Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 503.572km
Opened : 27 November 1917
Closed : n/a
Status : In use
Name meaning : Named by E W Rudder after his estate of the same name in England
Notes : Opened with a 380 metre central controlled ijnterlocked loop. The original Up platform was 137 metres in legth, increased in 1925 to 182 metres. The first station was made of timber and this was later rebuilt in brick. A Railway Refreshment Room and SM's residence were provided in 1919. A water tank was provided with a 203mm bore jib at both ends of the platform, water was taken from the town supply. 12/8/1915 construction started on a six road roundhouse (the foundations of which still remain) and an 18.2 metre turntable. An 8 tonne yard crane and goods shed were in existence when the station opened. 13/6/1919 - RRR opened. 15/6/1919 - footwarmer heater installed. 4/7/1925 - Loco depot - watering facilities and ash pit installed. 15/9/1925 - platform extended. 1/7/1943 - additional 90kl water tank installed. 1947 - gas resorvoir for refilling diner cars installed. The yards had additional sidings : Vacuum Siding (26/5/1951), Mobil Siding (7/1962), Kempsey Electric Light Co Siding (12/1934) and Shell Siding (14/3/1927). Kempsey crossing was the location of a collision betyween a school bus and train on 9/12/1968 - 4 passengers were killed and 15 injured.
Kempsey, 1917
Rail bridge at Kempsey, undated
McNally family and friends on the way to tennis, Kempsey district (Macleay Argus)
Kempsey Station in 1962, Kempsey opened in 1917 and is still in use although much of it's once extensive yards have fallen into disrepair. (image State Records)
First train into Kempsey 27 Nov 1917 (State Archives)
Opening of the Kempsey section.
Kempsey Bridge after the floods
Kempsey station railway refreshment rooms
Kempsey station 1950/60s
Kempsey flood damage, 1949 (SLNSW)
The week before Christmas in 1939 was not what everyone was expecting to experience. Rolls of motion picture film were regularly carried on the train to be shown in local theatres before being sent on to the next showing or returned to Sydney.
On Saturday, December 23, Robert Keevers, the owner of the touring Keever's Pictures, took delivery of several cans of film from the Kempsey Parcels Office. One container was incorrectly addressed and when he opened the container he saw smoke and immediately tried to close the canister of film.
He was too late closing the canister and the film burst into a sheet of flame that spread into the whole interior of the Parcels Office. While trying to save some of the cans, Allen Prewett, the projectionist, was badly burned about the arms and chest while members of the railway staff tried to save books and papers from the ticket office. The fire quickly spread to parcels and luggage on the platform.
Fortunately the Fire Brigade, under Capt A Lake, was very prompt and the firemen attacked the blaze which had spread to a wooden structure beside the brick Refreshment Rooms and looked like reaching the Signal Room and the Waiting Rooms.
Apart from the members of the brigade, Police Inspector Dudley, Constable Harrison, Frank Campbell and volunteers gave immediate assistance but were unable to save the telephone and telegraph offices.
A large crowd had gathered and, apart from the gravity of the moment, were amused when the force of the fire hose almost swept Bob Adamson off the roof. A stream also caught Const Harrison's helmet, driving it 50 feet into the air.
On inspection, the Traffic Inspector from Taree, reported that the Parcels Office was completely gutted while severe damage was done to the booking office, the stationmaster's office, the ceiling of the waiting room, the signal cabin, and the roof and awning of the platform. The damage to the station including the luggage and Christmas parcels was estimated to be £1000.
At the subsequent inquiry, the Coroner found that the fire which occurred on the date stated, destroyed the parcels office and other portions of the station, but how the fire originated, whether accidentally or otherwise, the evidence did not enable him to state.
- Macleay River Historical Society
The official opening of the Kempsey Railway on November 28,1917. Crowds of people gathered to be part of the historic day.
