Wagin to Bowelling railway line

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Wagin to Bowelling railway line
Overview
StatusClosed
Owner Government of Western Australia
Locale Wheatbelt, Western Australia
Termini
Service
Operator(s) Western Australian Government Railways
History
Commenced1914
Opened10 December 1918 (1918-12-10)
Closed1 June 1986 (1986-06-01)
Technical
Line length102 km (63 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Wagin to Bowelling railway line
Main locations
Route map

Contents

BSicon CONTg.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon eABZq+l.svg
BSicon ABZql.svg
BSicon BHFq.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
0
Wagin
BSicon exHST.svg
10
Quangallin
BSicon exHST.svg
21
Warup
BSicon exHST.svg
31
Dellyanine
BSicon exHST.svg
39
East Arthur
BSicon exHST.svg
47
Kylie
BSicon exHST.svg
56
Bokal
BSicon WASSERq.svg
BSicon exhKRZWae.svg
BSicon WASSERq.svg
78
Arthur River
BSicon exHST.svg
66
Duranillin
BSicon exHST.svg
72
Capercup
BSicon exHST.svg
83
Cordering
BSicon exHST.svg
92
Bennalaking
BSicon exCONTgq.svg
BSicon exABZql.svg
BSicon exBHFq.svg
BSicon exCONTfq.svg
102
Bowelling

The Wagin to Bowelling railway line was a state government-owned and WAGR-operated railway line in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, connecting Wagin via Bokal to Bowelling. The line was 102 kilometres (63 mi) long. At Wagin, the railway line connected to the Great Southern Railway and the Wagin to Newdegate railway line while, at Bowelling, it connected to the Brunswick Junction to Narrogin railway line. [1] [2]

History

The Great Southern Railway, passing through Wagin, was established in 1889, having been constructed in a three-year period from 1886. At the Bowelling end of the future line, the railway had arrived in 1907 with the completion of the Collie to Darkan section of the Brunswick Junction to Narrogin railway line. [3]

The Wagin-Bowelling Railway Act 1912, an act by the Parliament of Western Australia assented to on 24 December 1912, authorised the construction of the railway line from Wagin to Bowelling. [4]

The Wagin to Bowelling railway line's contract for construction was awarded on 17 July 1914. It was constructed by the Western Australian Public Works Department. The fist section of the line, from Wagin to Bokal, was opened on 20 November 1917 while the second section, from Bokal to Bowelling, was opened on 10 December 1918. [3] [5] [6]

With the opening of the railway junction at Bowelling, station and town there were prioritised over Darkan. Darkan station was closed while the Bowelling remained in operation until 1967. [7] The last direct train from Bowelling to Wagin ran on 30 June 1984 while the Bowelling to Bokal section was closed on 1 June 1986. Westrail continued some operations from Wagin and Bokal until 1988. [8]

Legacy

The railway line is designated as "Not in use" on the Public Transport Authority map [1] and, unlike other active and inactive Wheatbelt railway lines, is not leased to Arc Infrastructure and therefore not shown on its map. [9]

The heritage listed Wagin Railway Station was completed on 25 April 1911, replacing an early building that was relocated in 1906. [10]

The neighbouring Shire of West Arthur has a number of railway related installations on its heritage list. Some, like the Darkan railway station precinct and the Hillman River railway bridge are only connected to the Brunswick Junction to Narrogin line, while the Bowelling railway station is associated with both lines. Unlike these, the Duranillin railway bridge over the Arthur River was constructed for the Wagin to Bowelling line. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wagin, Western Australia</span> Town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia

Wagin is a town and shire in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 225 km (139.81 mi) south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway between Narrogin and Katanning. It is also on State Route 107. The main industries are wheat and sheep farming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of West Arthur</span> Local government area in Western Australia

The Shire of West Arthur is a local government area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, generally to the west of Albany Highway about 200 kilometres (124 mi) south-east of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of 2,834 square kilometres (1,094 sq mi) and its seat of government is the town of Darkan. Industries within the Shire, worth approximately $45 million per year to the State's economy, are dominated by wool and sheep, and also include timber, grain, forestry, beef, pigs, cattle hide tanning, engineering and earthmoving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duranillin, Western Australia</span> Town in Western Australia

Duranillin is a small town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Darkan near the junction of the Arthur and Beaufort rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ongerup Branch Railway</span> Former railway line in Western Australia

The Ongerup Branch railway, also known as the Tambellup, Gnowangerup to Ongerup railway is a former railway line in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinjarra to Narrogin railway</span> Former railway line in Western Australia

The Pinjarra to Narrogin railway was a 153 kilometre cross-country railway line built between the towns of Pinjarra and Narrogin in Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullewa–Meekatharra railway</span> Former railway in Western Australia

The Mullewa–Meekatharra railway was a section of the Northern Railway in Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowelling, Western Australia</span> Locality and former railway station in Western Australia

Bowelling is the site of a former railway station in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, and is now a locality in the Shire of West Arthur.

