Wauchope Forestry Sidings

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Type : Siding
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 454.174km
Location : -31.463758, 152.735609
Opened : 13th May 1947
Closed : After 1965, no formal closure notice
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After the owner of the siding (Forestry Commission)
Notes : Three sidings that serviced the mill at the location, siding 1 (714') ran along the Down side of the main line, sidings 2 & 3 (986') curved into the mill on the Down side of the line. Wauchope Forestry Sidings (distinct from the Forestry Commission siding within Wauchope station yard) opened **13 May 1947** on the Down side of the line between Kerewong and Wauchope, closer to Wauchope station. Three sidings served the mill: No. 1 (714 feet) running along the Main line on the Down side with Frame G at its Grafton end; and Nos. 2 and 3 (986 feet total) curving into the mill, with two gates in the boundary fence at the entrance that must be secured for passage and closed on completion.
>
> An Intermediate ETS Instrument for the section Wauchope–Kerewong was provided in a staff hut on the Up side of the line adjacent to Frame H at the Sydney end of the sidings. Working under Regulation 73 (Electric Tablet and Electric Staff Systems — Working Siding or Junction Equipped with Intermediate Staff Instrument), General Appendix, Part II. Direct telephone Wauchope Signal-box to Intermediate Staff hut; Pilotman's Key at Wauchope Signal-box for Frame H during Pilot Working.
>
> The 1965 working instructions (W.N. — 1965) specify: not more than six 4-wheeled vehicles may be hauled from Wauchope to the Grafton end of No. 1 Siding (Frame G) without a brake-van, providing the driver holds the Wauchope–Kerewong ETS. Not more than six vehicles may be propelled from Frame G back to Wauchope, same condition. Westinghouse air brake to be complete throughout the train; Guard or Shunter to test continuity by opening tap on trailing vehicle (Up journey) or leading vehicle (Down journey) before each shunting trip. Guard or Shunter permitted to ride on the engine. Formation remains faintly visible on aerial maps though area has been partially redeveloped. Two gates will be provided in the boundary fence at the entrance to Nos. 2 and 3 Sidings, and when proceeding to or from Nos. 2 & 3 Sidings, the Guard or Shunter must secure the gates in the open position for the safe passage of the train, and when the work has been completed the gates must be closed and secured. *(Source: 1947 Weekly Notices)* ### Working Instructions Inserted — W.N. — 1965
> **Page 303 — Wauchope Forestry Sidings — Insert: Working of Sidings from Wauchope:**
>
> Not more than equal to **six (6) four-wheeled vehicles** may be hauled from Wauchope to the Grafton end of No. 1 Siding, **"G" Frame**, Forestry Sidings without a brake-van, providing the driver is in possession of the Electric Train Staff for the section **Wauchope–Kerewong**.
>
> Not more than equal to **six (6) four-wheeled vehicles** may be propelled from the Grafton end of No. 1 Siding "G" Frame to Wauchope, providing the driver is in possession of the Electric Train Staff for the section **Wauchope–Kerewong**.
>
> Whilst propelling, the provisions of Rule 28.2 (j) must be strictly observed by all concerned.
>
> The **Westinghouse air brake** must be complete throughout the train and controlled from the engine and the Guard or Shunter must test the continuity thereof by opening the tap on the **trailing vehicle** on the Up journey and the **leading vehicle** on the Down journey in accordance with the Regulations prior to commencement of the shunting trip from Wauchope and from No. 1 Forestry Siding on the return journey.

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Location of the one-time sidings (Six Maps)

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# Wauchope Forestry Sidings (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1947–1965

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**Type:** Private Siding — Forestry Commission (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Wauchope–Kerewong section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 454.174 km (281 miles from Darling Harbour — per 1947 rates book entry) 
**Location:** -31.463758, 152.735609 
**Between:** Wauchope and Kerewong (Sydney side of Wauchope station — not in Wauchope yard) 
**Opened:** **13 May 1947** (per your notes; formal WN notice references confirm 1947) 
**Closed:** Unknown 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after the Forestry Commission of NSW, which owned and operated the mill 
**Side:** Down side of Main line 
**Siding layout:**
- **No. 1 Siding** — 714 feet, along the Down side of the Main line; Frame G at Grafton (Sydney) end
- **Nos. 2 and 3 Sidings** — 986 feet total; curving into the mill on the Down side; two gates in boundary fence at entrance
**Frame:** Frame H at Sydney end (for Intermediate ETS Instrument); Frame G (No. 1 Siding, Grafton end) 
**Intermediate ETS Instrument:** In staff hut on **Up side** of line adjacent to Frame H at Sydney end of sidings; section **Wauchope–Kerewong**; controlling station Wauchope Signal-box 
**Telephone:** Direct telephone between Wauchope Signal-box and Intermediate Staff hut 
**Pilotman's Key:** In Wauchope Signal-box for operating Frame H during Pilot Working 
**Power's Freight Code:** 2954 
**ETS section:** Wauchope–Kerewong 

