Tyagarah

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Type : Station
Line : Murwillumbah Branch
Distance from Sydney : 890.474km
Location : -28.604446, 153.546120
Opened : 15 May 1894
Closed : 19 February 1972
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Aboriginal word meaning "open grass country" or "camping area" or "tussock grass"
Notes : Platform was 50' in length and had an out of shed (this may have been added in 1954 when the goods siding was abolished). 5 ton gantry crane added in 1896 along with a siding (the siding was abolished 18th August 1954). In 1902 the siding was converted into a lopp siding. Crane removed 24/06/1930. 1935 - pig loading facilities provided (loading stage and portable race).

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Remnants at the location of Tyagarah, remains of the relay room.

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Location of Tyagarah station (Six Maps)

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Level crossing accident at Tyagarah 4th Feb 1949; the truck collided with the mail train - fortunately there were no injuries. It was later righted and driven to Mullumbimby.

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Tyagarah - station arrangements (NSWGR)

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Approximate location of the station is now under the M1 bridges (Geoff Bensley)

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# Tyagarah (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1894–1989

---

**Type:** Station (later Platform) 
**Line:** Murwillumbah Branch (Casino–Murwillumbah) 
**Between:** Byron Bay Quarry Siding and Myocum 
**Mileage (Working TT):** 553m 25c (yard); 553m 52c (Pacific Highway level crossing) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 891.013 km (Pacific Highway level crossing) 
**Under control of:** Byron Bay (later Mullumbimby) 

---

> **Note on spelling:** The OCR consistently renders the name as "Tysgarah" in the earlier volumes — a known misread corrected to **Tyagarah** throughout this document.

---

## 1897 — Myocum Siding Opened — Tyagarah Referenced as Nearby Station

> "Myocum" — a new siding on the Lismore Line, situated **between Tyagarah and Mullumbimby**, and distant 30 miles 60 chains from Lismore, is now open for traffic. (W 763.)

*(Source: 1897 Weekly Notices — first reference to Tyagarah in the notices, as a geographic reference point)*

---

## 1913 — Siding Ground Frames Installed

### Facing Points and Siding Worked from Ground Frames
> **Tyagarah (Grafton–Tweed Line)** — On Monday, **11th August, 1913**, at 4 p.m., the Facing Points in the Main Line, Facing Point Locks to same, and the Catch-points at each end of the Siding, will be worked from **Ground Frames fixed near the Main Line Points**, and must be operated in accordance with Regulation D on page 27 of the General Appendix.
>
> The locks on the Facing Point Lock Levers are unlocked by **key attached to the Ordinary Train Staff for the section Byron Bay–Mullumbimby**.

*(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** This entry confirms the siding was already in existence by 1913, and that its interlocking was being simplified at the same time as the adjacent Myocum siding (worked from a similar ground frame from 14th August 1913). Both were unlocked by the same Byron Bay–Mullumbimby train staff.

---

## 1925 — Working Time Allowances

### Mixed Train Working — 5 Minutes Allowed at Tyagarah
> No. 38 (Up goods/mixed) is allowed **5 minutes Myocum, 5 minutes Tyagarah, 5 minutes Quarries Siding**, 10 minutes St. Helena and 5 minutes Binna Burra for work.

*(Source: 1925 Weekly Notices — repeated in multiple issues throughout the year)*

### Timetable Extract — Down Service
> Tyagarah Arr. [time] ... Dep. [time] ... Quarry Siding Arr. ... Dep. ... Byron Bay Arr.

*(Source: 1925 Working Timetable extract)*

---

## 1930 — Gantry Crane Removed

### Gantry Crane at Tyagarah Removed
> **Tyagarah — Removal of Gantry Crane** — Since **24th June, 1930**, the Gantry Crane at Tyagarah has been removed.

*(W.N. 24–1930)*

> **Note:** The presence of a gantry crane at Tyagarah is significant — it suggests the siding was handling heavier or bulkier goods than a simple cream or produce platform would require. The removal in 1930 likely reflects the declining timber or agricultural traffic in the district.

