Tumbarumba railway line

Tumbarumba railway line
Overview
OwnerNew South Wales Government Railways
Termini
  • Wagga Wagga
  • Tumbarumba
Stations16
History
Opened1917
Closed1974
Technical
Track length80 miles (129 km)[1]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route map
Map
Tumbarumba Branch Line
Legend
km
 Station
521.4
 Main Southern railway line at Wagga Wagga
530.7
 Forest Hill
640.0
 Ladysmith
548.8
 Tamboolba
556.8
 Coreinbob
562.2
 Borambola
577.2
 Tarcutta
590.9
 Umbango Creek
599.2
 Sheahan
604.6
 Humula
609.8
 Nurla
629.9
 Rosewood
635.7
 Wolselely Park
642.1
 Glenroy
650.4
 Tumbarumba
In the final years of the line, the Australian Railway Historical Society ran several special trains to Tumbarumba. This 1983 train was passing by parked aircraft as it returned to Wagga Wagga through the Air Force base at Forest Hill.
Part of the line, disused, in 2008

The Tumbarumba railway line is a railway line in New South Wales, Australia. Proposals were commenced back as early as 1881. The length of an initial proposal showed it to be 74 miles 64 chains (120.4 km) in length.[2] The final built length being 80 miles (129 km).

Following heavy rains causing numerous wash-aways services were suspended, although the line is not officially closed (which would require an Act of Parliament). Passenger services on the line in the final years comprised CPH railmotors.[3] The line branched from the Main South line at Wagga Wagga and passed through Tarcutta to the township of Tumbarumba. It opened in stages from 1917 to 1921 and was essentially closed in 1987.[4] Passenger trains ceased operation in 1974 after significant flooding saw much of the line abandoned. In 2001, a large grass fire started by a passing Northbound semi-trailer destroyed the disused Tarcutta railway station before it could be restored by a local historical group.[5] All other stations on the line have been demolished with the exception of Ladysmith (which is maintained by the Ladysmith Tourist Railway Inc. historical group)[6] and Borambola. Although several sections of rail have been removed (albeit without the approval of NSW Railways), much of the line still exists. In 2020 the disused 22 km section Tumbarumba–Rosewood was graded, surfaced and sealed by the NSW government and Snowy Valleys Council as a pilot "rail trail" for recreational use by walkers, joggers and cyclists; official opening 3 April 2020.[7]

The Tarcutta fires of early 2013 caused significant damage to the small historic halt platform of Edwards Crossing and the surrounding area of railway.[8]

  1. ^ "NEW RAILWAY". The Sun. No. 3233 (FINAL EXTRA ed.). Sydney. 10 March 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 21 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "WAGGA TO TUMBARUMBA". The Sun. No. 174 (LATEST ed.). New South Wales. 19 January 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 21 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ The Tumbarumba Branch Line Winney, I.K. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, August, 1956 pp101-105
  4. ^ Bozier, Rolfe; et al. "Tumbarumba Line". NSWrail.net. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  5. ^ Wagstaff, J. Wagga Daily Advertiser, 17 January 2001.
  6. ^ "Ladysmith Tourist Railway Inc".
  7. ^ "Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Official Opening". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Tarcutta fire 'shockingly frightening'". Australia: ABC News. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
    "Fire victims consider themselves lucky". ABC Rural. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
    Gleeson, Ashleigh (8 January 2013). "Quick actions avoid tragedy in Tarcutta". Retrieved 21 July 2016.