- Northern Railway (Western Australia)
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The Northern Railway has had a number of meanings in Western Australian railway history.
Contents
Northampton Line
Opening in 1879 the Northern Line originated as a service between Geraldton port and mines at Northampton. It was the first government built railway in Western Australia - as other lines had been built prior to this date - but they were privately built. The Northampton line was serviced by two Fairlie double ended steam engines (which were some of the few to run in Australia) and two Kiston engines. The Northampton line was closed in 1957.
Midland Railway
In 1886 the government of Western Australia contracted West Australian Midland Land and Railway Syndicate to build the Midland Railway of Western Australia line between Guildford and Walkaway. The contract was authorised under the Guildford - Greenough Flats(Walkaway) Railway act of 1886, and included a grant of crown land in return for construction. From Walkaway to Geraldton there was no crown land available to grant and the government employed Edward Keane to construct this section for them completing the link from Perth to Northampton line, which opened 1 July 1887.
Northern Railway (Mullewa and Meekatharra)
Built by the Western Australian Government Railways during the 1890-1900 the Northern Railway provided for passenger and freight services from Perth into the Murchison Goldfields. There was a branch line from Cue to the mining town of Big Bell. After the completion of the line to Cue work commenced on the line to Nannine, it wasn't until 1909 that the line was extended from Nannine to Meekatharra and for a while to Wiluna. During the 1960s passenger services were terminated at Mullewa with services to places further along the line being replaced by road coach, while the overnight passenger service 'The Mullewa' ceased altogether 1974.
Sidings in the Mullewa to Meekatharra line were: Pindar, Wurarga, Wagga Wagga, Nannowtharra, Edah, Munbinia, Yoweragabbie, Mount Magnet, Lennonville, Merroe, Moyagee, Austin, Day Dawn, Cue, Nallan, Tuckanarra, Nannine and Meekathara.
Joondalup Line
During the pre-construction stages the Joondalup Line was referred to as the Northern line or Northern suburbs line.
Passenger Stations on the Mullewa to Meekatharra rail line
- Mullewa, opened 1894 - junction
- Yalgoo opened 1896
- Mount Magnet opened 1898 - junction for Sandstone
- Lennonville opened 1898
- Lake Austin Island opened 1898
- Cue opened 1898 - branch line to Big Bell, Western Australia
- Nannine (460m)
- Meekatharra - continues as Wiluna Branch Railway
See also
- Western Australian Government Railways
- Rail transport in Western Australia
- Midland Railway Company of Western Australia
External links
Further reading
- Affleck, Fred N. On track : the making of Westrail, 1950 to 1976 . Perth : Westrail, 1978. ISBN 0-7244-7560-5
- May, Andrew and Gray, Bill. A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Perth:The Author, 2006. ISBN 0-646-45902-3
- Quinlan, Howard & Newland, John R. Australian Railway Routes 1854-2000 2000. ISBN 0-909650-49-7
Categories:- History of Western Australia
- Rail transport in Western Australia
- Closed railway lines in Western Australia
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