Lanitza

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 672.616km
Location : -29.881328, 153.000882
Opened : 12 October 1915
Closed : 6 July 1974
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After the place of the same name in Greece. So called by the surveyor (a Mr Wilson) who served in the Greek army during the Greek war of independence under General Woodford (hence Woodford Island in the same area)
Notes : 436 metre central iterlocked crossing loop. Up side platform was 76.2 metres in lenth and held an A4 station building, a J3 station officer's residence was constructed. Prior to 1935 the loop size was reduced and the relaid again on 4/7/1935. 9/4/1962 - goods siding and loop removed. There is no settlement within the vicinty of the station. Signal box provided when the line was opened from South Grafton to Glenreagh and may have been replaced in 1942, or January 1947 when the loop was extended. Earliest reference is in published plans in 1911.

Lanitza opened 12 October 1915 with the Glenreagh–South Grafton section; Circular No. 245 of 1915. The location appears on parish maps from at least 1911 predating the railway. By 1922 Lanitza had a Signal-box A, Frames B and C (Regulation G; No. 9C also released by Glenreagh–Lanitza Miniature ETS, Regulation B), Bolt Lock between Signal-box A and Frame C. Unattended working instructions issued — Guards and Firemen operate instruments and signals when no officer on duty.

New signals brought into use 4 July 1935 (Up and Down Outer and Inner Distants, Starting signals for Main and Loop; W.N. 27–1935; Circular No. 400–33 of 1935). Indicators on Main line Starting signals for unattended working 27 August 1935 (W.N. 35–1935; Circular No. 400–42 of 1935). Frame C alterations and Home signal relocations 16 July 1943 (W.N. 28–1943). Glenreagh–Lanitza section cancelled 11 October 1943 when Kungala loop opened; Kungala–Lanitza created. Down and Up Inner Distants removed 11 January 1945 (W.N. 2–1945). Safeworking Station Assistant, crossing loop (1433 feet) and other sidings (30) deleted W.N. 46–1965. Station closed 6 July 1974; all accommodation and grades table references deleted W.N. 29–1974.

[admin]

Lanitza Station location - opened 1915, closed 1974. There are no houses within cooee of this one! (Six Maps)

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1929 article on Lanitza

[admin]

Peter Osborne:

It's hard to imagine that there was ever a community there, given how isolated it is now.

Lance Lyon:

Peter Osborne very true - but it also shows why so many of the small stations closed in the 70s and 80s. The few that held on ended up closing once CTC was rolled out.

Lance Lyon:

Peter, also, it doesn't appear on the 1972 timetable, so guessing it fell out of use prior to then.

Ken Date:

Lanitza closed as a crossing loop in 1962 but the station, signal posts and the loop were still in place well into the 1970s (as was sometimes the case in those days). Perhaps they were left in situ in case of a need to reactivate at some point? I recall it as a lonely location and I don't remember anything else beyond the station in the neighbourhood.


Jeremy Williams:

I don't remember who told me, but I was informed the army used the siding there during WW2 and there was also an airstrip nearby?

Lance Lyon:

Jeremy Williams there was suposed to be an airstrip, but the land was unsuitable and it never went ahead. It was first raised in 1948. Other sites considered included Ulmarra. The Lanitza site wasn't suitable due to two problems - hills and floods. Ultimately it opened in 1959 around 10km northeast of Grafton as "Clarence Valley Regional Airport".

[admin]

Interestingly, it shows up in 1911 although it didn't open until 1915.

[admin]

Lanitza, undated (Steve Greenwald)

[admin]

Lanitza, just to the South of the junction of the Glenugie Peak Quarry Tramway (supplied)

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Greg Lee:
Eddie Tracey (who was a fettler at Lanitza) told me a couple of stories.
The fettlers regularly used herbicides to control vegetation, and the stuff they used back then was more deadly than what you can buy now. One day word came through from the DE's office that the herbicide they were using was not to be used any more. They had a part 44 gallon drum of it in the trolley shed poison room, and since they weren't allowed to use it any more, they emptied the drum on the ground near the trolley shed. Eddie reckoned that nothing grew there for years.
One of the fettlers was an alcoholic, but he couldn't drink in front of his wife. So he he kept his grog in the dunny, under the wooden "thunder box". Apparently his wife didn't know about it, but the other fettlers did.

