Stratford

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 294.521km
Location : -32.118889, 151.937485
Opened : 5 February 1913
Closed : 9 September 1978
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After an area near London, UK
Notes : The Up side platform was 76.2 metres long with a store, general and ladies waiting rooms. By 1961 the platform had been reduced to 15.2 metres. A 5 ton yard crane was provided and prior to 1919 a private tramway had been built to the station (likely for timber). A ganger;s residence is noted in 1955 and a trolley sed in 1965. A small platform existed until the mid 1990s that was used once a year for Boy Scout Jamborees. Special train notices are needed to verify dates. 1978 — Station Closed — 9 September 1978; W.N. 36–1978. Convenient Station — Stratford → Craven (4 km) — W.N. 36–1978. Convenient Station amended to Gloucester — W.N. 28–1982.

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NR72 waits at Stratford for NT25 to pass 7/6/97 (uncredited)

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3237 bounding through Stratford on Saturday morning, 2nd August 1969 (George Stevens)

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Vintage train to Gloucester at Stratford, 9/2/1963 (50th anniversary special) (State Archives)

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Robert Selman:

When I first started university in 1995, and was catching the North Coast XPT quite often, I remember that besides the regular platforms I would see along the way, that Stratford had a little temporary platform, complete with nameboard. I was later told that once a year, a huge group of Boy Scouts would disembark there, for some camping activity. By the time I stopped getting the North Coast XPT regularly, in 1999, that temporary platform was gone

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A view from NT-36, on 26-7-2005, the Sydney bound XPT from Grafton, at km. 295.060, between Berrico and Craven (near former station of Stratford) Flowers can be seen on the fence rails at the level crossing, placed there by a mother in memory of her young son, killed at the crossing some ten years earlier. (Graeme Kirkby)

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6369 with 44233 & 4528 has plenty of mt sleeper wagons up front for Boradze Taree.
Stratford circa early 90's. (Greg Riddel)

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# Stratford (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1982

---

**Type:** Station (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Craven–Berrico section; with Craven–Stratford and Stratford–Berrico speed sections referenced 1961) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 294.521 km (184m approximately; 183m 29c per 1940 timetable) 
**Location:** -32.119135, 151.937499 
**Between:** Craven and Berrico 
**Opened:** 5 February 1913 (Dungog–Taree line opening) 
**Closed:** **9 September 1978** (W.N. 36–1978) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** After an area near London, UK (Stratford-upon-Avon, or Stratford in East London) 
**Station Brand:** STF (allotted 1913) 
**Platform (original):** 76.2-metre Up side; store, general and ladies waiting rooms 
**Platform (later):** Reduced to 15.2 metres (50 feet) by 1961 
**Goods facilities:** 5-tonne yard crane; goods siding 
**Private tramway:** Built to the station prior to 1919 — likely for timber 
**ETS section:** Craven–Berrico (Stratford an intermediate siding/stop within this section) 
**Frames:** A (on platform — Guard's lock No. 4 lever, 1913); B and C (Goods Siding, Taree and Dungog ends, unlocked by No. 5 Frame A). Staff drawer locks replaced by Drawer Lock Key Releases A and B on 28–29 October 1946 (W.N. 45–1946), released by Craven–Berrico ETS. 
**Goods shunting:** 15–20 minutes (1913 and 1924) 
**Convenient railway station after closure:** Craven (1978 W.N. 36); changed to Gloucester (1982 W.N. 28) 

---

> **Notes:** Stratford opened on 5 February 1913 as one of the original intermediate stations on the Dungog–Taree line. Frame "A" was situated on the platform (unlike Craven where it was opposite the Goods Siding, as Stratford had a platform from opening). A 5-tonne yard crane was provided. Prior to 1919 a private tramway had been built to the station, likely for timber cartage. 15 minutes goods shunting allowed (1913); 20 minutes (1924). Station brand STF.
>
> On 28–29 October 1946 Staff drawer locks attached to Frames A and B were removed and replaced by **drawer lock key releases**, released by the Electric Train Staff for section Craven–Berrico (W.N. 45–1946) — the same two-day sequential approach as at Ward's River (1942).
>
> Closed on **9 September 1978** (W.N. 36–1978) — Stratford (P) deleted from Stations and Platforms; horses and vehicles loading removed; town of Stratford redirected to Craven (4 km) as convenient station. All rate book references deleted. In 1982 (W.N. 28–1982) the convenient station for Stratford was amended from Craven to Gloucester.
>
> Until around the mid-1990s a temporary platform with nameboard still existed at Stratford, used irregularly — approximately once per year — by a large group of Boy Scouts camping nearby. Historical records indicate a Jamboree had been held at this location from the mid-1950s.