Brookton to Corrigin railway was a railway line in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, between Brookton and Corrigin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnybrook–Katanning railway</span> Former railway line in Western Australia

The Donnybrook–Katanning railway was a railway line in the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia, between Donnybrook and Katanning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muja, Western Australia</span> Locality in the Shire of Collie, Western Australia

Muja is a rural town and locality of the Shire of Collie in the South West region of Western Australia. The western part of the locality is dominated by coal mining and the coal-fired Muja Power Station while the eastern part is rural and forested.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merredin to Narrogin railway line</span> Railway line in Western Australia

The Merredin to Narrogin railway line was a railway line in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, between Merredin and Narrogin. The line was also known as the West Merredin to Narrogin via Corrigin railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merredin to Yilliminning railway line</span> Railway line in Western Australia

The Merredin to Yilliminning railway line was a railway line connecting Merredin to Yilliminning via Kondinin. Also known as the West Merredin to Yilliminning via Kondinin railway, it was 260 kilometres (160 mi) long. At its northern end, at Merredin, it connected to the Eastern Goldfields Railway while, at the southern terminus at Yilliminning, it connected to the Merredin to Narrogin railway line. From Yilliminning, this line continued to Narrogin, 23 kilometres (14 mi) further west, where the line intersected the Great Southern Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wagin to Newdegate railway line</span> Railway line in Western Australia

The Wagin to Newdegate railway line is a railway line in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, connecting Wagin via Lake Grace to Newdegate, where the line terminates. The line is 180 kilometres (110 mi) long. At Lake Grace, a 94-kilometre (58 mi) branch line to Hyden exists, while, at Wagin, the railway line connects to the Great Southern Railway and the Wagin to Bowelling railway line. Formerly, at Wagin, it also connected to the now inactive railway line to Bowelling.

The Katanning to Pingrup railway line was a state government-owned and WAGR-operated railway line connecting Katanning to Pingrup via Nyabing in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The railway line was 95 kilometres (59 mi) long. At its western end, at Katanning, it connected to the Great Southern Railway. At Katanning, it also connected to the Donnybrook–Katanning railway, which closed in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunswick Junction to Narrogin railway line</span> Partially operational railway line in Western Australia

The Brunswick Junction to Narrogin railway line is a partially operational railway line in the South West and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia, connecting Brunswick Junction via Collie and Bowelling to Narrogin.

The Kalgoorlie to Leonora railway line or Leonora branch line is a railway line in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia, connecting Kalgoorlie via Malcolm to Leonora. The line is 259 kilometres (161 mi) long and formerly also had a 103-kilometre (64 mi) branch line from Malcolm to Laverton. At Kalgoorlie, the railway line connects to the Eastern Goldfields Railway, where it also connects to the Esperance Branch Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elleker to Nornalup railway line</span> Former railway line in Western Australia

The Elleker to Nornalup railway line was a state government-owned and WAGR-operated railway line in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, connecting Elleker to Nornalup via Denmark. The line was 97 kilometres (60 mi) long and, at Elleker, connected to the Great Southern Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hopetoun to Ravensthorpe railway line</span> Railway line in Western Australia

The Hopetoun to Ravensthorpe railway line was a state government-owned and WAGR-operated railway line in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia, connecting the coastal town of Hopetoun to Ravensthorpe, located inland. The line, 55 kilometres (34 mi) long, was stand-alone, not connecting to any other railway line in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldton to Mullewa railway line</span> Railway line in Western Australia

The Geraldton to Mullewa railway line is a 107-kilometre (66 mi) long railway line in the Mid West region of Western Australia, connecting Geraldton and Mullewa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avon Yard to Mullewa railway line</span> Railway line in Western Australia

The Avon Yard to Mullewa railway line is a 429-kilometre (267 mi) long railway line operated by Arc Infrastructure in the Mid West and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia, connecting the Avon Yard at Northam with Mullewa. The 104-kilometre (65 mi) section of the railway line from Perenjori to Dalwallinu is, as of 2024, not in operation while the sections north, Perenjori to Mullewa, and south, Dalwallinu to Northam, are.

References

  1. 1 2 "Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  2. "Railway map of Western Australia, 1952". Trove. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 Opening dates for sections from 12. Construction of the W.A. Government Railways network, 1879 - 1931, pages 208-210 Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff; Rail Heritage WA; Gunzburg, Adrian (2008), Rails through the bush : timber and firewood tramways and railway contractors of Western Australia (2nd ed.), Rail Heritage WA, ISBN   978-0-9803922-2-7
  4. "Wagin-Bowelling Railway Act 1912". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 24 December 1912. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  5. "WAGIN—BOWELLING RAILWAY". Bunbury Herald . Vol. 27, no. 4330. Western Australia. 6 July 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 1 August 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "THE WAGIN-BOWELLING RAILWAYS". The Southern Argus And Wagin-arthur Express . Vol. XIII, no. 174. Western Australia. 19 April 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 1 August 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Bowelling Railway Station". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  8. "Duranillin Railway Bridge". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  9. "Arc Map Network" (PDF). Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. "Wagin Railway Station". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  11. "Shire of West Arthur Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2024.