[admin]

# Lanitza (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1974

---

**Type:** Station / Crossing Loop (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Glenreagh–Lanitza / Lanitza–South Grafton sections; later Kungala–Lanitza / Lanitza–Braunstone / Lanitza–South Grafton) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 672.616 km 
**Location:** -29.881328, 153.000882 
**Between:** Kungala (south) and Braunstone (north) 
**Opened:** **Tuesday, 12 October 1915** — Glenreagh to South Grafton; Circular No. 245 of 1915 (alongside Glenreagh, Sherwood, Braunstone, South Grafton Stockyards and South Grafton) 
**Note — Parish maps:** Lanitza appears on parish maps from at least 1911; the location pre-dates the railway 
**Station closed:** **6 July 1974** (per your notes) 
**All Local Appendix references deleted:** W.N. 29–1974 — accommodation table (page 83) and grades table (page 102) deleted (ref. A.1–74–32,411) 
**Status:** Closed 

### Signalling History
**At opening (1915):** Signal and Interlocking arrangements per **Circular No. 245 of 1915** 
**1922 arrangement (Coffs Harbour–Glenreagh opening circular):** 
- **Signal-box A:** All points within small circles and all signals worked from Signal-box A 
- **Frame B:** No. 1 Lever unlocked by key from **No. 12 Lever in Signal-box A**; Regulation G 
- **Frame C:** No. 1 Lever unlocked by key from **No. 13 Lever in Signal-box A**; Regulation G; except **No. 9C** unlocked by Miniature ETS direct for section **Glenreagh–Lanitza** (Regulation B) 
- **Bolt Lock:** Between Signal-box A and Frame C — prevent points being improperly set 
- **Sections at 1922:** Glenreagh–Lanitza (Miniature ETS); Lanitza–South Grafton (Miniature ETS) 
- **Unattended working:** When no officer on duty — Guards operate ETS instruments and fixed signals; Firemen of light engines operate fixed signals; Down and Up Distant signals left at Caution; Home signal left at Clear for next Passenger or Mixed train; replaced at Stop on arrival 

**Signals brought into use — 4 July 1935 — W.N. 27–1935:** 
Up Outer Distant (No. 1); Up Inner Distant (No. 2); Up Starting Main (No. 4); Up Starting Loop to Main (No. 6); Down Starting Loop to Main (No. 1); Down Starting Main (No. 21); Down Inner Distant (No. 23); Down Outer Distant (No. 24) — **Circular No. 400–33 of 1935** (ref. S.&T.E. G.33–349) 

**Indicators on Main Line Starting signals — 27 August 1935 — W.N. 35–1935:** 
No. 7 lever — indicator on post of each Main line Starting signal immediately below arm; unattended working; **Circular No. 400–42 of 1935** (ref. C.T.M. 35–92,523; S.&T.E. G.35–732B) 

**Frame C and Home signal alterations — 16 July 1943 — W.N. 28–1943:** 
- Frame C No. 1 lever: formerly released by duplex lock (ETS Glenreagh–Lanitza and No. 20 Signal-box lever) → now single Annett lock, No. 20 lever only 
- No. 9C lever: formerly duplex lock → now single Annett lock, No. 20 lever only 
- Down Main Home signals (No. 5 Main and No. 7 Main to Loop) refixed **150 feet nearer to West Maitland** 
- Up Home signal Branch line No. 2 refixed **150 feet nearer to Dorrigo** (S.&T.E.) 

