Merriwa railway line

Merriwa railway line
Legend
 Merriwa
Wappinguy
Gungal
Sandy Hollow – Gulgong line to Gulgong
Sandy Hollow
Myambat
Denman
Mangoola
Roxburgh
Bengalla Coal Loader
Main North Line to Muswellbrook
View map
Merriwa railway line branching left off the Main North line at Muswellbrook

The Merriwa railway line in the Hunter Valley of northern New South Wales, Australia, branches from the Main North line at Muswellbrook and travels south west to Denman then generally north west through Sandy Hollow to Merriwa, a distance of approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi). The line opened to Denman on 26 April 1915, and to Merriwa on 29 October 1917.[1] CPH railmotor operated passenger service ceased on 7 July 1973.[2]

The first 38 kilometres was rebuilt to main line standards in the early 1980s as part of the construction of the Sandy Hollow - Gulgong railway line.[3] The section north west of Sandy Hollow closed with the last grain train hauled by four 48 class locomotives running on 8 May 1987.[4] The Merriwa line was severed at on 11 December 1996.[5]

There are three mines, Bengalla and Mount Pleasant, just south west and west of Muswellbrook and Mangoola, half way to Denman with balloon loops of this line and a number of passing sidings have been built with the traffic to/from the three mines at Ulan.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ A Short History of the Muswellbrook - Merriwa Branch Line Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 360 October 1967 pages 205-214
  2. ^ Last Regular Passenger from Merriwa Railway Digest July 1973 page 10
  3. ^ Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 543 January 1983 page 5
  4. ^ Death of a branch line Railway Digest July 1987 page 216
  5. ^ Merriwa Branch Railway Digest April 1997 page 41
  6. ^ Bengalla Mine New Hope Group
  7. ^ Mount Pleasant Operation Thiess
  8. ^ Mangoola Open Cut Glencore