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{{Short description|Railway line in Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox rail line
{{Infobox rail line
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|open =
|open =
|event1label = 1 July 1894: opened [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] to [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]
|event1label = 1 July 1894: opened [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] to [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]
|event1 = 1 July 1896: opened Southern Cross to [[Boorabbin, Western Australia|Boorabbin]]<br/>1 January 1897: opened Boorabbin to [[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]]<br/>February 1966: Bellevue to Northam added gauge and changed route<br/>1968: Northam to Kalgoorlie, added standard gauge, making it [[dual gauge]] and changed route
|event1 = 1 July 1896: opened Southern Cross to [[Boorabbin, Western Australia|Boorabbin]]<br />1 January 1897: opened Boorabbin to [[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]]<br />February 1966: Bellevue to Northam added gauge and changed route<br />1968: Northam to Kalgoorlie, replaced narrow gauge with standard gauge and changed route
|close =
|close =
|owner = [[Public Transport Authority (Western Australia)|Public Transport Authority]]
|owner = [[Public Transport Authority (Western Australia)|Public Transport Authority]]
|operator = [[Brookfield Rail]]
|operator = [[Arc Infrastructure]]
|character =
|character =
|stock =
|stock =
Line 40: Line 41:
|tracklength =
|tracklength =
| tracks =
| tracks =
|gauge = {{Track gauge|1435mm|allk=on}}<br/>{{Track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}<br/>[[dual gauge]]
|gauge = {{Track gauge|1435mm|allk=on}}<br />{{Track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}<br />[[dual gauge]]
| old_gauge = {{Track gauge|42in|lk=on}}
| old_gauge = {{Track gauge|42in|lk=on}}
| load_gauge =
| load_gauge =
Line 58: Line 59:
|map_state = }}
|map_state = }}


The '''Eastern Goldfields Railway''' was built in the 1890s by the [[Western Australian Government Railways]] to connect [[Perth]] with the [[Eastern Goldfields]] at [[Coolgardie, Western Australia|Coolgardie]] and [[Kalgoorlie]].<ref>{{Citation | title=Souvenir brochure 60th anniversary celebrations of the opening of the railway to Coolgardie 23 March 1896 | publication-date=1956 | publisher=[Coolgardie] | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/159328192 | accessdate=5 March 2012 }}</ref>
The '''Eastern Goldfields Railway''' was built in the 1890s by the [[Western Australian Government Railways]] to connect [[Perth]] with the [[Eastern Goldfields]] at [[Coolgardie, Western Australia|Coolgardie]] and [[Kalgoorlie]].<ref>{{Citation | title=Souvenir brochure 60th anniversary celebrations of the opening of the railway to Coolgardie 23 March 1896 | publication-date=1956 | publisher=[Coolgardie] | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/159328192 | access-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref>

It is part of the [[Sydney–Perth rail corridor|interstate standard gauge railway]] between [[Perth]] and the rest of Australia.