---

## 1913 — Opened; Station Brand STF; Frame A on Platform; 15 Minutes Goods Shunting

### Station Brand — STF — 1913
> **Stratford — STF** — station distinguishing brand allotted on opening of Dungog–Taree line. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Frame A on Platform — 1913
> Frame "A" situated on the **Platform at Stratford**, Bundook, Somerset, Charity Creek, Karaak Flat and Killawarra. Frame "A" secured by Guard's lock on No. 4 Lever. Frames "B" and "C" for Goods Siding (Dungog and Taree ends), unlocked by No. 5 Lever in Frame "A." *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Goods Shunting Times — 1913
> - No. [—] Goods: Nooroo, 5; Ward's River, 10; Craven, 5; **Stratford, 15**; Bulliac, 10; Bundook, 10; Somerset, 15
> - No. 44 Stock: **10 minutes at Stratford**

*(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1919 — Private Tramway Prior to 1919

### Private Tramway
> A private tramway had been built to the station **prior to 1919**, likely for timber cartage. *(Source: your notes)*

> **Note:** No formal WN entry found for the tramway — it was private infrastructure not gazetted in the Weekly Notices system. Its pre-1919 date suggests it served timber operations in the area during the early years of the line.

---

## 1924 — Goods Shunting Times; Listed as Unattended

### Goods Shunting Times — 1924
> - No. 142 Goods: **Stratford, 15 minutes**; Ward's River, 18; Nooroo, 15
> - No. [—] Goods: **Stratford, 20 minutes**; Ward's River, 19; Nooroo, 15; Dingadee, 30
> - **Stratford\*** — listed with asterisk (unattended) in station sequence

*(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1940 — Distance Reference — 183m 29c

### Distance Reference — 1940
> **Stratford — 183 miles 29 chains** — listed in timetable section distance table. *(Source: 1940 Working Timetable)*

---

## 1946 — Staff Drawer Locks Replaced by Key Releases — 28–29 October 1946

### Drawer Lock Key Releases — W.N. 45–1946
> **Stratford (North Coast) — Alteration to Releasing of Ground Frames** — On **Monday, 28th, and Tuesday, 29th October, 1946**, the Staff drawer locks attached to Frames A and B were removed and replaced by **drawer lock key releases**.
>
> **Signalling Arrangements:**
>
> Frame A and B — No. 1 lever in Frames A and B is unlocked by key from the **Drawer Lock Key Release A and B**, respectively.
>
> **Drawer Lock Key Release A and B are released by Electric Train Staff for the section Craven–Berrico.** *(W.N. 45–1946)*

> **Note:** As at Ward's River (August 1942), the Stratford work was spread over two consecutive days — Frame A on Monday 28 October and Frame B on Tuesday 29 October. This two-day approach appears to have been standard for simultaneously maintaining safe operation while progressively upgrading the frame arrangements at intermediate sidings.

---

## 1955 — Listed as Unattended; Ganger's Toolhouse Referenced

### Ganger's Tool-house at Stratford — 1955
> **STRATFORD** — [listed in accommodation/attendance tables]. Group B (£1 and Certificate) — Stratford, Gangers' Tool-house. *(Source: 1955 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1961 — Platform Reduced; Speed Sections Referenced

### Speed Sections — 1961
> **Craven–Stratford**: Down 40 mph, Up 50 mph 
> **Stratford–Berrico**: Down 76 mph, Up 09 (limit figure). *(Source: 1961 Weekly Notices — speed tables)*

> **Note:** The platform had been reduced to 15.2 metres (50 feet) by 1961 per your notes. The 1961 speed tables confirm Stratford remained a reference point for speed limits even as the station itself was being downgraded.