Construction at Kempsey station in 1917 (SLNSW)
Location of Kempsey station (Six Maps)
Sydney Mail, 9/7/1919 - Kempsey
Sydney Mail, 9/7/1919 - Kempsey
Kempsey Station 28-08-1974 (Bob Richardson)
The viaduct at Kempsey that was constructed to replace the flood damaged one following the June 1950 floods. The new viaduct and repaired bridge re-opened in August. The viaduct, which was only regarded as "temporary" ended up being used for 16 years. (SRA Archives)
Kempsey floods June 1949 Damage to the lead on the Northern side of the Kempsey River Railway Bridge. The damage to the NSWGR track was the largest ever caused in a single incident with many 100 metres of line damaged or swept away entirely. To their credit the navvies had the line operational again in 3 weeks. Photograph from My collection ex Macleay Chronicle special photograph supplement October 1949. The second photogrpah shows the railway bridge when the flood was at it's worst looking towards the site of the first photograph
Kempsey, 1949 flood
Kempsey (1978, dunedoo (flickr))
Leslie Anderson:
The railway hotel closed its doors years ago boy it has changed now
Stephen Martin:
Leslie Anderson just a bottlo out the back and offices upstairs now , I had my first tap beer in there , an xyz bubble gum machine was on the wall outside ,I still remember the manual gates on the crossing , I must be old !
Nathan Goodwin:
Great pic. Further down on the right now the Mid Coast Cranes shed and had some silos beside it. The old goods shed no longer about.
Stephen Martin:
Nathan Goodwin mineral sands from crescent head used to unload bags of rutile etc, there when I was a kid .
Nathan Goodwin:
Stephen Martin sure did. Funny how easily we forget
Stephen Martin:
Nathan Goodwin sometimes I used to ride in the rutile trucks from Crescent head to the Kempsey goods yards with a driver and his sons , spike Jones from cooks lane west kempsey was a legend in those parts 60s and 70s era .
Donald Bourke:
Only ever stayed at the hotel at the xing once while there on relief, bloody bells made sure you didn't get much sleep
Greg Lee:
Donald Bourke At Junee these days, the bells are quietened at night time.
Roger Goodwin:
Swung those old manual gates 74/75. Many a curse word was yeld from impatient drivers. Especially when shunting was happening. Old weigh bridge on right. Ironically I worked at the Railway Hotel after leaving the railways.
A rain-soaked derelict Kempsey yard 19/1/2020 (Lance Lyon).
Delegates of the North Coast Railway League Conference held at Kempsey on July 24, 1901. (Argus)
Aftermath of the June 1950 floods at Kempsey - the line was disrupted for several months.
Kempsey Goods Shed early 2000s (Bob Richardson)
Workers at Kempsey, circa 1937 (SLNSW)
Rail bridge at Kempsey, undated
Kempsey station, 1917
Photo taken by my Grandmother shows parade along Smith St in Kempsey to celebrate the opening of the North Coast Line to Kempsey. (Bruce Robinson)
Two Cadillac Charabancs used by Robinson Bros for railway transfers photographed outside their depot at Kempsey Armistice Day parade 1918. Kempsey nurses are being carried in the front car. photo SL NSW. Advertisment c 1920
First train into Kempsey 27 Nov 1917 (State Archives)
The official opening of the Kempsey Railway on November 28,1917. Crowds of people gathered to be part of the historic day.
Alice the elephant at Kempsey on Wirth's circus train
28/11/1917 at the opening of the NC Rail as far as Kempsey
Kempsey station staff in there new uniform in 1975
Construction at Kempsey station in 1917 (SLNSW)
First train across the Kempsey bridge (SLNSW) (1917)
The Refreshment Room at Kempsey was one of the last to operate in NSW. This scene in the mid-1980's depicts a couple of customers off the Down North Coast Mail. The Kempsey Ref Room only serviced the Up and Down North Coast Mail at this time. All the other North Coast trains had on-board catering. (Bruce Irwin)
Kempsey. 1980.
Changing the staff, Kempsey (1982) (dunedoo, Flickr)
Kempsey, during construction.
Kempsey, 25/11/1967 (State Archives)
Kempsey Mail crossing Kempsey Bridge.
