Canberra Railway Museum is located at Kingston in the Australian Capital Territory next to Canberra railway station on the Bombala railway line. Since May 2018, Canberra Railway Museum has been the trading name of a not-for-profit company, Capital Region Heritage Rail Limited, established to run the museum, while ACT Heritage Rail Holdings Limited is the company responsible for safeguarding the heritage assets of the museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail Motor Society</span> Railway museum in New South Wales, Australia

The Rail Motor Society, based at Paterson, New South Wales, is a community owned collection of preserved self-propelled railway vehicles and equipment from the former New South Wales Government Railways and its successors. The items in its collection date from 1923 through to 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Monaro Express</span> Former railway passenger service in New South Wales and ACT, Australia

The Canberra Monaro Express was a passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways between Sydney, Canberra and Cooma from May 1955 until September 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Z1210</span>

1210 is a preserved former New South Wales Government Railways Z12 class steam locomotive. Built in 1878 by Beyer, Peacock & Company, England, it is preserved at the Canberra Railway Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowy Monaro Regional Council</span> Local government area in New South Wales, Australia

The Snowy Monaro Regional Council is a local government area located in the Snowy Mountains and Monaro regions of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 through a forced merger of the Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River shires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chakola</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Chakola is a locality in the Snowy Monaro Region, New South Wales, Australia. It lies on both sides of the Murrumbidgee River and both sides of the Numeralla River. It also lies on both sides of the Monaro Highway about 100 km south of Canberra and about 25 km north of Cooma. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 47.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunyan, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Bunyan is a locality in the Snowy Monaro Region, New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the eastern side of the Murrumbidgee River and on both sides of the Monaro Highway about 110 km south of Canberra and about 10 km north of Cooma. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 152.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingalara Creek railway bridge, Colinton</span> Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Ingalara Creek railway bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge that carried the Bombala railway line across Ingalara Creek at Michelago in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built in 1889. It is also known as the Michelago Rail Bridge over Ingalara Creek and the Ingalara Creek Railway Viaduct. The property is owned by Transport Asset Holding Entity, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. On 1 December 2020, changes were made to exemptions relating to the bridge's heritage status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bredbo River railway bridge</span> Former bridge in New South Wales, Australia

The Bredbo River railway bridge is a heritage-listed former railway bridge carrying the Bombala railway line over the Bredbo River at Bredbo in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Whitton in his capacity as Engineer-in-Chief for Railways and built from 1881 to 1889. It is also known as the Bredbo Rail Bridge and the Bredbo River Railway Viaduct. The property is owned by Transport Asset Holding Entity, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. On 1 December 2020, changes were made to exemptions relating to the bridge's heritage status.

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

The Cooma railway station is a heritage-listed former railway station on the Bombala railway line at Bradley Street, Cooma, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia. The original design of the station was attributed to John Whitton. The station complex was built from 1889 to 1950. The Cooma Monaro Railway is based at the station and is opening a heritage railway museum in the restored station building in December 2022. The station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

References

  1. ↑ Master, Station. "CMR Home". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Master, Station. "Museum". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 Master, Station. "Projects". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Cooma Monaro Railway – NSW's Alpine Heritage Railway Museum". Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Cooma" Railway Digest February 1989 page 55
  6. ↑ "Last Cooma Freight" Railway Digest July 1989 page 237
  7. ↑ "High Drama or Farce and Tragedy" Railway Digest August 1989 page 261
  8. ↑ History Archived January 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Cooma Monaro Railway
  9. ↑ "Rail Returns to Snowy Mountains" Railway Digest January 1999 page 42
  10. ↑ "Cooma News" Railway Digest July 1999 page 44
  11. ↑ Cooma Monaro Railway closed and in need of community muscle ABC Local Radio 12 February 2014
  12. ↑ Railway stopped Cooma Monaro Express 13 February 2014
  13. ↑ Efforts to get the Cooma Railway back on track Archived 24 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 3 January 2015
  14. ↑ Rolling Stock Archived 2007-04-08 at the Wayback Machine Cooma Monaro Railway
  15. ↑ Master, Station. "And just like that....We're open!". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  16. 1 2 Master, Station. "Steam locomotive 3203 coming to Cooma". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  17. ↑ Master, Station. "3203 (Part 1) Has Landed". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Master, Station. "3203 is back together". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "Cooma Monaro Railway Inc. - Railmotor No. 22 | Facebook | By Cooma Monaro Railway Inc. | THE RUMBLE OF DIESEL | CPH Railmotor No.22 While in desperate need of a wash (thanks to our resident pigeons in the loco shed) work is underway on the..." www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  20. ↑ CMR CPH No. 22 Running, archived from the original on 13 May 2023, retrieved 13 May 2023
  21. ↑ Master, Station. "New Arrivals | 🚃 S-Trucks 🚃". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  22. 1 2 Master, Station. "NEW ARRIVALS | MBC Refrigeration Van & L-Truck". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  23. 1 2 Master, Station. "New Rolling Stock Restoration Projects". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Master, Station. "New Arrivals | MB Timber Box Van". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  25. 1 2 Master, Station. "New Arrivals". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
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