South Grafton Stockyards Siding

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Type : Siding
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 694.473km
Opened : 12 October 1915
Closed : unknown (after 1989)
Status : Closed
Name meaning : From Grafton
Notes: The siding could hold 41 D trucks. The Caltex Siding was part of the location, branching from the Down end of the loop siding.

At opening (1915 and 1922): Grouped with Braunstone — No. 1 Lever in Frames released by Miniature ETS for section Lanitza–South Grafton; Regulation B (1922 circular)
1945: Propelling instruction — vehicles propelled from South Grafton to South Grafton Stockyards (alongside Commonwealth Siding and Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding); brake-van must be leading; Guard must ride; Clause (i) Rule 202; Driver must keep sharp look-out
By 1989 (CTC era): Siding operated by Frame E and No. 84 electric release from Signalman Broadmeadow; single-ended siding shunted from Brisbane end

Code Call (1935)

Code call altered — South Grafton Stockyards on No. 82 circuit (W.N. 36–1935; ref. S.&T.E., G.34–180F)

South Grafton Stockyards opened with the Glenreagh–South Grafton line on 12 October 1915 (Circular No. 245 of 1915). Listed in the 1922 accommodation table at 1 mile from South Grafton (code S7). At 1922 grouped with Braunstone — Frames released by Lanitza–South Grafton ETS, Regulation B. By 1945 the section had changed to Braunstone–South Grafton and propelling instructions (brake-van leading, Guard riding) applied to South Grafton Stockyards alongside Commonwealth Siding and Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding. Code call on No. 82 circuit altered W.N. 36–1935. The Caltex Siding branches from the Down end of the loop siding; by 1989 both were operated as "South Grafton Stockyards–Caltex" — a single-ended siding shunted from the Brisbane end by Frame E and No. 84 electric release from Signalman Broadmeadow (CTC era). Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding deleted from the same page 374 entry in W.N. 36–1989, leaving only the Stockyards–Caltex entry active

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Stock siding diagram, date obscured

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Stockyards and Caltex siding, 1942

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# South Grafton Stockyards Siding / South Grafton Stockyards–Caltex (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1989

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**Type:** Private Siding — Stockyards / Fuel (Caltex) (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Braunstone–South Grafton / Braunstone–Grafton City section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 694.473 km 
**Between:** Braunstone (south) and South Grafton / Grafton City (north) 
**Opened:** Opened with the Glenreagh–South Grafton line — **12 October 1915** (listed in Circular No. 245 of 1915); confirmed in 1922 accommodation table at **1 mile from South Grafton** (code S7) 
**Closed:** Unknown; after 1989 (Caltex siding still active as at W.N. 37 and 39–1989) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after Grafton 
**Siding capacity:** **41 D trucks** (per your notes) 
**Caltex Siding:** Branches from Down end of loop siding 

### Signalling
**At opening (1915 and 1922):** Grouped with Braunstone — No. 1 Lever in Frames released by Miniature ETS for section **Lanitza–South Grafton**; Regulation B (1922 circular) 
**1945:** Propelling instruction — vehicles propelled from South Grafton to South Grafton Stockyards (alongside Commonwealth Siding and Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding); brake-van must be leading; Guard must ride; Clause (i) Rule 202; Driver must keep sharp look-out 
**By 1989 (CTC era):** Siding operated by **Frame E** and **No. 84 electric release** from Signalman Broadmeadow; single-ended siding shunted from Brisbane end 

### Code Call (1935)
**Code call altered** — South Grafton Stockyards on No. 82 circuit (W.N. 36–1935; ref. S.&T.E., G.34–180F) 

### Power's Codes (1975 — W.N. 42–1975)
South Grafton cluster as shown in 1975 Power's Freight Accounting table: 
- **South Grafton:** 3410–32 / 3430–82 / 49–66 
- **Braunstone:** 3410–33 / 3410–34 / 3430–83 / 49–59 
- **Ampol, South Grafton:** 3430–84 / 49–79  *(also 3495–1)* 
- **Dairy Co., Abattoirs:** 3410–35 / 3430–85 / 49–117 
- **South Grafton Wharf:** 3410–36 
- **Caltex, South Grafton:** 3410–37 / 3430–86 / 49–72  *(also 3405 series)* 

### 1989 Local Appendix Amendment
**W.N. 37–1989** (repeated W.N. 39–1989): South Grafton Stockyards–Caltex, page 374 — amend 1st sentence to read: "The siding is a **single ended siding** shunted from the **Brisbane end**, operated by **Frame 'E'** and **No. 84 electric release** from the **Signalman Broadmeadow**." 
**W.N. 36–1989:** Delete "Dairy Company's Abbattoir Siding" and relevant particulars from page 374; amend Note to delete "Dairy Co-op Abattoir Siding" and delete "All" and insert "both" (ref. A1.89.80624185509) 

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> **Notes:** South Grafton Stockyards opened with the Glenreagh–South Grafton line on 12 October 1915 (Circular No. 245 of 1915). Listed in the 1922 accommodation table at 1 mile from South Grafton (code S7). At 1922 grouped with Braunstone — Frames released by Lanitza–South Grafton ETS, Regulation B. By 1945 the section had changed to Braunstone–South Grafton and propelling instructions (brake-van leading, Guard riding) applied to South Grafton Stockyards alongside Commonwealth Siding and Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding. Code call on No. 82 circuit altered W.N. 36–1935. The Caltex Siding branches from the Down end of the loop siding; by 1989 both were operated as "South Grafton Stockyards–Caltex" — a single-ended siding shunted from the Brisbane end by Frame E and No. 84 electric release from Signalman Broadmeadow (CTC era). Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding deleted from the same page 374 entry in W.N. 36–1989, leaving only the Stockyards–Caltex entry active.

