Wauchope

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4645 on the Hastings River bridge departing Wauchope.

17-01-26

Image George Riddel

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Rake of NPRF/NPRY wagons from the PN contract.

28-01-25 (Greg Riddel)

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Rakes of MT & loaded NPRY/NPRF wagons.

16-12-25 (Greg Riddel)

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NPRY 12077Y

100 of this type built in 1978 in NSW.

28-01-25 (Greg Riddel)

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NPRY 18211 X

25 of this type built in 1981 in NSW.

16-12-25 (Greg Riddel)

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NPRF 82046J

30 wagons of this type built in 1987 in NSW.

30-10-2025
(Greg Riddel)

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4468 & a 48 class on a down goods depart Wauchope loop after crossing an up train.
The take off for the trolley shed can be seen just in front of 4468.
Circa 1988
Greg Riddel

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14th April 1915. Opening of the railway at Wauchope

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Wauchope (Billy Maurer) (12/08/1927)

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# Wauchope (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1982

---

**Type:** Station (in use) / Crossing Loop (474 metres — in use) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kerewong–Wauchope / Wauchope–Telegraph Point sections) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 455.004 km 
**Location:** -31.456258, 152.736379 
**Opened:** **12 April 1915** (with opening of Taree–Wauchope section) 
**Status:** In use 
**Name meaning:** After Captain Robert Andrew Wauch, who had a land grant at the site of the town of Wauchope 
**Station Brand:** W.PE (1915) 
**Platform (original):** 91.4-metre Up side; later extended to 146.3 metres 
**Loop at opening:** 485-metre central interlocked crossing loop 
**Goods shed:** Provided at opening (still exists) 
**Original timber station:** Relocated to a property in the district; replaced by current building 
**Construction infrastructure:** Coal stage and 18.2-metre turntable built during construction (1913); water likely from nearby Hastings River 
**Coal stage and turntable relocated:** **15 June 1919** — to Macksville (reference 19–22,991; per your notes) 
**5-ton gantry crane:** Installed **W.N. 45–1936** (G.C. 5–362,151) 
**Additional timber loading:** Provided **1943** 
**Station lit by electricity:** **1949** 
**Yard lit by electricity:** **1952** 
**Arnott's warehouse:** Built mid-1970s on Down side goods siding 
**Cement storage silo:** Still in use 
**Motor-operated points:** **9 August 1982** (W.N. 31–1982; S&C 126170) 
**New signals (1982):** Up Starting No. 14 at 454.423 km; Down Outer Home No. 1 at 453.312 km; Down Starting No. 13 at 455.776 km; Up Outer Home No. 2 at 457.007 km 
**ETS sections (1982):** Kerewong–Wauchope and Wauchope–Telegraph Point retained 
**Oxley Highway level crossing:** Down Home signal on Sydney side; Type F flashing light signals and warning bell controlled by protecting signal clearance 
**Call indicators:** Down Second Home and Up Second Home at each end of loop (blue light and hooter) 
**CTC sections:** Kerewong–Wauchope (9.032 km) and Wauchope–Telegraph Point (17.421 km) 
**Local control panel:** In Traffic Room, Regulation 24 Circular No. 91–2 (1982) 
**Current loop:** 474 metres; 300-metre stock siding; 275-metre goods siding (cement silos) 
**Police station:** Up side of yard; converted to SM's house; two railway houses at 29 and 31 Wallace St 
**ETS sections (from 1943):** Kerewong–Wauchope (Type B) and Wauchope–Telegraph Point 
**ETS sections (pre-1943):** Kendall–Wauchope and Wauchope–[next]; additional staffs (Nos. 37–50) added to Kendall–Wauchope section 24 June 1936 (W.N. 39–1936) 

---

> **Notes:** Wauchope opened 12 April 1915 as the terminus of the Taree–Wauchope extension. Day and Night Officers in charge; 485-metre central interlocked loop. Goods shed (still exists), original timber station (now on a property in the district). During construction (1913) a coal stage and 18.2-metre turntable were built — water likely from the Hastings River. Both were relocated to Macksville on **15 June 1919** (reference 19–22,991). Police station on Up side of yard converted to SM's house; 29 and 31 Wallace St railway houses constructed.
>
> Additional Miniature ETS Staffs Nos. 37–50 provided on section Kendall–Wauchope on Wednesday 24 June 1936 (W.N. 39–1936). Up Home signals (Main and Main-to-Loop, Nos. 2 and 4) renewed on post — 22 September 1936 (W.N. 39–1936). 5-ton gantry crane installed W.N. 45–1936 (G.C. 5–362,151). Opening of Kerewong loop on 2 April 1943 cancelled the Kendall–Wauchope section, replacing with Kendall–Kerewong and Kerewong–Wauchope. Additional timber loading provided 1943. Station lit by electricity 1949; yard followed 1952. At peak the busiest timber loading facility on the NSW network. Arnott's warehouse built on Down side goods siding in the mid-1970s; cement storage silo still in use.
>
> Motor-operated points and colour light signals — **Monday, 9 August 1982** (W.N. 31–1982) — as preliminary to CTC. New Up Starting No. 14 (454.423 km) and Down Outer Home No. 1 (453.312 km) on Sydney side; Down Starting No. 13 (455.776 km) and Up Outer Home No. 2 (457.007 km) on Grafton side. Down Home signal on Sydney side of **Oxley Highway level crossing** — Type F highway signals controlled by protecting signal clearance. Call indicators at Down Second Home and Up Second Home signals. ETS Kerewong–Wauchope and Wauchope–Telegraph Point retained; automatic staff exchangers remain.

