Bowenfels railway station

Bowenfels

Station front in October 2004
Coordinates 33°28′37″S 150°08′08″E / 33.4769°S 150.1355°E / -33.4769; 150.1355Coordinates: 33°28′37″S 150°08′08″E / 33.4769°S 150.1355°E / -33.4769; 150.1355
Owned by RailCorp
Operated by Public Transport Commission
Line(s) Main Western
Distance 158.20 kilometres from Central
Platforms 2 side (1 demolished)
Tracks 2
Other information
Status Closed
History
Opened 18 October 1869
Closed 21 September 1974
Electrified Yes
Services
Preceding station   NSW Main lines   Following station
towards Bourke
Main Western Line
towards Sydney

Bowenfels railway station is a disused station on the Main Western line in New South Wales, Australia. It consists of a historic sandstone building. The station opened on 18 October 1869 with the construction of the railway and was electrified in 1957 as part of the Blue Mountains line electrification programme. The electrification was to continue to Wallerawang but was curtailed 300 metres west of Bowenfels station.[1][2]

On 14 August 1972, the station staff were removed and two of the three daily passenger services were cut back to Lithgow, with the remaining service following on 21 September 1974 and the station closed.[1][2][3]

In 1989, with State Rail Authority road coaches causing congestion around Lithgow station, one of the solutions considered was building an interchange at Bowenfels and reinstating electric services from Sydney.[4] This wasn't pursued with an interchange being built at Lithgow instead.

The station was restored in 1994 and operated as the Lithgow tourist information office until 2004.[5] A new Visitor Information Centre was built nearby that year, the main feature being a giant representation of a miner's lamp.

Although not in regular use the overhead electric wires remain in situ and up until at least 1987 were kept serviceable by running light engine movements.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Bowenfels Station NSWrail.net
  2. 1 2 Bowenfels Railway Station Group & Residence NSW Environment & Heritage
  3. ↑ "20 Years Ago" Railway Digest August 1992 page 323
  4. ↑ "SRA Buses Cause Trouble in Lithgow" Railway Digest May 1989 page 172
  5. ↑ Bowenfels Railway Station Lithgow Tourism
  6. ↑ "Western Report" Railway Digest July 1987 page 212

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