Deepwater railway station
Deepwater | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) The disused station buildings from the entrance in May 2014 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | Gough Street, Deepwater New South Wales Australia | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 29°26′26″S 151°51′05″E / 29.4405°S 151.8514°E | ||||||||||
| Operated by | State Rail Authority | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | Main North | ||||||||||
| Distance | 718.431 km (446.412 mi) from Central | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 (1 side) | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 1 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Status | Disused | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1 September 1886 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 22 October 1989 | ||||||||||
| Electrified | No | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Deepwater railway station is a former regional railway station located on the Main North line, serving the New England town of Deepwater.
History
[edit]Deepwater station was opened on 1 September 1886 when the Main North railway line was extended to Tenterfield, from its previous terminus at Glen Innes.[1]
The station was important for the local mining industry, which relied on freight services to transport resources and equipment from Deepwater to Newcastle or Sydney.[2] A 20-ton crane was installed to handle loads of machinery for transportation, as well as a smaller 5-ton crane located close to the goods loading bank but which was permanently removed due to disrepair in 1923.[3]
In the early 1900s, special excursion trains would be run for the annual racing meeting held by the Deepwater Jockey Club, with hundreds of attendees utilising the special services.[4]
A railway line between Deepwater and Inverell via Emmaville was proposed in 1908, with the intention to support the dairy industry which was experiencing major growth in the local area. However this line was never constructed.[5] In 1920, a railway line between Deepwater and Ashford via Emmaville was proposed. [6] No survey of the line or report had been made by September 1922.[7] The route for the proposed line was finally surveyed in February 1923, but was found to have too many difficult grades for steam trains. A new and flatter route was then decided upon,[8] though by March a railway line to Ashford from Inverell was preferred.[9] The line from Inverell was authorised to be constructed in 1927 at an estimated cost of £262,000, but was never built.[10]
The Deepwater station buildings closed to the public on 8 January 1979.[11] The last railway service to operate through the station ran on 22 October 1989, after which it was formally closed. Scheduled stopping passenger services had already ceased the year prior.[12]
After closure the station buildings were leased to a pottery and arts club, followed by the local radio station, but have been vacant since the 2000s when the radio station moved to Glen Innes.[12]
Description
[edit]The station itself consisted of a single brick platform with gravelled surface,[11] located on the western side of the line, with a large collection of station buildings on the platform. An iron watertank and water column were constructed at the northern end of the platform, with two jib cranes used for double headed steam services.[1]
As well as the main line, another track ran through the station, acting as a passing loop. A siding was also located at the northern end, ending behind the platform. The cranes and watertank as well as a coal bin were all located on the siding. A goods platform was located further north along the siding, with connections between the siding and main line constructed to allow through-running services to load goods.[13]
Another tank was located at the southern end of the platform, and directly south of the station were the station master's residence, a ganger's house and gate house. The gate house was constructed for the gate master who controlled a level crossing from Simpson Street.[13]
The station platform and buildings, the station master's residence and the watertank and jib cranes are all that remain at Deepwater.[11]
Gallery
[edit]-
The disused station buildings in January 2021 -
Southbound view from the platform in July 2010 -
Northbound view from the platform in July 2010 -
The remains of the water tank and column in July 2010
.jpg)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Deepwater railway station NSWrail.net, accessed 27 March 2025
- ^ DEVELOPMENTS AT DEEPWATER The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 4 April 1907. p.9, accessed 7 April 2025
- ^ Deepwater Doings - Railway Crane Removed Glen Innes Examiner (NSW: 1908-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 26 July 1923. p.4, accessed 6 April 2025
- ^ Deepwater Races Glen Innes Examiner and General Advertiser (NSW: 1874–1908). Trove, National Library of Australia. 3 January 1908. p.2, accessed 25 March 2025
- ^ RAILWAYS - EMMAVILLE, Tuesday The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 11 November 1908. p.14, accessed 6 April 2025
- ^ Ashford-Deepwater Railway Northern Star (Lismore, NSW: 1876-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 14 December 1920. p.4, accessed 6 April 2025
- ^ Deepwater-Ashford Line The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883-1930). Trove, National Library of Australia. 6 September 1922. p.5, accessed 7 April 2025
- ^ ASHFORD TO DEEPWATER Inverell Times (NSW: 1899-1907, 1909-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 13 February 1923. p.7, accessed 7 April 2025
- ^ DEEPWATER-ASHFORD RAILWAY Glen Innes Examiner (NSW: 1908-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 19 March 1923. p.3, accessed 7 April 2025
- ^ Planned NSW Railway Lines NSWrail.net, accessed 7 April 2025
- ^ a b c Deepwater Railway Station New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning and Environment, accessed 28 March 2025
- ^ a b Bringing a Deepwater landmark back to life
- ^ a b New South Wales. Department of Lands. (1971), "1 map ; sheet 56 x 76 cm.", Village of Deepwater and adjoining lands Parish - Deepwater, County - Gough, Land District - Tenterfield, Shire - Severn : within Division - Eastern, NS.W. .., Cadastral town maps of New South Wales. (3rd ed.), Sydney: Printed & published by Dept.of Lands, nla.obj-1513985969, retrieved 28 March 2025 – via Trove