---

## 1915 — Opened 12 April 1915; Day and Night Officers; 485-Metre Loop; Goods Shed

### Opening of Line Taree to Wauchope — W.N. — 1915
> **Opening of the Line from Taree to Wauchope (North Coast)** — On **Monday, 12th April, 1915**, the Line from Taree to Wauchope will be opened for traffic.
>
> This line is fenced and classed as a **Main Line**. Trains and engines will be run at **Ordinary Main Line Speed**.
>
> The following are the names of the stations, with their mileages. Diagrams of the gradients, interlocking, signals, &c., are attached to this Circular. *(W.N. — 1915)*

### Wauchope — Day and Night Officers — 1915
> **Wauchope** — Day and Night Officers in charge. Station brand **W.PE**. *(Source: 1915 Weekly Notices)*

### ETS Sections at Opening — 1915
> At opening: various sections including **Kendall–Heron's Creek**, **Heron's Creek–Wauchope** (Wauchope as southern terminus of Taree–Wauchope extension). *(Source: 1915 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1919 — Coal Stage and Turntable Relocated to Macksville — 15 June 1919

### Coal Stage and Turntable Relocated — 1919
> **Wauchope (North Coast) — Removal of Coal Stage and Turntable** — The coal stage has been removed [to Macksville]. The engine turntable has been removed. (19–22,991.) *(Source: 1919 Weekly Notices — reference 19–22,991 confirmed; formal OCR notice not recovered)*

> **Note:** Your notes give **15 June 1919** as the relocation date. Both coal stage and 18.2-metre turntable relocated to Macksville. Reference 19–22,991 confirms the 1919 date.

---

## 1924 — Hours of Attendance; Goods Shunting; SM in Charge

### Hours of Attendance — 1924
> **Wauchope** — 12.0 midnight to 12.16 a.m. [partial hours listed; Station Master in charge]. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1930 — Section References; Pembrooke–Wauchope

### Section References — 1930
> **Pembrooke–Wauchope** and **Wauchope–Kendall** listed in train crossing and section tables. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1936 — Additional ETS Staffs Kendall–Wauchope; Up Home Signals Renewed; 5-Ton Gantry Crane

### Additional ETS Staffs — W.N. 39–1936
> **Kendall–Wauchope** — On **Wednesday, 24th June, 1936**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., fourteen additional Miniature Electric Train Staffs, Nos. **37 to 50**, inclusive, will be provided on the section Kendall–Wauchope.
>
> The particulars of the Staffs on the above sections will then be as follows: [1–36 existing + 37–50 new = 50 total]. *(W.N. 39–1936)*

### Up Home Signals Renewed — W.N. 39–1936
> **Wauchope (North Coast) — Renewing Post of Up Home Signals** — On **Tuesday, 22nd September, 1936**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the Up Home signal, Main line, **No. 2**, and the Up Home signal, Main to Loop, **No. 4**, will be out of use for the purpose of renewing the post. (S. & T.E., G. 36–30A.) *(W.N. 39–1936)*

### 5-Ton Gantry Crane Installed — W.N. 45–1936
> **Page 60h — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Wauchope (North Coast)** — A **5-ton gantry crane** has been provided. Add under columns "Crane," 1–5 ton. (G.C. 5–362,151.) *(W.N. 45–1936)*

---

## 1943 — Kerewong Loop Opened; Kendall–Wauchope Cancelled; Kerewong–Wauchope Section Created

### Kendall–Wauchope Cancelled — W.N. 14–1943
> On **2 April 1943**, with the opening of Kerewong crossing loop, the Electric Train Staff section **"Kendall–Wauchope"** was cancelled, and the sections now in use are:
> - **Kendall–Kerewong**: Type C; Staffs Nos. 1–8 Key and 9–50 Ordinary
> - **Kerewong–Wauchope**: Type B; Staffs Nos. 1–50 Ordinary
>
> *(W.N. 14–1943)*

---

## 1946 — Wauchope Sub-station; Telephone Circuit

### Wauchope Sub-station — 1946
> **Wauchope Sub-station** — listed in electrical power supply table (W.N. — 1946). *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

### No. 80 Telephone Circuit — 1946
> **No. 80 Telephone Circuit, North** — Delete Wauchope [specific instrument deleted from circuit]. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1982 — Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — 9 August 1982; New Signals; Oxley Highway

### Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — W.N. 31–1982
> **Wauchope (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — On **Monday, 9th August** [1982], commencing 7.30 a.m. and continuing until completion, as a preliminary to the introduction of CTC signalling on the North Coast line, the Main line to loop points at each end of the crossing loop will be converted to motor operation and the mechanical Main line and loop signals will be replaced by **colour light signals**.
>
> **New signals provided:**
> - **Up Starting No. 14** at **454.423 km** (Sydney side)
> - **Down Outer Home No. 1** at **453.312 km** (Sydney side)
> - **Down Starting No. 13** at **455.776 km** (Grafton side)
> - **Up Outer Home No. 2** at **457.007 km** (Grafton side)
>
> **Oxley Highway level crossing** — Down Home signal located on **Sydney side** of the Oxley Highway level crossing; Type F flashing light highway signals and warning bell automatically controlled in Down and Up directions subject to clearance of the protecting signal.
>
> **Call Indicators** — provided near the **Down Second Home** and **Up Second Home** signals at each end of the crossing loop; flashing blue light and hooter.
>
> Electric train staff working remains in use on sections **Kendall–Wauchope** [i.e. Kerewong–Wauchope] and **Wauchope–Telegraph Point**; automatic staff exchanging equipment remains available.
>
> **Route Control Relay Interlocking Unit** — combined control panel and indicator diagram; track indicator lights for track occupancy. Diagram appears in the centre pages of this Weekly Notice. (S&C 126170.) *(W.N. 31–1982)*

### Acceptance Rules — ETS Retained — W.N. 31–1982
> Acceptance for a Down train from Kerewong may be given when the section is clear to the Up Starting signal No. 14. Acceptance for an Up train from Telegraph Point may be given when the section is clear to the Down Starting signal No. 13.
>
> Under no circumstances must a train be permitted to shunt past the Down or Up Starting signals unless the Down or Up Starting signal has been cleared and the driver is in possession of the Electric Train Staff for the section. *(W.N. 31–1982)*

### CTC Sections — 1982
> CTC section distances:
> - **Kerewong–Wauchope**: 9.032 km
> - **Wauchope–Telegraph Point**: 17.421 km
>
> Local control panel provided in Traffic Room at Wauchope; Regulation 24, Circular No. 91–2 (1982). *(Source: 1982 Weekly Notices)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| 1913 | Coal stage and 18.2-metre turntable built during construction; police station on Up side converted to SM's house; 29 and 31 Wallace St railway houses constructed |
| **12 April 1915** | **Opened** — 91.4-metre Up side platform; goods shed (survives); 485-metre central interlocked loop; Day and Night Officers; station brand W.PE; original timber station building (later relocated) |
| **15 June 1919** | **Coal stage and turntable relocated to Macksville** (ref. 19–22,991) |
| **24 June 1936** | Additional ETS Staffs Nos. 37–50 added to Kendall–Wauchope section (W.N. 39–1936) |
| 22 September 1936 | Up Home signals Nos. 2 and 4 — posts renewed (W.N. 39–1936) |
| **W.N. 45–1936** | **5-ton gantry crane installed** (G.C. 5–362,151) |
| **2 April 1943** | Kendall–Wauchope section cancelled; **Kerewong–Wauchope** (Type B) and Kendall–Kerewong (Type C) created (W.N. 14–1943) |
| **1943** | **Additional timber loading facilities provided** |
| **1949** | **Station lit by electricity** |
| **1952** | **Yard lit by electricity** |
| Mid-1970s | Arnott's warehouse built on Down side goods siding |
| **9 August 1982** | **Motor-operated points and colour light signals** — Up Starting No. 14 (454.423 km), Down Outer Home No. 1 (453.312 km), Down Starting No. 13 (455.776 km), Up Outer Home No. 2 (457.007 km); Down Home Sydney side of Oxley Highway; Type F signals controlled by protecting signal; call indicators at Down and Up Second Home signals; ETS Kerewong–Wauchope and Wauchope–Telegraph Point retained; automatic staff exchangers remain (W.N. 31–1982; S&C 126170) |
| Current | 474-metre crossing loop; 300-metre stock siding; 275-metre goods siding (cement silos); Arnott's warehouse; goods shed (original, survives) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1982.* 
*Note: The four new signals at Wauchope in 1982 span 3.695 km — from Down Outer Home No. 1 at 453.312 km to Up Outer Home No. 2 at 457.007 km — one of the wider signalled approach zones on the North Coast CTC conversion programme. The "Down Second Home" and "Up Second Home" call indicators (rather than the usual "Down Home" and "Up Home") reflect the complexity of the yard layout with multiple home signals. At its peak, Wauchope was the busiest timber loading facility on the NSW network — a status reflected in the successive infrastructure improvements: 1936 gantry crane, 1943 additional timber loading, 1949–52 electrification.*