Abandoned: Train and Megan station almost torn me to shreds.
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- I discovered this abandoned railway station purely by chance when on a road trip hiding far down in a field and completely obscured by vegetation but I decided to turn the car around and go check. Lucky for me I did because I was able to explore this wonderful very fastly disappearing piece of Australian rail history.
Megan station was opened 23 Dec 1924 and was closed 20 Sept 1975.
The station originally consisted of a platform on the main line with a loop siding serving a loading bank and stock yards. In 1950 a crossing loop and de-ashing pit were constructed which mean nothing to me but Im sure there are a lot of rail enthusiasts out there that would know, if you know what a de-ashing pit is leave a comment.
On 28 December 1910 the Glenreagh to Dorrigo Railway Act received assent to sanction the construction. It was not until early August 1914 that construction officially commenced. Because of the First World War, a lack of finance and a dispute with the contractor, progress foundered. The contract was terminated on 28 March 1917 and construction passed to the Railway Commissioners who promptly suspended work.
It was almost two years after the end of the First World War that the Railway Commissioners decided to press ahead with construction. Delays occurred due to landslips and wash away and it was not until 27 September 1924 that a construction train reached Dorrigo. Construction was finalised by 5 December and an inspection of the line was conducted by Railways staff on the 10th.
The Dorrigo line was one of the costliest branch railways built in New South Wales. It had some of the steepest gradients and tightest curves on the system and experienced high maintenance and running costs. It experienced repeated losses throughout its entire existence.
Although goods other than timber were carried, timber was the main revenue source for the railway. Just prior to the suspension of services, there were loadings of up to 13 wagons, mainly of timber from Dorrigo. Most of the logs and processed timber were sent to Sydney. In the early days of the line, the NSWGR obtained sleepers for the North Coast region from the area. These were transported by rail to other centres. The line was closed to passengers in 1957 but remained open to goods and services.
The station and rail cars now belong to Dorrigo steam railway and museum limited and the museum is trying to open the rail museum in Dorrigo but the local council is not interested in allowing it and have stalled the project which could see much needed revenue coming into a small and dying town that would really benefit from the tourists and the dollars they would bring into the town. The rail museum has a web site so if you have a chance go check it out and help support them with their vision.
www.dsrm.org.au
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