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

### Opening — W.N. — 1915
> **Opening of the Line from Glenreagh to South Grafton (North Coast)** — 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**. *(W.N. — 1915)*

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## 1922 — Accommodation Table; 1 Mile from South Grafton; Code S7

### Accommodation Table — 1922
> **South Grafton Stockyards** — **1 mile** from South Grafton; code **S7**; [livestock]. Grouped after South Grafton (†††) and before Braunstone in the accommodation table. *(Source: 1922 Weekly Notices — accommodation table)*

### Signalling — 1922 (Coffs Harbour–Glenreagh Opening Circular)
> **Braunstone and South Grafton Stockyards** — No. 1 Lever in the Frames at these places will be unlocked by the key on the Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section **Lanitza–South Grafton**, and must be operated in accordance with **Regulation "B"**. *(Source: 1922 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1935 — Code Call Altered — W.N. 36–1935

### Code Call Altered — W.N. 36–1935
> **Page 92 — South Grafton Stockyards — Code Call Altered** — The code call for South Grafton Stockyards on **No. 82 circuit** has been altered. (S.&T.E., G.34–180F.) *(W.N. 36–1935)*

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## 1945 — Propelling Instructions (Grouped with Commonwealth Siding and Dairy Abattoir)

### Propelling Instructions — 1945
> When propelling to **Commonwealth Siding, Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding** and **South Grafton Stockyards**, a brake-van must be provided as the leading vehicle, in which the Guard must ride and give the Driver such hand-signals as may be necessary. Clause (i) of Rule 202 must be adhered to. The Driver must keep a sharp look-out and be prepared to act promptly upon any hand-signal given by the Guard; he must also sound the engine whistle freely where his view of the line is obstructed. *(Source: 1945 Weekly Notices — Local Appendix)*

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## 1975 — Power's Codes — W.N. 42–1975; South Grafton Siding Cluster

### Power's Codes — W.N. 42–1975
> South Grafton siding cluster Power's Freight Accounting codes (inserted):
> - **South Grafton:** 3410–32 / 3430–82 / page 49–66 
> - **Braunstone:** 3410–33 and 3410–34 / 3430–83 / page 49–59 
> - **Ampol, South Grafton:** 3430–84 / page 49–79 *(also 3495–1)* 
> - **Dairy Co., Abattoirs:** 3410–35 / 3430–85 / page 49–117 
> - **South Grafton Wharf:** 3410–36 
> - **Caltex, South Grafton:** 3410–37 / 3430–86 / page 49–72 *(also 3405 series)* 
>
> *(W.N. 42–1975)*

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## 1989 — Dairy Abattoir Siding Deleted; Stockyards–Caltex Amended to Single-Ended; Frame E and No. 84 Electric Release

### Dairy Abattoir Siding Deleted — W.N. 36–1989
> **Page 374 — South Grafton Stockyards–Caltex** — Delete "**Dairy Company's Abbattoir Siding**" and relevant particulars. Amend Note to: delete "Dairy Co-op Abattoir Siding"; delete "All" and insert "**both**". (A1.89.80624185509.) *(W.N. 36–1989)*

### Stockyards–Caltex Working Amended — W.N. 37–1989 (repeated W.N. 39–1989)
> **Page 374 — South Grafton Stockyards–Caltex** — Amend 1st sentence to read: "The siding is a **single ended siding** shunted from the **Brisbane end** operated by **Frame 'E'** and **No. 84 electric release** from the **Signalman Broadmeadow**." (WKS 84.64 GB.) *(W.N. 37 and 39–1989)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **12 October 1915** | **Opened** — listed in Circular No. 245 of 1915; grouped with Braunstone; Lanitza–South Grafton ETS; Regulation B |
| By 1922 | Accommodation table — 1 mile from South Grafton; code S7; grouped with Braunstone |
| **W.N. 36–1935** | Code call on No. 82 circuit altered (ref. S.&T.E., G.34–180F) |
| By 1945 | Propelling instructions — brake-van leading; Guard rides; with Commonwealth Siding and Dairy Abattoir Siding |
| **W.N. 42–1975** | Power's codes inserted — Caltex South Grafton: 3410–37 / 3430–86 / 49–72 |
| **W.N. 36–1989** | Dairy Company's Abattoir Siding deleted from page 374; Note amended |
| **W.N. 37 and 39–1989** | **Stockyards–Caltex amended** — single-ended siding; shunted from Brisbane end; **Frame E** and **No. 84 electric release** from Signalman Broadmeadow |
| After 1989 | **Caltex siding closed** (date not confirmed in WN collection) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1915–1989.* 
*Note: The South Grafton cluster in 1975 — Ampol, Dairy Co. Abattoirs, South Grafton Wharf and Caltex — represents four separate private sidings all concentrated between Braunstone and South Grafton/Grafton City, reflecting the industrial character of the South Grafton approach in the freight era. By 1989 the cluster had reduced to Stockyards–Caltex only (Ampol removed May 1989; Dairy Abattoir deleted W.N. 36–1989). The W.N. 37–1989 amendment specifying "Frame E and No. 84 electric release from Signalman Broadmeadow" confirms full CTC integration by 1989 — the Stockyards–Caltex siding was controlled remotely from Broadmeadow rather than by a local signalman.*