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Sandstone Branch Railway

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Sandstone Branch Railway
Map of railway in location to the rabbit-proof fence, and Meekathara railway line on left
Overview
StatusClosed
LocaleMid West, Western Australia
Termini
History
Commenced1909
Opened1 August 1910 (1910-08-01)
Closed28 May 1949 (1949-05-28)
Technical
Line length150 km (93 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Route map

Legend
Geraldton-Mullewa-Avon Yard railway line
0
 Mullewa
Mullewa–Meekatharra railway
15
 Beatty
30
 Pindar
80
 Wurarga
102
 Wolla Wolla
No. 2 Rabbit-proof fence
120
 Yalgoo
146
 Wagga Wagga
168
 Edah
190
 Munbinia
206
 Coongoo
216
 Yoweragabbie
230
 Genga
243
 Mount Magnet
Sandstone branch line
281
 Warrambu
313
 Paynesville
No. 1 Rabbit-proof fence
348
 Anketell
393
 Sandstone
254
 Lennonville
268
 Merroe
281
 Moyagee
293
 Austin
313
 Day Dawn
318
 Cue
Big Bell branch line
No. 2 Rabbit-proof fence
346
 Big Bell
339
 Nallan
357
 Tuckanarra
373
 Stake Well
395
 Nannine
No. 2 Rabbit-proof fence
421
 Yaloginda
434
 Meekatharra
Meekatharra–Wiluna railway
457
 Gnaweeda
478
 Richardson
541
 Paroo
No. 1 Rabbit-proof fence
610
 Wiluna
This diagram:

Sandstone Branch Railway (also known as the Black Range railway) was a branch railway line between Mount Magnet and Sandstone in the Mid West region of Western Australia.

History

[edit]

It was built in 1910,[1][2] and closed in 1949;[3] it was lifted in 1950.[4]

The Mt. Magnet-Black Range Railway Act 1907, assented to on 20 December 1907, authorised the construction of the railway line,[5] while the Railway (Mt.Magnet-Black Range) Discontinuance Act 1948, assented to on 21 January 1949, permitted its discontinuation. More specifically, the act permitted the removal of the line to be used for the construction or maintenance of other railway lines in the state, or to be sold by the ministry of railways.[6]

Route

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It was connected to the Mullewa – Meekatharra railway at Mount Magnet.

Locations on line

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  • Mount Magnet – 481 miles (774 km) (from Perth)
  • Warrambu – 504 miles (811 km)
  • Mount Ford – 510 miles (820 km)
  • Paynesville 525 miles (845 km)
  • Intersection with No 1 Rabbit Proof Fence at 543 miles (874 km)
  • Anketell – 547 miles (880 km)
  • Jundoo – 550 miles (890 km)
  • Sandstone – 575 miles (925 km)

An interactive map of the Sandstone line is available at OpenStreetMap.[7]

[edit]

Prior to[8] and after construction, there were suggestions of connecting to the railway line at Leonora, approximately 100 miles (160 km) south east of Sandstone.[9] Such a connection would have created a loop line linking the Northern Railway[which?] with the Eastern Goldfields Railway. The proposal was not successful.

Reputation of branch line

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The railway was considered by the railway commissioner of the time in the mid-1930s to be the worst railway in Western Australia.[10][11][12][13]

Post-Second World War austerity issues were given as part of reason for closing in 1948 due to shortage of 45-pound (20 kg) rails for the required repairs to remain open.[14]

Legacy

[edit]

The Sandstone railway goods shed built in 1910 was considered to be of heritage significance, having survived long after closing of the line.[15] The Sandstone railway station and the station master's house have been demolished but the goods sheet remains on the Shire of Sandstone heritage list, which also includes a railway tank stand and a railway dam at Sandstone.[16]

At Mount Magnet, the railway station and platform, railway dam, railway bridge and the railway workers houses are on the Shire of Mount Magnet heritage list.[17]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 1 August 1910 – page 69, or WN 83Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John R; Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division (2000), Australian railway routes 1854 to 2000, Australian Railway Historical Society – New South Wales Division, ISBN 978-0-909650-49-0
  2. ^ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA". The Argus. Melbourne. 19 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ Mount Magnet to Jundoo closed 31 December 1949, Jundoo – Sandstone closed 28 May 1949 – from page 69 Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John R; Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division (2000), Australian railway routes 1854 to 2000, Australian Railway Historical Society – New South Wales Division, ISBN 978-0-909650-49-0
  4. ^ "Sleepers Sleep on Sleepers?". The Sunday Times. Perth. 3 February 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Mt. Magnet-Black Range Railway Act 1907". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 23 December 1927. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Railway (Mt.Magnet-Black Range) Discontinuance Act 1948". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 21 January 1949. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Relation: Mount Magnet-Sandstone Railway (8780689)". 10 October 2019.
  8. ^ "The Black Range Railway". Kalgoorlie Miner. WA. 8 March 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 23 November 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "The Lawlers district". The West Australian. Perth. 9 October 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Sandstone railway". Geraldton Guardian and Express. WA. 22 July 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Commissioner's comment". The West Australian. Perth. 20 July 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Sandstone Railway". The Mullewa Mail. Vol. 39, no. 1951. Western Australia. 9 September 1933. p. 7. Retrieved 21 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Commissioner's comment". Western Mail. Perth. 27 July 1933. p. 26. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Sandstone to get road link". The Sunday Times. Perth. 19 December 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ John Taylor Architect; Sandstone (W.A. : Shire). Council; Heritage Council of Western Australia (2002), Conservation plan for Railway Goods Shed (1910), Sandstone, Western Australia, distributed by the Heritage Council, retrieved 22 October 2012
  16. ^ "Railway Goods Shed (former), Sandstone". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Shire of Mount Magnet Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
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