**Glenreagh–Lanitza section cancelled — 11 October 1943:** 
When Kungala loop opened (W.N. 41–1943) — **Kungala–Lanitza** (Type A, 1–50 ordinary) created; Circular No. 231–26 of 1943 

**Down and Up Inner Distants removed — 11 January 1945 — W.N. 2–1945:** 
Down Inner Distant No. 23 and Up Inner Distant No. 1 removed; Down and Up Outer Distants renamed Down and Up Distants; **Circular No. 400–33 of 1935** amended (ref. S.&T.E. 44–601,741) 

**Safeworking Station Assistant, Crossing Loop and Other Sidings deleted — W.N. 46–1965:** 
- Delete Safeworking Station Assistant from "Designation of employee in charge" column 
- Crossing Loop: delete **1433** (feet) 
- Other Sidings: delete **30** 
- Train control telephone "Control South Grafton" at Lanitza deleted 

### ETS Sections History
| Period | Sections |
|--------|---------|
| 1915 (opening) | Glenreagh–Lanitza; Lanitza–South Grafton |
| 1922 | Glenreagh–Lanitza (Miniature ETS); Lanitza–South Grafton |
| 11 October 1943 | **Glenreagh–Lanitza cancelled**; **Kungala–Lanitza** (Type A) created |
| Post-1943 | Kungala–Lanitza; Lanitza–Braunstone; Lanitza–South Grafton |

---

> **Notes:** Lanitza opened 12 October 1915 with the Glenreagh–South Grafton section; Circular No. 245 of 1915. The location appears on parish maps from at least 1911 predating the railway. By 1922 Lanitza had a Signal-box A, Frames B and C (Regulation G; No. 9C also released by Glenreagh–Lanitza Miniature ETS, Regulation B), Bolt Lock between Signal-box A and Frame C. Unattended working instructions issued — Guards and Firemen operate instruments and signals when no officer on duty.
>
> New signals brought into use 4 July 1935 (Up and Down Outer and Inner Distants, Starting signals for Main and Loop; W.N. 27–1935; Circular No. 400–33 of 1935). Indicators on Main line Starting signals for unattended working 27 August 1935 (W.N. 35–1935; Circular No. 400–42 of 1935). Frame C alterations and Home signal relocations 16 July 1943 (W.N. 28–1943). Glenreagh–Lanitza section cancelled 11 October 1943 when Kungala loop opened; Kungala–Lanitza created. Down and Up Inner Distants removed 11 January 1945 (W.N. 2–1945). Safeworking Station Assistant, crossing loop (1433 feet) and other sidings (30) deleted W.N. 46–1965. Station closed 6 July 1974; all accommodation and grades table references deleted W.N. 29–1974.

---

## 1915 — Opened 12 October 1915; Circular No. 245 of 1915

### Opening — W.N. — 1915
> **Opening of the Line from Glenreagh to South Grafton (North Coast)** — On **Tuesday, 12th October, 1915**, the line from Glenreagh to South Grafton will be opened for traffic, and the Signal and Interlocking arrangements at Glenreagh, Sherwood, **Lanitza**, Braunstone, South Grafton Stock-yards, and South Grafton will be in accordance with **Circular No. 245 of 1915**, and diagrams attached thereto. *(W.N. — 1915)*

---

## 1922 — Detailed Signalling Arrangement; Unattended Working; Sections

### Lanitza Signalling — 1922 (Coffs Harbour–Glenreagh Opening Circular)
> **LANITZA** —
>
> **Signal-box "A"** — The points shown within small circles and all signals will be worked from Signal-box "A."
>
> **Frame "B"** — No. 1 Lever in Frame "B" will be unlocked by key from **No. 12 Lever in Signal-box "A"**.
>
> **Frame "C"** — No. 1 Lever in Frame "C" will be unlocked by key from **No. 13 Lever in Signal-box "A"**.
>
> Frames "B" and "C" must be operated in accordance with **Regulation "G"** of Weekly Notice No. 37 of 1920.
>
> **Bolt Lock** — A Bolt Lock will be provided between Signal-box "A" and Frame "C," in order to prevent the points being improperly set.
>
> *[No. 9 Lever in Frame "C" will be unlocked by key on the Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section Glenreagh–Lanitza — Regulation B.]* *(Source: 1922 Weekly Notices — Coffs Harbour–Glenreagh opening circular)*

