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Midland railway line, Western Australia

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This article is about the regional railway line in Western Australia. For the company that built it, see Midland Railway of Western Australia. For the suburban railway, see Midland line, Perth.

Midland railway line
The Westrail P class locomotives Shire of Kulin (2515) and Shire of Dalwallinu (2504) pulling a freight train past the Three Springs grain silos in August 2022
Overview
OwnerPublic Transport Authority
Termini
Stations39
Service
Operator(s)Brookfield Rail
History
OpenedNovember 1894
Technical
Line length446 kilometres
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Map
Route map

Legend
Geraldton to Mullewa railway
 Narngulu East
452
 Narngulu
434
 Walkaway
419
 Bookara
394
 Dongara
Dongara–Eneabba railway line
376
 Irwin
363
 Strawberry
Irwin River
338
 Mingenew
319
 Yandanooka
302
 Arrino
284
 Three Springs
261
 Carnamah
234
 Coorow
214
 Marchagee
203
 Gunyidi
185
 Watheroo
176
 Namban
166
 Coomberdale
161
 Cairn Hill
Moore River North
143
 Moora
Moore River East
100
 Mogumber
66
 Mooliabeenie
53
 Gingin
31
 Chandalla
26
 Muchea
2
 Millendon
0
 Eastern Railway
This diagram:

The Midland railway line historically run from Midland Junction to Walkaway (30 kilometres south of Geraldton) in Western Australia. Built by the Midland Railway of Western Australia, the 446 kilometre line opened in November 1894.

The contemporary railway line is referred to as the Millendon Junction to Narngulu railway line, running from Millendon Junction, on the Eastern Railway, to Narngulu on the Geraldton to Mullewa railway.[1][2]

History

Map of the Midland railway line in 1894

In December 1883, John Waddington representing a syndicate of English capitalists, proposed to Governor Broome to build a line from York via Northam, Newcastle, Bejoording, New Norcia and along the Berkshire Valley to Geraldton under a land grant scheme. A parliamentary select committee recommended the route be altered to branch off from the Eastern Railway at Guildford and run via Chittering, Bindoon, Victoria Plains, Carnamah, Arrino, Upper Irwin and Dongara to Walkaway where it would join the Western Australian Government Railway’s line from Geraldton. The agreement was signed on 27 February 1886, with work commencing a few days later.[3][4]

Under the land grant scheme, 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) of land was granted for every mile of railway completed, a total of 3,319,000 acres (1,343,000 ha). The consortium was able to select land within 40 miles (64 km) of the new railway. Financing problems delayed construction with construction being suspended in June 1887. The Government tried to rescind the contract, but could not as the consortium had until 1890 to complete the first 160 kilometres of the line.[3][4][5][6]

On 21 March 1890, the Midland Railway Company of Western Australia was floated on the London Stock Exchange and Herbert Bond purchased John Waddington's shareholding in the consortium and work recommenced on the 446 kilometre line from both ends.[3]

The first section from Midland Junction to Gingin opened on 9 April 1891, followed by Walkaway to Mingenew on 16 August 1891, Gin Gin to Moore River (Mogumbur) on 22 February 1892, Mingenew to Arrino on 25 February 1892, Mogumbur to Mora on 2 July 1894, with the two sections linked between Carnamah and Three Springs on 1 November 1894.[3][7][8][9]

On 1 August 1964, the line was sold to the Western Australian Government Railways.[8]

In April 1976, the Dongara–Eneabba railway line opened as a branch of the Midland railway line at Dongara.[10][11]

Services

The Midland Railway of Western Australia operated a weekly passenger train in each direction. After the sale of the line to the Western Australian Government Railways, it was relaunched as The Midlander. It ceased on 28 July 1975.[12][13]

Today the line is primarily utilised by CBH Group grain trains operating to the ports of Geraldton and Kwinana from eight receival points.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Arc Map Network" (PDF). Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Gunzburg, Adrian (1989). The Midland Railway Company Locomotives of Western Australia. Surrey Hills: Light Railway Research Society of Australia. pp. 7–10, 13, 49, 54. ISBN 0-9093402-77.
  4. ^ a b Midland Railway Company Battye Library
  5. ^ The Midland Railway of Australia Western Mail 3 October 1891
  6. ^ Royal Commission into the Management, Workings & Control of the Western Australian Government Railways Government of Western Australia December 1947 page 8
  7. ^ The Midland Railway: Its Jubilee Year The West Australian 31 October 1936
  8. ^ a b Affleck, Fred (1978). On Track: The Making of Westrail, 1950–1976. Perth: Westrail. pp. 73–85. ISBN 0724475605. OCLC 6489347.
  9. ^ Midland Railway Carnamah Historical Society & Museum
  10. ^ Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John R. (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 to 2000. Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-909650-49-0.
  11. ^ "Plaque for opening of Eneabba – Dongara railway". Collections WA. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  12. ^ May, Andrew S; Gray, Bill (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Midland, WA: Bill Gray. p. 260. ISBN 0646459023.
  13. ^ Higham, Geoffrey (2007). Marble Bar to Mandurah: A history of passenger rail services in Western Australia. Bassendean: Rail Heritage WA. pp. 118, 119. ISBN 978-0-9803922-0-3.
  14. ^ Receival site map CBH Group
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