Eastern Railway (Western Australia)
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Eastern Railway is the name given to the railway constructed east of Fremantle, Western Australia, in the 19th century.
It was later changed to the line east of Perth, Western Australia, as the line progressed east in the 1880s. Perth was then the location from which miles were measured.
Contents |
[edit] First section
The first section of the Eastern Railway, from Fremantle to Guildford, remained generally unchanged since it was opened on 1st March 1881.
| Station | Miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fremantle | 0 | |
| Fremantle East | 0.5 | |
| Fremantle North | 1.25 | |
| Claremont | 6 | |
| Subiaco | 9 | |
| Perth, North | 11.5 | |
| Perth | 12 | |
| Perth, East | 12.5 | |
| Guildford | 20 |
Source: West Australian Government Gazette of 1885, January 5th
[edit] First Route
The First Route was opened on 11 March 1884. The route ascended the escarpment around Greenmount Hill passing through Boya, Darlington, Glen Forrest, Mundaring and Sawyers Valley before turning north to White's Mill. A significant delay in construction was experienced at a site which became popularly known as 'Devil's Terror' - a location between Darlington and Glen Forrest. The Nyaania Creek had to be diverted at this point.
| Station | Miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Greenmount | 24 | |
| Smith's Mill | 29 | Later known as Glen Forrest |
| Sawyers Valley | 35 | |
| White's Mill | 38.75 | Later known as Lion Mill, and then Mount Helena |
| Chidlow's Well | 41.23 |
Source: West Australian Government Gazette of 1885, January 5th
It soon became apparent that this route was too steep for the increasingly heavier trains and engines required for the route. As a result, another route was quickly devised in the 1890's.
After the completion of the Second Route, this line became known in Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) records as the Smith's Mill Branch, then the Mundaring Branch, and later as the Mundaring Loop.
Passenger traffic ceased between Boya and Mount Helena on 24th January 1954 and the route was closed from Koongamia - Mount Helena on 12 March 1965.
The current condition of the stations on this route today are as follows:
| Station | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bellevue | The station platform and buildings were removed during the construction of the third route. |
| Greenmount | The station platform and buildings were removed in the 1960s. |
| Boya | (including Mountain Quarries siding) The station buildings (and the Cape Horn alignment) were removed by Mundaring shire during the re-alignment of Coulston Road. |
| Darlington | The station buildings were removed in the 1960s - the platform and grounds are now part of a reserve. |
| Glen Forrest | The station platform and buildings were removed in the 1960s. One signal remains. |
| Nyaania | Nothing remains of this stopping place. |
| Mahogany Creek | Nothing remains of this stopping place. |
| Zamia | Nothing remains of this stopping place |
| Mundaring | (21 miles 3 chains, 30.86 km) Platform and grounds have been turned into part of the Mundaring Community Sculpture Park |
| Sawyers Valley | |
| Mount Helena | (25 miles 37 chains, 40.98 km) |
| Chidlow | (29 miles 6 chains, 46.79 km) |
The Eastern Railway was then later extended beyond Northam to the Kalgoorlie goldfields. The line was known as the Eastern Goldfields Railway.
[edit] Second Route
The Second Route via Swan View, John Forrest National Park, Hovea, Parkerville and Stoneville, through to Mt Helena opened on 01 July 1896, within a decade after the First Route. Its grades were less strenuous and the line didn't suffer from the more serious problems of the first route. The line was originally only a single track and featured Western Australia's first (and only until 1990) railway tunnel. As traffic increased the newer route was duplicated, with the second track bypassing the tunnel, resulting in a slightly longer journey for trains heading across the Darling Scarp. The Second Route eventually closed on 13 February 1966.
| Station | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bellevue | There was a branch line into Helena Vale Racecourse - and this was the stopping place for Blackboy Hill Camp during World War I (not Swan View). |
| Swan View | Some maps and plans include a stopping place east of the Swan View Tunnel known as Tunnel Junction. |
| National Park | |
| Hovea | |
| Parkerville | |
| Stoneville | |
| Mt Helena | |
| Chidlow | |
| Wooroloo | |
| Werribee | |
| Wundowie | |
| Coates | |
| Baker's Hill | |
| Clackline | |
| Mokine | |
| Spencer's Brook | |
| Spring Hill | |
| Northam |
[edit] Third Route
In the 1950s, it became clear to the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) that the original Eastern Railway alignments were not suitable for future traffic and the loadings that were to be carryied between the coast and the areas east of the Darling Scarp.
It was not until the 1960s that a new eastern railway route was commissioned to run through the Avon Valley, further north than existing Eastern Railway alignments. This Third Route was built using heavy continuously welded rail laid on new concrete sleepers. It features much milder grades and is designed for faster train speeds.
It is a dual gauge (Stevenson standard gauge and Anglo Cape narrow gauge) double line throughout its entirety, also including a few crossing loop sections, where there are 3 tracks. These loops are located at Jumperkine, Moondyne and Toodyay West. Numerous cuttings were also constructed, including the deep Windmill Hill Cutting east of Toodyay.
This new route was opened on 13 February 1966 and coincided with the closure of the earlier two routes of the Eastern Railway. The line is still operational and is used by all rail freight to the east as well as the Transwa Prospector and Transwa Avonlink running frequently on the route.
[edit] Current conditions
The original Eastern Railway alignments still survive today, in the form of a shared path used for cycling, horse riding and walking. Over 80 km remain as a path, all the way from Bellevue near Midland right through to Clackline. The original section from Fremantle to Perth to Midland is still in use as part of Transperth's suburban rail network and the Western Australian rail freight network (see also: WestNet Rail).
[edit] Railway Reserve Heritage Trail
The Railway Reserve Heritage Trail is the result of the Mundaring Shire Council being allocated funds from a number of external authorities to maintain and improve the old railway alignment as a walking trail. Between 2004-2006, the trail has had considerable signage and track maintenance conducted along the trail.
It is also utilised for the annual Trek the Trail event conducted in conjunction between Mundaring and Hills Historical Society, the Mundaring Shire Council and the Mundaring Visitor Centre. The event was conducted between Wooroloo and Chidlow in 2004,and Mount Helena and Parkerville in 2005. The 2006 event will be between Mundaring and Darlington.
The Shire of Mundaring and the Mundaring Arts Centre in 2006 has conducted an invitational group art exhibition called From Track to Trail.
[edit] References
- Affleck, Fred N. On track : the making of Westrail, 1950 to 1976 . Perth : Westrail, 1978. ISBN 0-7244-7560-5
- Elliot, Ian Mundaring a History of the Shire. 1983. ISBN 0959277609
- Quinlan, Howard & Newland, John R. Australian Railway Routes 1854-2000 2000. ISBN 0-909650-49-7
- Watson, Lindsay The Railway History of Midland Junction. 1995. ISBN 0-646-24461-2
