Tarrawingee Tramway

Last updated

Tarrawingee Tramway
Overview
Termini Sulphide Street
Tarrawingee
Continues from Silverton Tramway
Operation
Opened9 June 1891
Closed17 April 1931
Operator(s) Silverton Tramway Company
Technical
Line length64.37 km (40.00 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Tarrawingee Tramway
Legend
BSicon KBHFa.svg
0.00mi Sulphide Street
BSicon HST.svg
4.00miRacecourse Junction
BSicon ABZgl.svg
McCulloch Park Racecourse
BSicon PSLr.svg
5.25miFindlay's Siding
BSicon PSLr.svg
10.00miStephen's Creek
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon HST.svg
14.00miMaybell Dam
BSicon PSLr.svg
16.25miMayflower
BSicon HST.svg
20.00miYanco Glen
BSicon PSLr.svg
27.00miThompsons Dam
BSicon HST.svg
37.00miPoolamacca
BSicon KBHFe.svg
40.00mi Tarrawingee

The Tarrawingee Tramway was a railway in the Barrier Ranges region of New South Wales.

Barrier Ranges mountain in Australia

The Barrier Ranges or sometimes the Barrier Range and historically the Stanley's Barrier Range, is a mountain range that comprises a series of hills and higher grounds in the far western region of New South Wales, Australia, surrounding the city of Broken Hill.

New South Wales State of Australia

New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave within the state. New South Wales' state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia's most populous city. In March 2019, the population of New South Wales was over 8 million, making it Australia's most populous state. Just under two-thirds of the state's population, 5.1 million, live in the Greater Sydney area. Inhabitants of New South Wales are referred to as New South Welshmen.

History

On 9 June 1891, the Tarrawingee Flux & Tramway Company, led by J. S. Reid, opened a 40 mile line to carry high-grade limestone from Tarrawingee (for use as flux) to the Broken Hill smelters. [1] It purchased two James Martin & Co built 2-6-0 locomotives to the same specification as the South Australian Railways Y class. However they were sold to railway builder Baxter & Sadler and the Silverton Tramway Company (STC) and instead hired in locomotives from the STC. [2] [3] [4]

James Smith Reid generally referred to as "J. S. Reid" and familiarly as "Smith", was an Australian newspaper owner, editor and businessman.

Tarrawingee is a locality and a ghost town in the Far West region of New South Wales, some 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of the town of Broken Hill. The town was established in 1889 to exploit a deposit of limestone needed as flux for the smelters at Broken Hill. The township grew to accommodate 400 people and facilities included a post office, two pubs, a police station, a court house and a school. In 1898, smelting moved to Port Pirie and the limestone quarry closed. Today only the stone foundations of a few buildings remain.

Broken Hill Town in New South Wales, Australia

Broken Hill is an inland mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales, Australia. It is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway (A32) and the Silver City Highway (B79), in the Barrier Range. It is 315 m (1,033 ft) above sea level, with a hot desert climate, and an average rainfall of 235 mm (9 in). The closest major city is Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, which is more than 500 km (311 mi) to the southwest and linked via route A32.

In 1897, the smelting of iron-ore had moved to Port Pirie and the need for Tarrawingee limestone ceased. After being lobbied, on 7 September 1899 the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) purchased the line for £15,000 and spend £37,000 upgrading the line. As it was isolated from the rest of the NSWGR's operations and to a different gauge, it contracted STC to operate services. In 1900, a 1 mile 8 chain branch was added to McCulloch Park Racecourse. [2] [3]

Port Pirie City in South Australia

Port Pirie is the sixth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Murray Bridge and Port Lincoln. It is a seaport on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf, 223 km (139 mi) north of Adelaide. At June 2015 Port Pirie had an estimated urban population of 14,247. The settlement was founded in 1845 and is the site of the world's largest lead smelter, operated by Nyrstar.The smelter is currently undergoing a $650 million upgrade to replace some of the old existing plant and to reduce lead levels drastically. It also produces refined silver, zinc, copper and gold. Port Pirie is the largest city and the main retail centre of the Mid North region of South Australia.

The New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) was the agency of the Government of New South Wales that administered rail transport in New South Wales, Australia, between 1855 and 1932.

On 31 December 1929 the line closed, the service by this stage down to one per week. [5] It briefly reopened in 1931 to allow 25,000 tons of aggregate to be conveyed from Tarrawingee for construction of the Broken Hill Central Power Station with the last train running on 17 April 1931. In May 1936, the line was sold to Zinc Corporation for dismantling except for short spur to the Vacuum Oil Company, this was removed in March 1959. [2] [3]

Vacuum Oil Company

Vacuum Oil Company was an American oil company known for its Gargoyle 600-W Steam Cylinder Oil. Vacuum Oil merged with the Standard Oil Co of New York, commonly known as Socony Oil to form Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, and is now a part of ExxonMobil.

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References

  1. ↑ Opening of the Tramway Adelaide Advertiser 18 June 1891
  2. 1 2 3 McNicol, Steve (1981). Silverton Tramway Locomotives. Elizabeth Downs: Railmac Publications. p. 6. ISBN   0 959415 30 0.
  3. 1 2 3 Roberts, Lew (1995). Rails to Wealth. Melbourne: Lew Roberts. pp. 60–70. ISBN   0 646 26587 3.
  4. ↑ Tarrawingee Line NSWrail.net
  5. ↑ Railway Line to Close Sydney Morning Herald 29 November 1929
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