Type : Loop
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 316.438km
Opened : 27 March 1945
Closed : 1984 (signal box), February 1995 (loop)
Status : Closed
Name meaning : An Aboriginal word meaning "camp"
Notes : Opened as a 429 metre central interlocked loop. An employee platform was provided in 1948 - this was on the Up side and was 4.8 metres in length.
8232 and 8229 approach Yumbunga with a Down goods and cross NT26, the Up "Grafton XPT" waiting in the Loop. 8-12-1994. Yumbunga Loop closed in February 1995.
Yumbunga Loop was a one-time crossing loop about a kilometre north of Tugrabakh. The location had a signal box and house.
Yumbumga Loop in 1981 (Chris Nelson)
Yumbunga (1984, Laurie Anderson), although the signal box still exists, the house has been demolished. A new CTC safe working hut is seen here.
44234 NL36 Grafton Express Yumbunga 29-9-91 (David Porter)
44221-44232 down freight Yumbunga 29-9-91 (David Porter)
The line at Yumbunga near the Barrington River, 1949
View from NT-26 passing through Yumbunga on 24-9-1994. (Graeem Kirkby)
View from NT-26, the Up "Grafton XPT" travelling slowly along the Loop at Yumbunga, there to wait for No.3, the Down "Murwillumbah XPT". 3-8-1994. Yumbunga Loop closed February 1995. (Graeme Kirkby)
View from NT-26, Up "Grafton XPT" at Yumbunga, 24-9-1994. (Graeme Kirkby)
A view from NT-26, " Grafton XPT" waiting in the Loop at Yumbunga as NT-3, the "Murwillumbah XPT" approaches. 3-8-1994. Countryside rather dry due to drought and winter. (Graeme Kirkby)
Crossing loop and main line at Yumbunga, as viewed from NT-25, "Grafton XPT" on Friday 29-4-1994. (Graeme Kirkby)
The approach to Yumbunga C.T.C. crossing loop as viewed from the Sydney bound "Grafton XPT", on 24-9-1994. (Graeme Kirkby)
John Treuren:
Yumbunga a crossing loop 316km north of Sydney. In early 80s it converted to a CTC crossing loop along with CTC conversion on NC. Few years later, Yumbunga closed as a crossing loop, Forget which year - AFAIK the loop too short and became redundant with lesser trains but longer trains of up to 1800m.
And I do remember in Electric Staff days the Yumbunga access signposted from the country back road that linked Bucketts Way with Bundook.
48115+4867 369 Yumbunga 08-10-88 (Leon Batman)
48118+4533 279 Yumbunga 08-10-88 (Leon Batman)
Yumbunga loop, diagram, 1960