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> **Notes:** Wauchope Forestry Sidings (distinct from the Forestry Commission siding within Wauchope station yard) opened **13 May 1947** on the Down side of the line between Kerewong and Wauchope, closer to Wauchope station. Three sidings served the mill: No. 1 (714 feet) running along the Main line on the Down side with Frame G at its Grafton end; and Nos. 2 and 3 (986 feet total) curving into the mill, with two gates in the boundary fence at the entrance that must be secured for passage and closed on completion.
>
> An Intermediate ETS Instrument for the section Wauchope–Kerewong was provided in a staff hut on the Up side of the line adjacent to Frame H at the Sydney end of the sidings. Working under Regulation 73 (Electric Tablet and Electric Staff Systems — Working Siding or Junction Equipped with Intermediate Staff Instrument), General Appendix, Part II. Direct telephone Wauchope Signal-box to Intermediate Staff hut; Pilotman's Key at Wauchope Signal-box for Frame H during Pilot Working.
>
> The 1965 working instructions (W.N. — 1965) specify: not more than six 4-wheeled vehicles may be hauled from Wauchope to the Grafton end of No. 1 Siding (Frame G) without a brake-van, providing the driver holds the Wauchope–Kerewong ETS. Not more than six vehicles may be propelled from Frame G back to Wauchope, same condition. Westinghouse air brake to be complete throughout the train; Guard or Shunter to test continuity by opening tap on trailing vehicle (Up journey) or leading vehicle (Down journey) before each shunting trip. Guard or Shunter permitted to ride on the engine. Formation remains faintly visible on aerial maps though area has been partially redeveloped.

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## 1947 — Opened; Intermediate ETS Instrument; Frames G and H; Pilotman's Key; Gates; Power's Code 2954

### Intermediate ETS Instrument Provided — W.N. — 1947
> **Wauchope Forestry Sidings (North Coast) — Provision of Intermediate Staff Instrument** — An Intermediate Staff Instrument for the section **Wauchope–Kerewong** will be provided in a Staff hut, situated on the **Up side** of the line, adjacent to **Frame H** at the **Sydney end** of "Wauchope Forestry Sidings."
>
> The method of working will be as prescribed in **Regulation 73** (Electric Tablet and Electric Staff Systems — Working Siding or Junction Equipped with Intermediate Staff Instrument) in the General Appendix, Part II.
>
> **Telephone** — Direct telephone communication will be provided between **Wauchope Signal-box** and the Intermediate Staff hut.
>
> **Pilotman's Key** — A Pilotman's key will be provided in **Wauchope Signal-box** for the purpose of operating **Frame H** during Pilot Working.
>
> **Gates** — Two gates will be provided in the boundary fence at the entrance to Nos. 2 and 3 Sidings, and when proceeding to or from Nos. 2 & 3 Sidings, the Guard or Shunter must secure the gates in the open position for the safe passage of the train, and when the work has been completed the gates must be closed and secured. *(Source: 1947 Weekly Notices)*

### Rates Book Entry — W.N. — 1947
> **Wauchope Forestry Sidings** — Insert: 281 miles from Darling Harbour. (B. 2–47–34556.) *(Source: 1947 Weekly Notices)*

### Power's Freight Code — W.N. — 1947
> **Wauchope Forestry Sidings** — Power's Freight Accounting code: **2954**. *(Source: 1947 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1965 — Working Instructions — 6 Vehicles Maximum; Westinghouse Brake; Frame G; ETS Wauchope–Kerewong

### Working Instructions Inserted — W.N. — 1965
> **Page 303 — Wauchope Forestry Sidings — Insert: Working of Sidings from Wauchope:**
>
> Not more than equal to **six (6) four-wheeled vehicles** may be hauled from Wauchope to the Grafton end of No. 1 Siding, **"G" Frame**, Forestry Sidings without a brake-van, providing the driver is in possession of the Electric Train Staff for the section **Wauchope–Kerewong**.
>
> Not more than equal to **six (6) four-wheeled vehicles** may be propelled from the Grafton end of No. 1 Siding "G" Frame to Wauchope, providing the driver is in possession of the Electric Train Staff for the section **Wauchope–Kerewong**.
>
> Whilst propelling, the provisions of Rule 28.2 (j) must be strictly observed by all concerned.
>
> The **Westinghouse air brake** must be complete throughout the train and controlled from the engine and the Guard or Shunter must test the continuity thereof by opening the tap on the **trailing vehicle** on the Up journey and the **leading vehicle** on the Down journey in accordance with the Regulations prior to commencement of the shunting trip from Wauchope and from No. 1 Forestry Siding on the return journey.
>
> The Guard or Shunter is permitted to ride on the engine and must keep a sharp lookout throughout the journey. *(Source: 1965 Weekly Notices)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **13 May 1947** | **Sidings opened** — No. 1 (714 feet, Down side Main line, Frame G at Grafton end); Nos. 2 and 3 (986 feet, curving into mill, Down side; two gates in boundary fence); Intermediate ETS Instrument (Wauchope–Kerewong) in staff hut Up side adjacent to Frame H at Sydney end; direct telephone Wauchope Signal-box to staff hut; Pilotman's Key at Wauchope Signal-box for Frame H; Power's code 2954; 281 miles from Darling Harbour |
| W.N. — 1965 | **Working instructions inserted** — 6 vehicles max (hauled or propelled) without brake-van; Wauchope–Kerewong ETS required; Westinghouse air brake throughout; Guard/Shunter to test continuity before each trip; Guard/Shunter may ride on engine |
| Unknown | **Sidings closed** — formation faintly visible on aerial maps; area partially redeveloped |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1947–1965.* 
*Note: The Wauchope Forestry Sidings' Intermediate ETS Instrument arrangement — with the staff hut on the opposite side of the line (Up side) from the sidings (Down side) — placed the safeworking control point between the main line and the sidings, requiring the driver to engage the intermediate instrument before the train entered the siding area. The 1965 insertion of the 6-vehicle limit and Westinghouse air brake requirement reflects the ongoing formalisation of working instructions for private sidings that had been operating informally since 1947.*