### Lanitza Unattended Working Instructions — 1922
> **Page 302 — Lanitza (Weigh–South Grafton Line) — Working of Fixed Signals** — As there is no Day or Night Officer at Lanitza, the Automatic Electric Train Staff instruments must be worked by the Guards of trains and Drivers of Light Engines (unaccompanied by a Traffic employee) and the Fixed signals by Guards of trains and Firemen of Light Engines.
>
> The Fixed signals at Lanitza must always be left at **Stop**, except that when the next train to arrive is either a Mixed or a Passenger train, and a crossing will not be effected, the Guard of the previous train, or Fireman of a Light Engine, must leave both the Down and Up Distant signals at **Caution**, and either the Down or Up Home signal only at **Clear**, applicable to the Passenger or Mixed train which is next due to arrive, and the Guard of train for which the Home signal is Cleared must replace it at Stop immediately on arrival of his train.
>
> In the event of any Conditional or Special train being run, the Station Masters at South Grafton and Glenreagh will be responsible for advising, in writing, the Guards of all trains (regular trains included) and Drivers of Light Engines as to exactly what trains will be running.
>
> When a Passenger or Mixed train requires to cross a Goods train, the Passenger or Mixed train must be admitted to the Main line, and the Goods train is to be placed in the Loop line. *(Source: 1922 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1935 — New Signals — 4 July 1935; Indicators on Starting Signals — 27 August 1935

### New Signals — W.N. 27–1935
> **Lanitza (North Coast) — Bringing Distant and Starting Signals Into Use** — On **Thursday, 4th July, 1935**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the following signals will be brought into use:
> - No. 1 — Up Outer Distant
> - No. 2 — Up Inner Distant
> - No. 4 — Up Starting, Main
> - No. 6 — Up Starting, Loop to Main
> - No. 1 — Down Starting, Loop to Main
> - No. 21 — Down Starting, Main
> - No. 23 — Down Inner Distant
> - No. 24 — Down Outer Distant
>
> *(S.&T.E., G.33–349.) (W.N. 27–1935)*

### Indicators on Starting Signals — W.N. 35–1935; Circular No. 400–42 of 1935
> **Lanitza (North Coast) — Provision of Indicators on Main Line Starting Signals, to Show when Signal-box is Unattended** — On **Tuesday, 27th August, 1935**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., an indicator, worked by **No. 7 lever**, will be provided on the post of each Main line Starting signal, immediately below the arm.
>
> The signalling arrangements and method of working the indicators will be as shown in **Circular No. 400–42 of 1935**, with diagram attached thereto. (C.T.M. 35–92,523; S.&T.E., G.35–732B.) *(W.N. 35–1935)*

---

## 1943 — Frame C and Home Signals Altered — 16 July 1943; Glenreagh–Lanitza Cancelled — 11 October 1943

### Frame C and Home Signal Alterations — W.N. 28–1943
> **Lanitza (North Coast) — Alterations** — On **Friday, 16th July, 1943**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the following alterations will be carried out:
>
> **Frame C:** No. 1 lever — at present unlocked by key from No. 20 lever in the Signal-box will be unlocked by key from **No. 16 lever**. No. 9 lever — at present fitted with a **duplex lock** and unlocked by key on the Electric Train Staff for the section Glenreagh–Lanitza, and key from No. 20 lever in the Signal-box — will be fitted with a **single Annett lock** and unlocked by key from **No. 20 lever only**.
>
> **Down Main Home signals** (No. 5, Main, and No. 7, Main to Loop) will be refixed **150 feet nearer to West Maitland**.
>
> **Up Home signal, Branch line, No. 2**, will be refixed **150 feet nearer to Dorrigo**. (S.&T.E.) *(W.N. 28–1943)*

### Glenreagh–Lanitza Cancelled — W.N. 41–1943
> The existing Electric Train Staff sections **Glenreagh–Lanitza** will be cancelled, and two new sections will be brought into use: **Glenreagh–Kungala** (Type G) and **Kungala–Lanitza** (Type A; Staffs Nos. 1–50 ordinary). *(W.N. 41–1943 — consequent on Kungala loop opening)*

