Taree

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 378.600km
Opened : 4 February 1913
Closed : n/a
Status : In use
Name meaning : Aboriginal word for "wild fig"
Notes : The Down side platform is 182 metres in length. In 1929 the existing brick station replaced the earlier timber station building and it has been modified over time. The original timber platform was 152 metres in length. 1913 Rest houses and sheep race constructed. 1914 5 tonne yard crane added and yards lit by kerosene lamps. 15.4.1917 weighbridge installed. 28.2.1922 Pillar water tank installed, water drawn from town supply. 4.4.1925 platform extended by 60.9 metres. 1927 50 tonne cart weighbridge installed. 6.11.1929 - Railway Refreshment Room opened. 1934 trucking yards relocated. 1943 yards enlarged and Down siding laid in. 5/6/1945 North and South signal boxes opened. 1963 54kl diesel tank installed. April 1970 roundhouse demolished with the cessation of steam on the line. Taree opened 4 February 1913 as the terminus of the Dungog–Taree extension. Day and Night Officers in charge. State Lime Works Siding at opening (between Kolodong and Taree — siding only, passengers not permitted). Guard's keys for State Lime Works Frame A kept at Wingham and Taree. Rest houses and sheep race constructed 1913. 5-tonne yard crane added 1914; yards lit by kerosene lamps. Weighbridge Siding provided **15 April 1917** (between Loop line and Goods Siding, connected at Sydney end near Goods Siding–Loop connection; catch-points from Ground Frame E in Loop line; Frame B worked weighbridge). Wharf Siding between Taree and Melinga opened **9 March 1917** (Up side, Mileage 136.49, for ballast train working, Taree–Shopernook ETS key). 28 February 1922 pillar water tank (town supply) installed. 4 April 1925 platform extended 60.9 metres. 1927 50-tonne cart weighbridge installed. 6 November 1929 Railway Refreshment Room opened; Taree Timber Siding (portion of Manning River Siding granted to Taree Timber and Trading Company from 13 July 1918). 1934 trucking yards relocated. 1943 yards enlarged and Down siding laid in. Peters' Siding opened from Manning River Siding 18 September 1939 (570 feet, Taree Central Creameries Pty. Ltd.); extended 316 feet 13 February 1945 (Circular No. 229 of 1926 amended). On **5 June 1945** Taree Station Signal-box and Taree Loco. Junction Signal-box were dispensed with and two new signal-boxes opened: **Taree South** (Down side, opposite Main–Loop points at Sydney end of Loop) and **Taree North** (Down side, Grafton side of Macquarie Street Level Crossing). Sections: Wingham–Taree South (ETS Type A; 1–8 key, 9–50 ordinary); Taree South–Taree North (Yard working); Taree North–Melinga (ETS Type B; 1–4 key, 5–50 ordinary). Boom gates at Macquarie Street operated mechanically from Taree North Signal-box (gate wheels A and B; No. 30 lever releases gate wheels; wicket gates controlled by Nos. 30 and 31 levers). Highway warning signals (flashing red) each side. Circular No. 142–15 of 1945 issued. Published W.N. 22–1945, republished W.N. 23–1945, and full arrangements W.N. 46–1945. Taree South was one of three locations on the North Coast (with West Maitland North and Dungog) where exchanger rings were used instead of standard automatic staff exchangers — staff delivered by hand; 4 rings at Taree South vs 6 at other stations. Taree South catchpoint position altered **18 March 1963** — No. 46 catchpoint in Main–Down Sidings connection replaced by full set of points 13 feet nearer sidings; No. 67 Down Sidings to Main signal relocated 6 feet nearer sidings; Circular No. 142–15 of 1945 amended (W.N. 13–1963). 54 kl diesel tank installed 1963. Roundhouse demolished April 1970 (end of steam). Crane (5-tonne) and weighbridge deleted W.N. 50–1978. **State Lime Works Siding** — a dead-end Siding laid in on the **Down side** of the Main Line with points facing on the Up journey (1913). On **Monday, 19th March, 1917**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., a new Weighbridge Siding, laid in between the Loop Line and the Goods Siding, will be brought into use.

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Taree south box and associated signalling viewed oh so long ago, 20 January 1985.  At the time I took this image, I recall that there was a strike in place which gave me opportunity to walk around the yard and photograph.  Old style semaphores are still in place, but the new CTC signalling is making a presence (just visible between the breakdown crane and South box).  A considerable number of bogies also seem present in the breakdown road.  The sand tower for Taree loco depot can be seen beyond the breakdown crane.


(Chris Harrison)

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Old fashioned method of "hot box" detection - January 1980, Taree (Rail Rambler)

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The last ever stagecoach from the south, unloading mail in front of Taree Post Office on the 3rd of February, 1913. The next day, Taree's mail would arrive by rail on the first train ever to arrive in Taree.

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A very sweet day in Taree Loco with candy at the forefront on December 22, 1986. Present that morning from the left are 731/631, 44205, 44240+4441, 4472+8025, and 4428. (Chris Harrison)

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48109+4527 heading south from Taree, October 18, 1986. (Chris Harrison)

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First train to Taree in 1913

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Taree roundhouse

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Taree Refreshment Rooms, 1947

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5130 leads a goods train into Taree - undated photo (SRA)

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Taree roundhouse (undated) (SRA)

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Taree Locomotive Depot (undated) (SRA)

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OPENING DAY TAREE. 4.2.13 No. 40. G Kelly Photo. 4th February 1913

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Parade, Victoria Street, Taree, 4/02/1913 for the opening of the railway (Midcoast Library

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Taree, 1987 (Graeme Skeet)