Eastern Goldfields Railway: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
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The '''Eastern Goldfields Railway''' was built in the 1890s to connect [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]] with the 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 | accessdate=5 March 2012 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{BS-map |title=Eastern Goldfields Railway|title-bg=#888
⚫
The [[Eastern Railway, Western Australia|Eastern Railway]] line already connected Perth with [[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]], and the Eastern Goldfields Railway extended this line through semi-desert to the [[Eastern Goldfields]] paralleling the [[Great Eastern Highway]] for much of its journey.<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>
|map=
{{BS|BHF||[[Northam railway station, Western Australia|Northam]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Grass Valley, Western Australia|Grass Valley]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Meckering, Western Australia|Meckering]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Cunderdin, Western Australia|Cunderdin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Tammin, Western Australia|Tammin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Bungulla, Western Australia|Bungulla]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Kellerberrin, Western Australia|Kellerberrin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Doodlakine, Western Australia|Doodlakine]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Hines Hill, Western Australia|Hines Hill]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Merredin railway station|Merredin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Booraan, Western Australia|Booraan]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Burracoppin, Western Australia|Burracoppin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Carrabin, Western Australia|Carrabin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Bodallin, Western Australia|Bodallin]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Moorine Rock, Western Australia|Moorine Rock]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Koolyanobbing, Western Australia|Koolyanobbing]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Bonnie Vale, Western Australia|Bonnie Vale]]}}
{{BS|BHF||[[Kalgoorlie railway station|Kalgoorlie]]}}}}

⚫
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]] paralleling the [[Great Eastern Highway]] for much of its journey.<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>


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>
Line 78: Line 101:


==Branches==
==Branches==
At Kalgoorle lines branch off north to [[Laverton, Western Australia|Laverton]] and south to [[Esperance, Western Australia|Esperance]] via the [[Esperance Branch Railway|Esperance line]].<ref>[http://www.brookfieldrail.com/assets/br_files/Communications%20Material/2014%20Brookfield%20Rail%20Network%20Map.pdf Brookfield Rail Network Map] Brookfield rail</ref>
At Kalgoorle lines branch off north to [[Laverton, Western Australia|Laverton]] and south to [[Esperance, Western Australia|Esperance]] via the [[Esperance Branch Railway|Esperance line]].<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 standard gauge with a new alignment further north of the existing line built between [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]] and Kalgoorlie. The new alignment as well as being shorter and better graded, provided access to the iron ore deposits at [[Koolyanobbing]] which were being opened up at the time for shipment from Esperance. The new line opened on 3 August 1968.<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>
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 standard gauge with a new alignment further north of the existing line built between [[Southern Cross railway station, Western Australia|Southern Cross]] and Kalgoorlie. The new alignment as well as being shorter and more favourably graded, provided access to the iron ore deposits at [[Koolyanobbing]] which were being opened up at the time for shipment from Esperance. The new line opened on 3 August 1968.<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>


==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|sleeper]] line with concrete sleepers.<ref>[http://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 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>[http://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]].
[[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]]''.


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.

Revision as of 04:42, 3 July 2015

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)Brookfield Rail
History
opened Northam to Southern Cross1 July 1894
opened Southern Cross to Boorabbin1 July 1896
opened Boorabbin to Kalgoorlie1 January 1897
Technical
Line length373 kilometres
Track gauge1435

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]

History

Template:BS-map

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 paralleling the Great Eastern Highway for much of its journey.[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 railway line ran parallel with the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. The chief engineer for both the railway and the pipeline was Charles 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

At Kalgoorle lines branch off north to Laverton and south to Esperance via the Esperance line.[5]

Gauge conversion

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 standard gauge with a new alignment further north of the existing line built between Southern Cross and Kalgoorlie. The new alignment as well as being shorter and more favourably graded, provided access to the iron ore deposits at Koolyanobbing which were being opened up at the time for shipment from Esperance. The new line opened on 3 August 1968.[4][6][7]

Upgrades

In November 2005, funding was announced to extend eight crossing loops to accommodate 1,800 metre long trains at Bodallin, Darrine, Wallaroo, Lake Julia, Grass Valley, Bungulla, Booraan and Seabrook, and replace the final 76 kilometres of timber sleepers with concrete sleepers.[8]

Services

Transwa's MerredinLink and Prospector services from Perth to Merredin and Kalgoorlie traverse the line[9] as does Great Southern Rail'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

  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. ^ Brookfield Rail Network Map Brookfield Rail
  6. ^ Webb Report 1976 Australian Transport Research Forum
  7. ^ History of Rail in Australia Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development
  8. ^ Western Australia to Receive Additional Australian Government Rail Funding Federal Minister for Transport 24 November 2005
  9. ^ Timetables Transwa
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