==History==
==History==
{{Routemap
{{BS-map |title=Eastern Goldfields Railway|title-bg=#888
|title = Eastern Goldfields Railway
|map=
|map =
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Grass Valley, Western Australia|Grass Valley]]}}
exCONTg\CONTg\~~ ~~ ~~''[[Eastern Railway (Western Australia)|Eastern Railway]]''
{{BS|BHF||[[Meckering, Western Australia|Meckering]]}}
exCONTgq\exABZg+r\STR\\~~ ~~ ~~''[[Great Southern Railway (Western Australia)|Great Southern Railway]]
{{BS|BHF||[[Cunderdin, Western Australia|Cunderdin]]}}
exBHF\STR\~~ ~~[[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] ~~''old''
{{BS|BHF||[[Tammin, Western Australia|Tammin]]}}
exSTR\BHF\~~ ~~[[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] ~~''new''
exKRWl\eKRWg+r\
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Bungulla, Western Australia|Bungulla]]}}
\ABZgl\CONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''Northam-Goomalling railway''
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Kellerberrin, Western Australia|Kellerberrin]]}}
PSLr
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Doodlakine, Western Australia|Doodlakine]]}}
hKRZWae~~ ~~ ~~[[Mortlock River]]
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Hines Hill, Western Australia|Hines Hill]]}}
eHST~~ ~~Seabrook
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Merredin railway station|Merredin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Booraan, Western Australia|Booraan]]}}
BHF~~ ~~[[Grass Valley, Western Australia|Grass Valley]]
PSLl
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Burracoppin, Western Australia|Burracoppin]]}}
hKRZWae~~ ~~ ~~[[Mortlock River|Mortlock River East]]
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Carrabin, Western Australia|Carrabin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Bodallin, Western Australia|Bodallin]]}}
BHF~~ ~~[[Meckering, Western Australia|Meckering]]
eHST~~ ~~Waeel
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Moorine Rock, Western Australia|Moorine Rock]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]}}
BHF~~ ~~[[Cunderdin, Western Australia|Cunderdin]]
eHST~~ ~~Wyola
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Koolyanobbing, Western Australia|Koolyanobbing]]}}
eHST~~ ~~Livesey Crossing
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Bonnie Vale, Western Australia|Bonnie Vale]]}}
BHF~~ ~~[[Tammin, Western Australia|Tammin]]
⚫
{{BS|BHF||[[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]]}}}}
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Bungulla, Western Australia|Bungulla]]
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Kellerberrin, Western Australia|Kellerberrin]]
eHST~~ ~~Woolundra
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Doodlakine, Western Australia|Doodlakine]]
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Hines Hill, Western Australia|Hines Hill]]
CONTgq\ABZg+r\~~ ~~ ~~''Bruce Rock-Merredin railway''
YRD~~ ~~West Merredin
\ABZgl\CONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''Merredin-Wyalkatchem railway''
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Merredin railway station|Merredin]]
CONTgq\ABZgr\~~ ~~ ~~''Narrogin-Kondinin-Merredin railway''
BHF~~ ~~[[Booraan, Western Australia|Booraan]]
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Burracoppin, Western Australia|Burracoppin]]
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Carrabin, Western Australia|Carrabin]]
BHF~~ ~~[[Bodallin, Western Australia|Bodallin]]
eHST~~ ~~Nulla Nulla
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Moorine Rock, Western Australia|Moorine Rock]]
\eABZg+l\exCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''Southern Cross-Wyalkatchem railway''
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]
PSLl~~ ~~Lake Julia
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Koolyanobbing, Western Australia|Koolyanobbing]]
\ABZg+l\WSLrq~~ ~~Koolyanobbing East
PSLr
eHST~~ ~~Wallaroo
PSLr
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Bonnie Vale, Western Australia|Bonnie Vale]]
CONTgq\ABZgr+r\~~ ~~ ~~''[[Esperance Branch Railway]]
YRD~~ ~~West Kalgoorlie
⚫
BHF~~ ~~[[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]]
\ABZgl\CONTfq~~ ~~ ~~''Leonora Branch Line''
CONTf~~ ~~ ~~''[[Trans-Australian Railway]]''
}}


The [[Eastern Railway, Western Australia|Eastern Railway]] opened in stages from [[Perth]] to [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] in the 1890s, and the Eastern Goldfields Railway extended this line through semi-desert to the [[Eastern Goldfields]].<ref>{{Citation | author1=Searle, M. J | title=The Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways [Series of parts] Part 1: construction and opening | journal=RIM: Western Australian Railways Institute Magazine | publication-date=January 1983 | volume=80 | issue=Jan 1983 | pages=3–8 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/39203147 | accessdate=5 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Searle, M. J | title=The Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways [Series of parts] Part 2. - Constructions of extensions- | journal=RIM: Western Australian Railways Institute Magazine | publication-date=February 1983 | volume=80 | issue=Feb 1983 | pages=2–3, 5–6 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/39202250 | accessdate=5 March 2012 }}</ref>
The [[Eastern Railway, Western Australia|Eastern Railway]] opened in stages from [[Perth]] to [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] in the 1890s, and the Eastern Goldfields Railway extended this line through semi-desert to the [[Eastern Goldfields]].<ref>{{Citation | author1=Searle, M. J. | title=The Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways [Series of parts] Part 1: construction and opening | journal=RIM: Western Australian Railways Institute Magazine | publication-date=January 1983 | volume=80 | issue=Jan 1983 | pages=3–8 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/39203147 | access-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Searle, M. J. | title=The Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways [Series of parts] Part 2. – Constructions of extensions- | journal=RIM: Western Australian Railways Institute Magazine | publication-date=February 1983 | volume=80 | issue=Feb 1983 | pages=2–3, 5–6 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/39202250 | access-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref>


