Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 793.665km
Opened : 6 November 1905 (as Deep Creek), renamed 25 October 1908
Closed : 30 June 1974 (station), 1983 (signal box)
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Named after Mr Charles Alfred Lee (local MLA) who was at one time Minister for Public Works
Notes : The Up platform was 76.3 metres long with a timber station building with general and ladies waiting rooms and a lamp room - the building was constructed 28/12/1906 when the platform was raised in level. 28/8/1920 - loop siding laid in. 3/9/1925 - 389 metre interlocked loop povided. 24/10/1957 - signal box destroyed by fire, signalling was restored 13/11/1957. 13/2/1980 - platform demolished. May 1988 - signalman's residence removed.
Leeville, 1982 (Greg Lee)
Leeville, 1982 (Greg Lee)
4491/44??, sweeping around corner, on NL2 at speed ready for auto exchanging, Leeville 80/81. (Philip Tatarinov)
44212/442??, on NL2 Leeville, 80/81. (Philip Tatarinov)
Leeville (1982) (Greg Lee)
Richard Butcher:
When Grafton driver Jimmy Flanagan Drove 4201 into Loco Casino, the later 1950's, you clearly heard the GM motors drone, from yes Leeville, as Jim up and down the throttle, clear as crystal, on No.1&2 Brisbane expresses. Leeville was small but important.
Steve Foster:
Frank Dolan pulled up no 2 one arvo because he had no sugar for his cup of tea. Don't think control was impressed.
Ray Geraghty:
Steve Foster that's a true story I was on South control that night Graeme Morrisey (Kevin's brother)was on north control he couldn't believe it we didn't show it on delay sheets but put it down to a couple of speed restrictions
3668 at Leeville (undated) (SRA Archive)
September 1936 by Cornelius Ambrose Cardew, who retired 1962 as Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) NSWGR. 3668 on down Brisbane Limited slows through platform and 3636 on Up North Coast Mail. In 1930s he was with the designing part of CME staff. Photo data from P.126 Fruits of Federation book on the Grafton Brisbane railway written by of Robert Lee
Location of Leeville (Six Maps)
Although Leeville's Up Distant Signal is showing clear, the speed is a sedate 10mph across the long trestle as a pair of Casino based 48s on a fast Meat Express pick their way across it during the upgrade from timber that occurred mid 1968.
Having slowed from normal line speed under brakes, the driver has opened up the taps to maintain what little momentum was left and the little locos are responding in the time honoured ALCo manner. (John Shields)
Leeville level crossing (undated, State Archives)
Sons of Fettler Kennedy, dressed as cowboys at Leeville, 1928
Leevile - diagram
Station arrangements
Leeville flood plain trestle, 2003
Leeville, 1/7/1982 (State Archives)
Leeville - 1938 (Dorothy Sullivan)
No. 3 Down Brisbane Express crosses the viaduct at Leeville with 3 bogie goods vans behind the loco 4427 on 7th November 1970. (George Stevens)
Leeville Railway Station
Cream Carriers from Hogarth Range and Upper Mongogarie would deliver cream to the siding three days a week to be picked up by the train and taken to the Casino Butter Factory.
The carriers would have a second team of horses, that were kept near the siding, where they would change over ready for the long haul home.
Photo from Iris Stokes, nee Akers, Lismore.