Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 273.104km
Location : -32.294387, 151.950439
Opened : Opened 25 October 1926
Closed : Early 1964
Status : Closed
Name meaning : An Aboriginal word meaning "high" - the siding was in high country
Notes : Dewrang opened on 25 October 1926 as a loop siding (flagmen placed during alterations — W.N. — 1926). Passenger trains began calling at Dewrang from November 1928 — No. 15 Pass. (6.45 p.m. Sydney) and No. 16 Pass. (5.0 p.m. Kempsey) called on specific days (W.N. — 1928). A platform was formally added in 1931, with the mileage corrected in W.N. 37–1931 to 169m 56c from Sydney (previously shown incorrectly) and the station brand DEW allotted. The platform was 9.4 metres long on the Up side with a corrugated iron shelter. The Loop Siding was abolished on 11 September 1946 — points and crossings at each end removed, signalling equipment put out of use, Staff drawer lock key release removed (W.N. 44–1946). 1964 — Platform Abolished; All References Deleted — W.N. 12–1964 .There was no road or settlement nearby. Built to service the nearby farms.
Approximate location of Dewrang. It opened in 1926 and had a platform added in 1931 with passenger services commencing in 1935.
Built to service the local dairy farms.
The station closed in 1964.
Dungog Chronicle, 1/9/31
Dungog Chronicle, 28/5/1935 - this seems to indicate that prior to this date both Wards River and Dewrang didn't have a passenger service.
# Dewrang (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1926–1964
---
**Type:** Station (Platform — Closed)
**Line:** North Coast Line (Stroud Road–Weismantels section; later section reference Craven–Stroud Road)
**Distance from Sydney:** 273.104 km (169m 56c — corrected W.N. 37–1931; previously shown as 168m or 169m 30c)
**Distance from South Grafton:** 262m 47c (corrected W.N. 37–1931)
**Location:** -32.294387, 151.950439
**Between:** Stroud Road and Weismantels / Craven
**Opened as siding:** **25 October 1926** (flagmen notice — W.N. — 1926)
**Platform added:** 1931 (W.N. 37–1931 — mileage correction and station brand DEW; designated (P))
**Passenger services commenced:** From **November 1928** (W.N. — 1928 — trains calling at Dewrang)
**Siding abolished:** **11 September 1946** (W.N. 44–1946)
**Platform abolished:** **W.N. 12–1964** (all references deleted)
**Closed (per your notes):** December 1964
**Status:** Closed
**Name meaning:** Aboriginal word meaning "high" — the siding was in high country
**Station Brand:** DEW (W.N. 37–1931)
**Platform:** 9.4-metre Up side; corrugated iron shelter
**Setting:** No road or settlement nearby; built to service nearby farms
---
> **Notes:** Dewrang opened on 25 October 1926 as a siding (flagmen placed during alterations — W.N. — 1926). Your notes give this date; the 1926 Weekly Notice confirms construction work was under way. Passenger trains began calling at Dewrang from November 1928 — No. 15 Pass. (6.45 p.m. Sydney) and No. 16 Pass. (5.0 p.m. Kempsey) called on specific days (W.N. — 1928). A platform was formally added in 1931, with the mileage corrected in W.N. 37–1931 to 169m 56c from Sydney (previously shown incorrectly) and the station brand DEW allotted. The station is listed in the 1946 accommodation table as a "(P)" platform only — goods shunting times in 1931 (8 minutes) confirm active goods traffic before the siding abolition. The Loop Siding was abolished on 11 September 1946 — points and crossings at each end removed, signalling equipment put out of use, Staff drawer lock key release removed (W.N. 44–1946). The siding had been out of use from that date and was formally deleted from all publications in W.N. 45–1946. The platform was abolished in W.N. 12–1964 — all references deleted.
>
> **Note on opening date:** Your notes give "opened 25 October 1926." The 1926 Weekly Notice confirms flagmen at Dewrang during alterations to points and signals, which is consistent with this date. The 1928 entries confirm regular train calls had begun by November 1928, suggesting passenger services began after the platform was in a serviceable state, but before the 1931 formal platform addition.
---
## 1926 — Siding Opened — 25 October 1926; Flagmen During Alterations
### Flagmen During Alterations — W.N. — 1926
> During the time of the alterations to the points and signals at Lakemba, Wagga Wagga, Waratah, East Greta Exchange Sidings, Muswellbrook, **Dewrang**, and Coopernook, competent Flagmen equipped with the necessary Hand and Detonating signals must be placed at the sites. *(Source: 1926 Weekly Notices)*
> **Note:** This flagmen notice confirms construction/alteration work was under way at Dewrang in late 1926, consistent with your opening date of 25 October 1926.
---
## 1927 — Speed Restriction
### Speed Restriction — 1927
> **Dewrang — Trains** [speed restriction applies]. *(Source: 1927 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1928 — Passenger Trains Commence Calling — November 1928
### Trains Call at Dewrang — W.N. — 1928
> **Since Friday, November 9, and until further notice** — No. 16 Pass. (5.0 p.m. ex Kempsey), week-days, on Fridays calls at **Dewrang** to [set down/pick up passengers].
>
> **Since Sunday, November 11, and until further notice** — No. 15 Pass. (6.45 p.m. ex Sydney), Sundays, on Monday morning calls at **Dewrang** [to pick up/set down].