It opened in stages between 1894 and 1897.<ref name=HowardQuinlan>{{cite book|last1=Newland|first1=Andrew|last2=Quinlan|first2=Howard|title=Australian Railway Routes 1854 - 2000|date=2000|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|location=Redfern|isbn=0-909650-49-7|pages=63, 67}}</ref>
It opened in stages between 1894 and 1897.<ref name=HowardQuinlan>{{cite book|last1=Newland|first1=Andrew|last2=Quinlan|first2=Howard|title=Australian Railway Routes 1854 – 2000|date=2000|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|location=Redfern|isbn=0-909650-49-7|pages=63, 67}}</ref>
*[[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] to [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]: {{convert|175| mi|14| chain}} (opened 1 July 1894)
*[[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]] to [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]: {{convert|175| mi|14| chain}} (opened 1 July 1894)
*Southern Cross to [[Boorabbin, Western Australia|Boorabbin]]: {{convert|60| mi| 55| chain}} (opened 1 July 1896)
*Southern Cross to [[Boorabbin, Western Australia|Boorabbin]]: {{convert|60| mi| 55| chain}} (opened 1 July 1896)
Line 95: Line 129:


==Branches==
==Branches==
At Kalgoorle lines branch off north to [[Malcolm, Western Australia|Malcolm]] and [[Leonora, Western Australia|Leonora]]; and south to [[Esperance, Western Australia|Esperance]] via the [[Esperance Branch Railway|Esperance line]]. The Malcolm-[[Laverton, Western Australia|Laverton]] branch was last used in 1957 and closed in 1960.<ref>{{cite web|title=Railways (Cue-Big Bell and Other Railways) Discontinuance|url=http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/pco/prod/FileStore.nsf/Documents/MRDocument:10852P/$FILE/RailCueBigBellandotherRailDiscontAct1960_00-00-00.pdf?OpenElement|website=State Law Publisher|publisher=Department of the Premier and Cabinet|accessdate=3 March 2016|location=Perth, WA|format=pdf|date=1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Station Master's House (fmr), Laverton|url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/bada1517-bfdd-4465-97ba-7da8ad7fcbbe|website=inHerit Our Heritage Places|publisher=State Heritage Council|accessdate=3 March 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=27 February 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.brookfieldrail.com/assets/br_files/Communications%20Material/2014%20Brookfield%20Rail%20Network%20Map.pdf Brookfield Rail Network Map] Brookfield Rail</ref>
At Kalgoorlie, lines branch off north to [[Malcolm, Western Australia|Malcolm]] and [[Leonora, Western Australia|Leonora]]; and south to [[Esperance, Western Australia|Esperance]] via the [[Esperance Branch Railway|Esperance line]]. The Malcolm-[[Laverton, Western Australia|Laverton]] branch was last used in 1957 and closed in 1960.<ref>{{cite web|title=Railways (Cue-Big Bell and Other Railways) Discontinuance|url=http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/pco/prod/FileStore.nsf/Documents/MRDocument:10852P/$FILE/RailCueBigBellandotherRailDiscontAct1960_00-00-00.pdf?OpenElement|website=State Law Publisher|publisher=Department of the Premier and Cabinet|access-date=3 March 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Station Master's House (fmr), Laverton|url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/bada1517-bfdd-4465-97ba-7da8ad7fcbbe|website=inHerit Our Heritage Places|publisher=State Heritage Council|access-date=3 March 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=27 February 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.brookfieldrail.com/assets/br_files/Communications%20Material/2014%20Brookfield%20Rail%20Network%20Map.pdf Brookfield Rail Network Map] Brookfield Rail</ref>


==Gauge conversion==
==Gauge conversion==
As part of the [[Government of Australia|Federal Government's]] program to build a [[East–west rail corridor, Australia|standard gauge line across Australia]], and the passing of the ''Railways (Standard Gauge) Construction Act 1961'' work commenced on [[Track gauge conversion|gauge converting]] the line to [[dual gauge]] with a new alignment further north of the existing line built between [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]] and Kalgoorlie. From Northam to Southern Cross the railway was also realigned to reduce the number of road crossings and lower the ruling gradient to 1:150.
As part of the [[Government of Australia|Federal Government's]] program to build a [[East–west rail corridor, Australia|standard gauge line across Australia]] and the passing of the ''Railways (Standard Gauge) Construction Act 1961'', work commenced on [[Track gauge conversion|gauge converting]] the line to [[dual gauge]] with a new alignment further north of the existing line built between [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]] and Kalgoorlie.{{when|reason=When did it open?|date=April 2022}} From Northam to Southern Cross, the railway was also realigned to reduce the number of road crossings, increase the minimum radius of curvature and lower the ruling gradient to 1:150.


