New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) was the agency of the Government of New South Wales that administered rail transport in New South Wales, Australia, between 1855 and 1932.
The agency built all of their track to the 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and ran its first official passenger train on 26 September 1855 between Sydney (now Redfern) and Parramatta (now Granville) railway stations.
Senior Management
The inaugural Chief Commissioner was Ben Martindale and, following the enactment of the Government Railway Act, 1858 (NSW) he became Commissioner of Railways.
John Rae succeeded Martindale in 1861, and in 1877 Charles Goodchap was appointed Commissioner.
1856-99 John Whitton was the engineer-in-charge
1888 The Government Railway Act, 1888 (NSW) set up a corporate body of three railway commissioners to manage the railways and remove them from political influence, resulting in the resignation of Goodchap.
History of Construction
1854 the first public line was built from Sydney to Parramatta Junction. After two decisions to change the rail gauge, problems in raising capital and difficulties in construction, the line was opened in 1854, built to standard gauge.
1855 September. The property of the Sydney Railway Company was transferred to the government of New South Wales.
1855-81 The Main Southern line was built in stages from Parramatta Junction to the Victorian border at Albury between 1855 and 1881 and connected to the Victorian Railways at a break-of-gauge in 1883.
Lines were built to connect the ports of Sydney and Newcastle to the rural interior, and the Main Western line was built from Parramatta Junction line to the north west of the state, reaching Bourke between 1860 and 1885.
1857-1888 The Main North line was built from Newcastle to Wallangarra on the Queensland border and connecting with Queensland Railway's line to Brisbane at a break of gauge between 1857 and 1888.
1889 Sydney and Newcastle were connected.
Much of the construction of the Main Western, Main Southern, and Main North lines were completed under the supervision of John Whitton.
1893 Meanwhile, branch lines proliferated over the settled east of the state, including the Illawarra line to Wollongong and Bomaderry completed in 1893.
1905 Construction of the shorter and single-gauge North Coast railway line between Sydney and Brisbane commenced in 1905 and was completed with the opening of the Grafton Bridge in 1932.
1910 New South Wales State Railway. Consists of four groups - Southern Group from Sydney to Albury and connects with the Victorian system (392 miles plus branches); Western Group from Sydney, across the Blue Mountains, to Bourke (508 miles plus branches); Northern Group from Strathfield (7 miles from Sydney) to Wallangarra where it joins the Queensland system (485 miles plus branches); Isolated Group of 147 miles on the northern coast and is constructing a 20 mile extension to Newcastle. Officers: T. R. Johnson, Chief Commissioner; W. Thow, Chief Mechanical Engineer; J. Fraser, Engineer-in-Chief of existing lines; W. Shellshear, Inspecting Engineer; R. Kendal, Supervising Engineer[1]
1926 work began on electrifying Sydney's urban railways and connecting them together via new lines.
1927 The last main line was completed to Broken Hill in 1927, connecting with the South Australian Railways at a break of gauge.
1962 The standard gauge connection from Albury to Melbourne was opened, completing the Sydney–Melbourne railway.
1969 the South Australian section was standardised, completing the Sydney–Perth standard gauge link.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1911 Bradshaw’s Railway Manual