---

## 1965 — Trolley Shed at Stratford

### Trolley Shed Referenced — 1965
> Group B — Stratford **Trolley Shed** (Ganger Bagnall). *(Source: 1965 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1978 — Station Closed — 9 September 1978; W.N. 36–1978

### Station Closed — W.N. 36–1978
> **Page 173 — Stations and Platforms — Maitland–Queensland Border via Kyogle:**
>
> **Stratford (P) — delete.** *(W.N. 36–1978)*

### Horses and Vehicles Loading — Deleted — W.N. 36–1978
> **Page 186 — Stations at which Horses and Vehicles may be Loaded and Unloaded:**
>
> **\*Stratford (b) — delete.** *(W.N. 36–1978)*

### Convenient Station — Stratford → Craven (4 km) — W.N. 36–1978
> **Page 203 — Towns in NSW with Names of Convenient Railway Stations:**
>
> Insert: **Stratford — 4 km — Craven.** *(W.N. 36–1978)*

### Rate Book References Deleted — W.N. 36–1978
> **Merchandise and Livestock Rates Book** — Delete: Stratford and relevant particulars (multiple pages). *(W.N. 36–1978)*

> **Note:** The insertion of "Stratford — 4 km — Craven" confirms the town of Stratford itself did not close — only the railway station — and that residents were now directed to use Craven (4 km away) as their railway station.

---

## 1980 — All References Deleted

### All References Deleted — W.N. — 1980
> **Stratford (N)** — Delete all reference. *(W.N. — 1980)*
>
> **Maitland–Queensland Border via Kyogle Line** — Delete Stratford and [relevant particulars]. *(W.N. — 1980)*

---

## 1982 — Convenient Station Changed from Craven to Gloucester

### Convenient Station Amended — W.N. 28–1982
> **Page 100 — Stratford–Craven:**
>
> Delete: **Craven** — Insert: **Gloucester.** *(W.N. 28–1982)*
>
> **Clause 223 — Stratford:**
>
> Delete: **Craven** — Insert: **Gloucester.** *(W.N. 28–1982)*

> **Note:** Four years after closure (1978 → 1982) the convenient station reference for Stratford was changed from Craven (4 km) to Gloucester — reflecting either a change in traffic patterns or the administrative simplification of directing traffic to the nearest major station (Gloucester) rather than the nearest station (Craven).

---

## Scout Jamboree — Post-Closure Use

### Temporary Platform — Boy Scout Jamboree — Mid-1990s
> Until around the mid-1990s, a temporary platform (complete with nameboard) still existed at Stratford and was used irregularly — approximately once per year — by a large group of Boy Scouts camping nearby. Historical records indicate a Jamboree had been held at this location from the mid-1950s. *(Source: your notes — not in Weekly Notices collection)*

> **Note:** The continued use of a temporary platform at Stratford until the mid-1990s — more than 15 years after formal closure in 1978 — is a remarkable example of post-closure operational persistence. The Boy Scout Jamboree usage would have required a special train arrangement with the SRA/RailCorp. No formal WN entries for this post-closure use have been found.

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **5 February 1913** | **Opened** — Up side platform (76.2m); store, general and ladies waiting rooms; station brand STF; Frame A on platform (No. 4 lever, Guard's lock); Frames B and C (Goods Siding, Dungog and Taree ends, unlocked by No. 5 Frame A); 15 minutes goods shunting; 5-tonne yard crane |
| Pre-1919 | **Private tramway** built to station — likely for timber |
| 1924 | 15–20 minutes goods shunting; listed as unattended (\*) |
| **28–29 October 1946** | **Staff drawer locks replaced by Drawer Lock Key Releases A and B** — released by Craven–Berrico ETS; two-day sequential work (W.N. 45–1946) |
| By 1961 | Platform reduced to **15.2 metres** (50 feet) |
| 1961 | Speed sections: Craven–Stratford Down 40/Up 50 mph; Stratford–Berrico Down 76 mph |
| Mid-1950s onwards | Boy Scout Jamboree held annually near Stratford |
| **9 September 1978** | **Station closed** — Stratford (P) deleted; horses/vehicles loading deleted; town of Stratford directed to Craven (4 km) as convenient station; rate book references deleted (W.N. 36–1978) |
| W.N. — 1980 | All references deleted |
| W.N. 28–1982 | Convenient station changed from **Craven** to **Gloucester** |
| Until mid-1990s | Temporary platform with nameboard at Stratford — used approximately annually by Boy Scout Jamboree groups |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1982.* 
*Note: The 1946 replacement of Staff drawer locks by Drawer Lock Key Releases at Stratford (28–29 October) used the same two-day sequential approach as Ward's River (August 1942), suggesting a standard operational procedure for upgrading frame arrangements at intermediate sidings while maintaining safe operation throughout the work.*

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Ex ganger's residence at Stratford (2023)