The new alignment, as well as being shorter and more favourably graded, provided access for the iron ore deposits at [[Koolyanobbing]], which were shipped by rail to [[Kwinana Beach, Western Australia|Kwinana]], near Perth, to supply [[BlueScope Steel|Australian Iron and Steel]]'s [[blast furnace]].<ref name=HowardQuinlan/><ref>[http://www.atrf.info/papers/1976/1976_Webb.pdf Webb Report 1976] Australian Transport Research Forum</ref><ref>[http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/history.aspx History of Rail in Australia] Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Carpenter|first1=Alan John|authorlink1=Alan Carpenter|title=BHP Billiton (Termination of Agreements) Agreement Bill 2005|url=https://lawlex.com.au/tempstore/WA/Hansard/88132.htm|website=Hansard|publisher=Parliament of Western Australia|accessdate=5 September 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=24 November 2005}}</ref>
The new alignment, as well as being generally straighter and more favourably graded, provided access to the iron ore deposits at [[Koolyanobbing]], which were shipped by rail to [[Kwinana Beach, Western Australia|Kwinana]], near Perth, to supply [[Australian Iron & Steel|Australian Iron and Steel]]'s [[blast furnace]].<ref name=HowardQuinlan/><ref>[http://www.atrf.info/papers/1976/1976_Webb.pdf Webb Report 1976] Australian Transport Research Forum</ref><ref>[http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/history.aspx History of Rail in Australia] Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Carpenter|first1=Alan John|author-link1=Alan Carpenter|title=BHP Billiton (Termination of Agreements) Agreement Bill 2005|url=https://lawlex.com.au/tempstore/WA/Hansard/88132.htm|website=Hansard|publisher=Parliament of Western Australia|access-date=5 September 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=24 November 2005}}</ref>


The first official standard gauge iron ore train from Koolyanobbing arrived at Kwinana on 10 July 1967. On 3 August 1968 the Koolyanobbing-Kalgoorlie section opened for freight trains and on 4 November 1968 the first through freight train from [[Port Pirie]] arrived in Perth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Standard Gauge Railway Project Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR)|url=http://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/ephemera/pr9646sta.pdf|publisher=State Library of Western Australia|accessdate=7 September 2016|location=Perth, WA|format=pdf|date=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brady|first1=Ian|title=A Brief History of Standard Gauge in Australia|journal=Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin|date=June 1971|volume=XXII|issue=404|pages=98–120|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society}}</ref>
The first official standard gauge iron ore train from Koolyanobbing arrived at Kwinana on 10 July 1967. On 3 August 1968, the Koolyanobbing-Kalgoorlie section opened for freight trains and on 4 November 1968, the first through freight train from [[Port Pirie]] arrived in Perth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Standard Gauge Railway Project Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR)|url=http://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/ephemera/pr9646sta.pdf|publisher=State Library of Western Australia|access-date=7 September 2016|location=Perth, WA|date=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brady|first1=Ian|title=A Brief History of Standard Gauge in Australia|journal=Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin|date=June 1971|volume=XXII|issue=404|pages=98–120|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society}}</ref>


==Upgrades==
==Upgrades==
In November 2005, funding was announced to extend eight [[crossing loop]]s to accommodate 1,800 metre long trains at [[Bodallin, Western Australia|Bodallin]], Darrine, Wallaroo, Lake Julia, [[Grass Valley, Western Australia|Grass Valley]], [[Bungulla, Western Australia|Bungulla]], [[Booraan, Western Australia|Booraan]] and Seabrook, and replace the final 76 kilometres of timber [[Railroad tie|sleepers]] with concrete sleepers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060820081543/http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/wtr/releases/2005/November/058WT_2005.htm Western Australia to Receive Additional Australian Government Rail Funding] Federal Minister for Transport 24 November 2005</ref>
In November 2005, funding was announced to extend eight [[crossing loop]]s to accommodate {{convert|1800|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} trains at [[Bodallin, Western Australia|Bodallin]], Darrine, Wallaroo, Lake Julia, [[Grass Valley, Western Australia|Grass Valley]], [[Bungulla, Western Australia|Bungulla]], [[Booraan, Western Australia|Booraan]] and Seabrook, and replace the final {{convert|76|km}} of timber [[Railroad tie|sleepers]] with concrete sleepers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060820081543/http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/wtr/releases/2005/November/058WT_2005.htm Western Australia to Receive Additional Australian Government Rail Funding] Federal Minister for Transport 24 November 2005</ref>