26-05-1958 (Records NSW)
Kempsey, engine shed, 1917 (Mitchell Library)
Railway. Gladstone Street in background, also corner of Forth Street on left. Load of bricks - Kempsey, NSW
Date:c 1920
Kempsey, 1918
Kempsey, undated - this is likely taken during construction (State Archives)
Vintage train at Kempsey, 25/11/1967 (State Archives)
Kempsey station (undated) (State Archives)
Kempsey Loco (undated) (State Archives)
Kempsey, 1947 (State Archives)
Stock train at Kempsey, 25/11/1967 (State Archives)
Kempsey Loco, 25/11/1967 (State Archives)
44**+44220 have just crossed the Macleay River on their journey north in this shot taken in the early 90's. (Jeff Hawkins)
Commissioning of CTC at Kempsey (Bob McAlpine)
Unusual consist on NT35 - 22/02/2024 - no XAM and only 4 cars. (Tony Egan)
NR41 leads 6BY4 on Sunday 26/10/1997, the siding to the right leads to the long closed (as Shell) depot, all 5 turnouts have since been removed. (Lenore Reinhard - Riddel)
Lenore Reinhard - Riddel
Location where siding crossed Gladstone Street, about where truck is parked.
Lenore Reinhard - Riddel
Location of former Shell depot standing room 3.
NR 10 NR 107 heads 2PB4 21-03-1999.
The discharge pipes for the Caltex depot ran under the road to the right from the siding. (Lenore Reinhard - Riddel)
NR 6 heads 1BM2 27/09/1998.
The buildings in the top left distance are part of the long closed King Gee factory & to the right obscured by vegetation is the long closed Country Energy/Essential Energy depot. (Lenore Reinhard - Riddel)
Saturday afternoon pick up 1627 with 8205 & 8166 has container traffic up front to be detached at Kempsey for the Smithtown milo by-products traffic, milk traffic has ceased hence no loading for Raleigh or Casino 4-11-2000.
The house in the far left background is long demolished as is the former Caltex depot which was to the left of Ron Butterfeilds Nursery shed middle upper background. (Lenore Reinhard - Riddel)
8050 on 6657 Wauchope Grafton transfer freight, the 3 MT NPRY's have been picked up at Wauchope & will be taken back to Grafton where they will be attached to -BW4 MT steel service.The train is about to clear Kempsey's northern yard limits on the 17-05-2002.
Greg Riddel.
Train no 6657 takes the
loop at Kempsey to cross NT2.
8042 failed at Raleigh early in the day & 48159 was sent from Grafton to assist at Wauchope the loco's were reversed so the 48 wouldn't have to long end lead on the return trip, 48159 is powering the train thru the controls of 8042.
Friday 10-01-2003.
(Greg Riddel)
A photo by my father, Clem. Kempsey railway station, looking South, in September 1968. Note on the right, stacked ice cream refrigerator bags. (Graeme Kirkby)
6M21 with 42107 & 42206 on a rainy 🌧 Monday
7-05-2001.
Photo courtesy Bernie Keast
49 classes 03/14/01/12/09 as part of the consist of 6M21 Monday 7-05-2001.
Photo courtesy Bernie Keast
Barclay Mowlem Ballast cleaner RM 80 on the rear of 6M21 in Kempsey loop on the 7-05-2001.
Photo courtesy Bernie Keast
Macleay Argus article, 1986, on the Kempsey RRR
Remains of the counter of the Kempsey RRR in 2015 (Bruce Cain)
1949 aerial view of Kempsey, railway station and yards in the centre.
Kempsey Railway Station 1962 (Christine Read)
Opening of the Kempsey Station, 1917 (State Archives)
RRR stove at the Kempsey Railway Station (Christine Read) (undated)
Container wagon waiting to be loaded whilst the goods shed is still intact.
Circa 1998 (Greg Riddel)
Plenty of containers for the Smithtown Nestles traffic.
Circa 1998 (Greg Riddel)
X117 which was transferred from Coffs Harbour to assist with the once busy container traffic.
13/9/98
(Greg Riddel)
Post Privatisation crickets 🦗 & weeds.
27-01-25
(Greg Riddel)
All that remains of the once busy goods shed.
27-01-25 (Greg Riddel)
SCT010 leads 5MB9 into the loop at Kempsey to cross NT32 on the 21-07-2023.
Photo George Riddel
3 x SCT locomotives on 6BM9
Kempsey 13-11-2021
Photo George Riddel