Oberon railway line

The Oberon railway line is a short, disused branch railway line on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. The line branches from the Main Western line at Tarana railway station and heads in a southerly direction to Oberon railway station, with length of 24 km. It was earlier put forward as a line from Tarana to Burraga, via Oberon, to benefit the Burraga copper mine.^[3] It opened on 3 October 1923,^[2][1] after the copper mine at Burraga had closed down.^[4] The line was lightly constructed with steep grades (1 in 25) and tight curves, and was operated by lightweight steam and then diesel locomotives.^[5] It transported local seasonal vegetables, timber and livestock. Passenger services ended in 1971, and goods services were suspended in 1979 with the line effectively closing. The line is currently being restored by a volunteer association to allow heritage and tourist operation.^[6]

Oberon railway line
Overview
Other name(s)	Oberon branch
Status	closed
Termini	Tarana Oberon
Stations	4
History
Opened	3 October 1923 (1923-10-03)
Closed	1979
Technical
Line length	15 miles 7 chains (24.3 km)[1]
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Minimum radius	5 chains (330 ft; 100 m)
Highest elevation	1,106 m (3,629 ft)
Maximum incline	4%
Route map Map Legend 198.3 Main Western line at Tarana Fish River Emu Valley Creek 207.9 Carlwood Snakes Valley Creek 217.1 Hazlegrove 222.4 Oberon Source: NSWrail.net[2]

The early history of the line is contained in an article appearing in Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, July, 1958.

Preservation efforts

Since 2007, the Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc (OTHR)^[6] have been steadily restoring the track between Oberon station and Hazelgrove. Two end platform carriages (on loan from NSWRTM) and some smaller wagons have been delivered and are on the tracks in Oberon station. Two 73 class diesel locos have moved^[7] and CPH 13 is awaiting shipment to Oberon to form the OTHR's motive power. It is the long-term goal of the association to run trains all the way to the mainline at Tarana.

See also

• New South Wales portal
• Railways portal

• Rail transport in New South Wales

References

1. "Government Gazette Notices". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 114. New South Wales, Australia. 28 September 1923. p. 4252 – via National Library of Australia.
2. Bozier, Rolfe; et al. "Oberon Line". NSWrail.net. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
3. "TARANA-BURRAGA RAILWAY". Lithgow Mercury. New South Wales, Australia. 2 June 1913. p. 2 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "CLOSE DOWN AT BURRAGA". Lithgow Mercury. 29 January 1919.
5. Vergison, P. The Branch Line Goods Railway Digest February 2002
6. "Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc". Retrieved 7 May 2007.
7. "THE 73 CLASS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES HAVE ARRIVED!". Retrieved 12 June 2014.

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