==Services==
==Services==
[[Transwa]]'s ''[[Transwa AvonLink|MerredinLink]]'' and ''[[Transwa Prospector|Prospector]]'' services from [[East Perth railway station|Perth]] to [[Merredin railway station|Merredin]] and [[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]] traverse the line<ref>[https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Bookings/Timetables Timetables] Transwa</ref> as does [[Great Southern Rail (Australia)|Great Southern Rail's]] ''[[Indian Pacific]]'' to [[Central railway station, Sydney|Sydney]]. Other named trains to previously use the line were ''[[The Westland]]'', ''[[The Kalgoorlie]]'' and the ''[[Trans-Australian]]''.
[[Transwa]]'s ''[[MerredinLink]]'' and ''[[Transwa Prospector|Prospector]]'' services from [[East Perth railway station|Perth]] to [[Merredin railway station|Merredin]] and [[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]] traverse the line<ref>[https://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Bookings/Timetables Timetables] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902194513/http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Bookings/Timetables |date=2 September 2016 }} Transwa</ref> as does [[Journey Beyond|Journey Beyond's]] ''[[Indian Pacific]]'' to [[Central railway station, Sydney|Sydney]]. Other named trains to previously use the line were ''[[The Westland]]'', ''[[The Kalgoorlie]]'' and the ''[[Trans-Australian]]''.


Intrastate and interstate freight services are operated by [[Aurizon]], Mineral Resources, [[Pacific National]] and [[SCT Logistics]]. [[CBH Group]] operate grain trains.
Intrastate and interstate freight services are operated by [[Aurizon]], Mineral Resources, [[Pacific National]] and [[SCT Logistics]]. [[CBH Group]] operate grain trains.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


{{coord missing|Western Australia}}
{{coord missing|Western Australia}}


[[Category:Eastern Goldfields Railway| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1897]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1897]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in Australia]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in Australia]]
[[Category:Goldfields Water Supply Scheme]]
[[Category:Goldfields Water Supply Scheme]]
[[Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 8 July 2023

Eastern Goldfields Railway
The Prospector at Kellerberrin with the Goldfields water pipeline in the foreground & the CBH grain receival point in the background
Overview
OwnerPublic Transport Authority
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Arc Infrastructure
History
1 July 1894: opened Northam to Southern Cross1 July 1896: opened Southern Cross to Boorabbin
1 January 1897: opened Boorabbin to Kalgoorlie
February 1966: Bellevue to Northam added gauge and changed route
1968: Northam to Kalgoorlie, replaced narrow gauge with standard gauge and changed route
Technical
Line length373 kilometres
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
dual gauge
Old gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

The Eastern Goldfields Railway was built in the 1890s by the Western Australian Government Railways to connect Perth with the Eastern Goldfields at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie.[1]

It is part of the interstate standard gauge railway between Perth and the rest of Australia.

History[edit]

Eastern Goldfields Railway
Legend
Eastern Railway
Great Southern Railway
 Northam
old
 Northam
new
Northam-Goomalling railway
Mortlock River
 Seabrook
Grass Valley
Mortlock River East
 Meckering
Waeel
Cunderdin
Wyola
Livesey Crossing
Tammin
Bungulla
Kellerberrin
Woolundra
Doodlakine
Hines Hill
Bruce Rock-Merredin railway
 West Merredin
Merredin-Wyalkatchem railway
 Merredin
Narrogin-Kondinin-Merredin railway
 Booraan
Burracoppin
Carrabin
Bodallin
Nulla Nulla
Moorine Rock
Southern Cross-Wyalkatchem railway
 Southern Cross
Lake Julia
Koolyanobbing
Koolyanobbing East
Wallaroo
Bonnie Vale
Esperance Branch Railway
 West Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie
Leonora Branch Line
Trans-Australian Railway

The Eastern Railway opened in stages from Perth to Northam in the 1890s, and the Eastern Goldfields Railway extended this line through semi-desert to the Eastern Goldfields.[2][3]

It opened in stages between 1894 and 1897.[4]

  • Northam to Southern Cross: 175 miles 14 chains (281.9 km) (opened 1 July 1894)
  • Southern Cross to Boorabbin: 60 miles 55 chains (97.7 km) (opened 1 July 1896)
  • Boorabbin to Kalgoorlie: 78 miles 14 chains (125.8 km) (opened 1 January 1897)

The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme pipeline was later constructed along the railway line. The chief engineer for both the railway and the pipeline was C. Y. O'Connor.

