Hamley Bridge railway station

Last updated

Hamley Bridge
Former Australian National regional rail
The railway yard at Hamley Bridge showing the sheds, rails and points, and stationary rolling stock.jpg
The railway yard at Hamley Bridge showing the sheds, rails and points, and stationary rolling stock (circa 1926)
General information
LocationRailway Terrace, Hamley Bridge, South Australia
Coordinates 34°21′27″S138°41′03″E / 34.35747111269948°S 138.6842809198278°E / -34.35747111269948; 138.6842809198278
Owned by South Australian Railways 1860 - 1978 Australian National 1978 - 1997 One Rail Australia 1997-2022 Aurizon 2022-present
Operated by South Australian Railways 1860 - 1978 Australian National 1978 - 1986
Line(s) Roseworthy-Peterborough line
Distance76 kilometres from Adelaide
Platforms3
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeGround
Other information
StatusClosed
History
Opened1880
ClosedDecember 1986
Services
Preceding station Aurizon Following station
Wasleys
towards Adelaide
Roseworthy-Peterborough railway line Stockport
towards Peterborough
Preceding station Aurizon Following station
Wasleys
towards Adelaide
Gladstone railway line Stockyard Creek
towards Gladstone

Hamley Bridge railway station was located in Hamley Bridge at the junction of the Roseworthy-Peterborough railway line and the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line in South Australia.

Contents

History

Opening

Hamley Bridge railway station opened on 3 July 1869 as part of the extension of what was then known as the Roseworthy-Forresters railway. [1] It became a junction with the opening of the Hamley Bridge-Balaklava railway on 15 January 1880. [2] The original station opened in 1880 and was a few hundred meters north of the original station originally called Alma. The station facilities included of a main building and four platforms. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Lady Edith Hamley, wife of Lt.-Col. Francis Gilbert Hamley, who was then the Governor of South Australia, on 25 July 1868. In 1925 the original stone bridge was demolished and a new bridge was erected in conjunction with the works to convert the narrow gauge line to broad gauge, despite this bridge already being broad gauge. Each platform was an island platform and a signal box was constructed. Silos, cranes and a goods shed were added. There were many sidings and tracks at the rail yards with the junction to the north and sidings for storing wagons to the south. The town of Hamley Bridge was named after the railway bridge over the Light River on the south side of the station for the Peterborough line. The bridge was 91 metres long and 24 metres high, in two spans on stone abutments and a cast iron cylindrical pier 1.8 metres in diameter. [3]

Break of gauge

Hamley Bridge was a break of gauge station with the Hamley Bridge-Balaklava line being constructed as narrow gauge. The Peterborough line was constructed as broad gauge. This problem was solved when the line to Balaklava (later extended to Gladstone) was converted to broad gauge in 1927. [4]

Closure

In 1978, the station and all associated infrastructure was included in the transfer of South Australian Railways to Australian National. Regular passenger services ceased in December 1986 but some special train tours used the station up until 2004. In 1997, the station and railway lines were included in the transfer of Australian National's freight assets to Australian Southern Railroad (later known as One Rail Australia.) Grain trains last used the line to Balaklava in 2004 [5] Grain trains last used the silos at Hamley Bridge on 31 October 2005. The station remnants and railway line were included in Aurizon's purchase of One Rail Australia in 2022.

Present day

The platforms, railway tracks and the station building remain. The silos were demolished in October 2022. [6] The station building has been converted into a private residence. [7] The station is located in the local council of Wakefield. [8]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roseworthy–Peterborough railway line</span> Former railway line in South Australia

The Roseworthy–Peterborough railway line is a closed railway line in South Australia. It was first opened from a junction at Roseworthy on the Morgan railway line through Hamley Bridge, Riverton, initially to Tarlee, then extended in stages to Peterborough. The line was closed in sections in the 1980s with the final section from Gawler to Roseworthy being used in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamley Bridge–Gladstone railway line</span> Former railway line in South Australia

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoyleton railway station</span> Station in South Australia, 1869 to 1982

Hoyleton railway station was located on the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line. It served the town of Hoyleton.

Wasleys railway station was located on the Roseworthy-Peterborough railway line in Australia. It served the town of Wasleys.

Tarlee railway station was located on the Roseworthy-Peterborough railway line. It served the town of Tarlee, South Australia.

Saddleworth railway station was located on the Roseworthy-Peterborough railway line. It served the town of Saddleworth, South Australia.

Owen railway station was located on the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line. It served the rural community of Owen, South Australia.

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

Halbury railway station was located on the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line. It served the town of Halbury, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockyard Creek railway station</span> Former railway station in South Australia, Australia

Stockyard Creek railway station was located on the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line. It served the locality of Stockyard Creek, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kybunga railway station</span> Former railway station in South Australia, 1876 to 1981

Kybunga railway station was located on the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line. It served the town of Kybunga, South Australia.

References

  1. ↑ "Roseworthy and Forresters railway". South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail. 3 July 1869 – via Trove.
  2. ↑ "Opening of the Hamley Bridge And Balaklava Railway". South Australian Advertiser. 15 January 1880 – via Trove.
  3. ↑ "Railway Stations: Hamley Bridge, South Australia".
  4. ↑ "The Big Push". Register. August 1927 – via Trove.
  5. ↑ "Hoyleton to Port Wakefield Railway Line". 6 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Our changing landscape". SA Farmer. 16 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Historic railway station-turned-home for sale in Hamley Bridge". realestate.com.au.
  8. ↑ Wakefield regional council
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