---

## 1945 — Down and Up Inner Distants Removed — 11 January 1945; Outer Distants Renamed

### Inner Distants Removed — W.N. 2–1945
> **Lanitza (North Coast) — Dispensing with Down and Up Inner Distant Signals** — On **Thursday, 11th January, 1945**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the Down Inner Distant signal, **No. 23**, and the Up Inner Distant signal, **No. 1**, will be removed.
>
> The Down and Up Outer Distant signals, Nos. **24 and 1**, will be re-named **Down and Up Distant signals**, respectively.
>
> Diagram attached to **Circular No. 400–33 of 1935** to be amended accordingly. (S.&T.E. 44–601,741.) *(W.N. 2–1945)*

---

## 1965 — Safeworking Station Assistant, Crossing Loop and Sidings Deleted — W.N. 46–1965

### Accommodation Table Updated — W.N. 46–1965
> **Page 83 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Lanitza:**
> - Delete "**Safeworking Station Assistant**" from column headed "Designation of employee in Charge"
> - Delete **1433** from column headed "Crossing Loop"
> - Delete **30** from column headed "Other sidings based on vehicles 22 feet in length"
>
> **Page 194 — Location of train control telephones "Control South Grafton"** — Delete **Lanitza**. *(W.N. 46–1965)*

---

## 1974 — Station Closed — 6 July 1974; Accommodation and Grades Tables Deleted

### Accommodation and Grades Tables Deleted — W.N. 29–1974
> **Page 83 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided** — Delete **Lanitza** and all relevant particulars. (A.1–74–32,411.) *(W.N. 29–1974)*

> **Page 102 — Grades at Stations, Sidings, Platforms and Signal-boxes** — Delete **Lanitza** and all relevant particulars. (A.1–74–32,411.) *(W.N. 29–1974)*

### Interrail Parcels Book — W.N. 27–1974
> **Page 68** — Delete "**Lanitza**." *(W.N. 27–1974)*

### Alphabetical List and Other Deletions — W.N. — 1974
> Delete **Lanitza** and relevant particulars from Alphabetical List (page 49) and other publications. *(W.N. — 1974)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| Pre-1915 | Location appears on parish maps from at least **1911** |
| **12 October 1915** | **Opened** — Glenreagh–South Grafton; Circular No. 245 of 1915; alongside Sherwood, Braunstone, South Grafton |
| By 1922 | Signal-box A; Frames B and C (Regulation G); No. 9C also released by Glenreagh–Lanitza ETS (Regulation B); Bolt Lock Signal-box A to Frame C; unattended working instructions for Guards and Firemen |
| **4 July 1935** | **New signals** — Up/Down Outer and Inner Distants, Up/Down Starting Main and Loop; Circular No. 400–33 of 1935 (W.N. 27–1935) |
| **27 August 1935** | **Indicators on Starting signals** — unattended working; Circular No. 400–42 of 1935; No. 7 lever (W.N. 35–1935) |
| **16 July 1943** | Frame C alterations — duplex lock to single Annett lock; Down Main Home signals relocated 150 feet toward West Maitland; Up Home Branch relocated 150 feet toward Dorrigo (W.N. 28–1943) |
| **11 October 1943** | Glenreagh–Lanitza cancelled — **Kungala–Lanitza** (Type A) created (W.N. 41–1943) |
| **11 January 1945** | **Down and Up Inner Distants removed** — Outer Distants renamed; Circular No. 400–33 amended (W.N. 2–1945) |
| **W.N. 46–1965** | Safeworking Station Assistant, Crossing Loop (1433 feet) and Other Sidings (30) deleted; Control South Grafton telephone deleted |
| **6 July 1974** | **Station closed** |
| **W.N. 27 and 29–1974** | All publications deleted (ref. A.1–74–32,411) |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1974.* 
*Note: Lanitza's 1922 unattended working instructions are the most detailed documented for any intermediate station in the North Coast collection — specifying exactly how Guards and Firemen should operate ETS instruments and signals, what signal positions to leave, and how crossings should be managed without an officer present. The Up Home signal designated as "Branch line" in the 1943 alterations notice (refixed 150 feet toward "Dorrigo") confirms that Lanitza had a branch line connection — this appears to be a spur or siding access from the Glenreagh–Dorrigo Branch, explaining the parish map presence from 1911 when the area was being surveyed for both railway routes. The crossing loop length of **1,433 feet** (437m) deleted in 1965 is one of the longer loops in this section of the North Coast.*