In October 1917, the Commonwealth Railways' standard gauge Trans-Australian Railway from Port Augusta was completed through to Kalgoorlie, making it a break-of-gauge station.

Branches[edit]

At Kalgoorlie, lines branch off north to Malcolm and Leonora; and south to Esperance via the Esperance line. The Malcolm-Laverton branch was last used in 1957 and closed in 1960.[5][6][7]

Gauge conversion[edit]

As part of the Federal Government's program to build a standard gauge line across Australia and the passing of the Railways (Standard Gauge) Construction Act 1961, work commenced on gauge converting the line to dual gauge with a new alignment further north of the existing line built between Southern Cross and Kalgoorlie.[when?] From Northam to Southern Cross, the railway was also realigned to reduce the number of road crossings, increase the minimum radius of curvature and lower the ruling gradient to 1:150.

The new alignment, as well as being generally straighter and more favourably graded, provided access to the iron ore deposits at Koolyanobbing, which were shipped by rail to Kwinana, near Perth, to supply Australian Iron and Steel's blast furnace.[4][8][9][10]

The first official standard gauge iron ore train from Koolyanobbing arrived at Kwinana on 10 July 1967. On 3 August 1968, the Koolyanobbing-Kalgoorlie section opened for freight trains and on 4 November 1968, the first through freight train from Port Pirie arrived in Perth.[11][12]

Upgrades[edit]

In November 2005, funding was announced to extend eight crossing loops to accommodate 1,800-metre-long (5,900 ft) trains at Bodallin, Darrine, Wallaroo, Lake Julia, Grass Valley, Bungulla, Booraan and Seabrook, and replace the final 76 kilometres (47 mi) of timber sleepers with concrete sleepers.[13]

Services[edit]

Transwa's MerredinLink and Prospector services from Perth to Merredin and Kalgoorlie traverse the line[14] as does Journey Beyond's Indian Pacific to Sydney. Other named trains to previously use the line were The Westland, The Kalgoorlie and the Trans-Australian.

Intrastate and interstate freight services are operated by Aurizon, Mineral Resources, Pacific National and SCT Logistics. CBH Group operate grain trains.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Souvenir brochure 60th anniversary celebrations of the opening of the railway to Coolgardie 23 March 1896, [Coolgardie], 1956, retrieved 5 March 2012
  2. ^ Searle, M. J. (January 1983), "The Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways [Series of parts] Part 1: construction and opening", RIM: Western Australian Railways Institute Magazine, 80 (Jan 1983): 3–8, retrieved 5 March 2012
  3. ^ Searle, M. J. (February 1983), "The Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways [Series of parts] Part 2. – Constructions of extensions-", RIM: Western Australian Railways Institute Magazine, 80 (Feb 1983): 2–3, 5–6, retrieved 5 March 2012
  4. ^ a b Newland, Andrew; Quinlan, Howard (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 – 2000. Redfern: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 63, 67. ISBN 0-909650-49-7.
  5. ^ "Railways (Cue-Big Bell and Other Railways) Discontinuance" (PDF). State Law Publisher. Perth, WA: Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 1960. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Station Master's House (fmr), Laverton". inHerit Our Heritage Places. Perth, WA: State Heritage Council. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  7. ^ Brookfield Rail Network Map Brookfield Rail
  8. ^ Webb Report 1976 Australian Transport Research Forum
  9. ^ History of Rail in Australia Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development
  10. ^ Carpenter, Alan John (24 November 2005). "BHP Billiton (Termination of Agreements) Agreement Bill 2005". Hansard. Perth, WA: Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Standard Gauge Railway Project Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR)" (PDF). Perth, WA: State Library of Western Australia. 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  12. ^ Brady, Ian (June 1971). "A Brief History of Standard Gauge in Australia". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin. XXII (404). Australian Railway Historical Society: 98–120.
  13. ^ Western Australia to Receive Additional Australian Government Rail Funding Federal Minister for Transport 24 November 2005
  14. ^ Timetables Archived 2 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine Transwa

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