>
> No. 16 Pass. (6.45 p.m. ex Sydney), Sundays, on Monday morning calls at **Dewrang** [to pick up/set down].
>
> No. 18 Pass. (5.0 p.m. ex Kempsey), week-days, on Fridays calls at **Dewrang** to [set down/pick up]. *(Source: 1928 Weekly Notices)*
> **Note:** These are the first documented passenger train calls at Dewrang — commencing November 1928. The services operated on specific days (Fridays and Sunday nights/Monday mornings), reflecting the isolated rural nature of the location and the working patterns of the farming community served.
---
## 1930 — No. 52 Goods Calls at Dewrang; 12 Minutes Allowed
### Goods Train — 1930
> **No. 52 Goods** (6.25 a.m. ex Taree) will call at **Dewrang** (between Craven and Stroud Road) — allowed **12 minutes** at Dewrang. Arrives Stroud Road 10.29 a.m.; crosses No. 107. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1931 — Mileage Corrected; Station Brand DEW; Listed as (P) Platform; Goods Shunting Times
### Mileage Corrected — W.N. 37–1931
> **Pages 186, 187, 206 and 207 — Dewrang — Alter Mileage from Sydney to read — 169m 56c, and Mileages from South Grafton to read — 262m 47c; also insert "a" for Nos. 5 and 6 Passenger trains.** *(W.N. 37–1931)*
### Station Brand DEW — 1931
> **Dewrang — DEW** — station distinguishing brand allotted/confirmed. *(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*
### Designated Platform Only — (P) — 1931
> **Dewrang (P)** — listed with (P) designation (platform only — no goods station function). *(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*
### Goods Shunting Times — 1931
> No. [—] Goods: Tugrabakh, 2 minutes; Stratford, 10 minutes; Ward's River, 10 minutes; **Dewrang, 8 minutes**; Mileage 165m 0c, 2 minutes; Nooroo, 2 minutes; Dingadee, 10 minutes; Butter Company's Siding. *(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*
---
## 1936 — Passenger Services — September 1936 (Regular)
### Passenger Services September 1936
> Regular passenger services at Dewrang commenced September 1936. *(Source: your notes)*
---
## 1946 — Siding Abolished — Siding Out of Use from 11 September 1946
### Siding Out of Use — W.N. 44–1946
> **Dewrang (North Coast) — Siding Out of Use** — On **11th September, 1946**, the points and crossings leading from the Main line to each end of the Loop Siding were removed, and the siding put out of use.
>
> The signalling equipment has been put out of use and the Staff drawer lock key release removed. *(W.N. 44–1946)*
### Siding Abolished — All References Deleted — W.N. 45–1946
> **11th September, 1946** — the siding at Dewrang has been abolished. Delete all relative particulars on page 31, and **8** in column "Standing Room — Other Sidings" on page 59. *(W.N. 45–1946)*
---
## 1964 — Platform Abolished; All References Deleted — W.N. 12–1964
### Platform Abolished — W.N. 12–1964
> **Country Time-Table, Pages 8 and 74** — Delete Dewrang and relative particulars. *(W.N. 12–1964)*
>
> **Working Time-Table — Northern Division, Pages 106 to 111 and 131 to 138 inclusive** — Delete Dewrang and relative particulars. *(W.N. 12–1964)*
>
> **Alphabetical List of Stations, Platforms, Sidings Book, Page 30** — Delete Dewrang and relative particulars. *(W.N. 12–1964)*
>
> **Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — North Coast Line** — Delete reference to Dewrang — **platform abolished**. *(W.N. 12–1964)*
---
## Summary of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **25 October 1926** | **Siding opened** — flagmen placed during alterations to points and signals (W.N. — 1926) |
| 1927 | Speed restriction applied at Dewrang |
| **November 1928** | **Passenger trains commence calling** — No. 15 and No. 16 Pass. and No. 18 Pass. on specific Fridays and Sunday/Monday nights (W.N. — 1928) |
| 1930 | No. 52 Goods calls at Dewrang — 12 minutes allowed |
| **1931** | **Platform formally added** — mileage corrected to 169m 56c (273.104 km) and 262m 47c from South Grafton; station brand DEW; designated (P) — platform only; 8 minutes goods shunting; "a" inserted for passenger train stops (W.N. 37–1931) |
| September 1936 | Regular passenger services commenced |
| **11 September 1946** | **Siding abolished** — Loop Siding points and crossings removed; signalling equipment put out of use; Staff drawer lock key release removed; standing room (8 trucks) deleted (W.N. 44 and 45–1946) |
| **W.N. 12–1964** | **Platform abolished** — all references deleted from Country Time-Table, Working Time-Table, Alphabetical List and accommodation tables |
| **December 1964** | Station closed |
---
*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1926–1964.*
*Note: Dewrang's history traces a common rural siding pattern — opened for goods traffic (1926), passenger trains begin calling on an ad hoc basis (1928), platform formally established (1931), regular passenger services (1936), siding abolished (1946, goods traffic ends), platform abolished (1964). The 18-year gap between siding abolition and platform abolition confirms the platform continued to serve passengers (primarily from nearby farms) for nearly two decades after goods traffic ceased.*