---

## 1931 — Working Allowances and Yard Listing

### Down Mixed Train — Timetable Times
> Down timetable (partial extract): 
> Quarry Siding arr. 9.28 dep. — **Tyagarah arr. 9.31 dep. 9.32** — Myocum arr. 9.38 dep. 9.39 — Mullumbimby arr. 9.43 dep. 9.46

*(Source: 1931 Working Timetable extract)*

### Up Goods — 8 Minutes Allowed at Tyagarah
> No. 50 (Up goods) is allowed time for work: ... 10 minutes Myocum, **8 minutes Tyagarah**, 2 minutes Quarry Siding, 3 minutes St. Helena, 2 minutes Talofa ...

*(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*

### Tyagarah Yard — Listed in Private Sidings Table
> Siding sequence listing: 
> Timm's (Private) — 552m 76c 
> **Tyagarah Yard — 553m 25c** — Y [yard] 
> Kenwick Road — 553m 52c — C 
> Mellor's (Private) — 554m 69c 
> Woodford's (Private) — 555m 64c 

*(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices — intermediate siding/yard listing)*

> **Note:** The designation "Y" in this table indicates a yard — confirming Tyagarah had a proper yard facility at this point, not merely a platform. The adjacent private sidings (Timm's, Mellor's, Woodford's, McCauley's) suggest active agricultural or pastoral activity in the locality.

---

## 1934 — Listed in Telephone Circuit

### Telephone Circuit — Tyagarah Listed as Switched Station
> Tyagarah listed in telephone circuit with notation — **\* Stations marked thus are switched out when not in use, and cannot be called**.

*(W.N. 5–1934)*

> **Note:** This confirms Tyagarah was a staffed station at this time, though only intermittently attended (switched out when not in use). The asterisk notation is consistent with its status as a minor station that was not always manned.

---

## 1935 — Pig Loading Facilities Provided

### Enclosed Loading Stage and Portable Race — Pig Traffic
> **List of Stations, etc. — Tyagarah — Provision of Pig Loading Facilities** — An enclosed loading stage and portable race have been provided alongside the Goods Siding for dealing with pig traffic.
>
> Insert "S†" in column headed "Sheep, Pig, and Cattle Races." (35–94,801.)

*(W.N. 9–1935)*

> **Note:** The provision of dedicated pig loading facilities in 1935 is a notable addition, suggesting active livestock traffic at Tyagarah by the mid-1930s.

---

## 1944 — Platform Length Recorded

### Passenger Platform Length Inserted
> **Tyagarah** — Insert **50** [feet] in column headed "Length of Passenger Platform." (43–35,821.)

*(W.N. 42–1944)*

---

## 1946 — Electoral/Police Patrol Boundary

### Byron Bay Police Patrol — St Helena to Tyagarah
> **Byron Bay Police Patrol within the Shire of Byron** — St. Helena to **Tyagarah**, inclusive.

*(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices — Public Holiday and Electoral schedules)*

---

## 1949 — Electoral Boundary

### Byron Bay Police Patrol — Talofa to Tyagarah
> **Byron Bay Police Patrol of the Shire of Byron** — Talofa to **Tyagarah**, inclusive.

*(Source: 1949 Weekly Notices — Electoral schedules)*

---

## 1954 — Goods Siding Abolished

### Goods Siding Abolished — August 1954
> **Tyagarah (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Abolition of Siding** — On Monday, **16th** and Wednesday, **18th August, 1954**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m. each day, the points and crossing leading from the Main line to the siding at the **Sydney and Murwillumbah ends** of the siding respectively will be removed and the siding abolished.
>
> Frames "A" and "B" and connections thereto will be removed.
>
> All references to the Siding are to be deleted.

*(W.N. 32–1954)*

### Confirmation — Siding Abolished; Out-of-Shed and Platform Provided
> On **18th August, 1954**, the points connecting the Goods Siding to the Main Line were removed, and the siding abolished.
>
> **Out-of-shed and platform** are provided on the Up side of the line for handling of small consignments.

*(W.N. 36–1954)*

### Station Reclassified to Platform
> **Tyagarah (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)** — The Goods Siding at Tyagarah has been abolished. **Delete (P) after station name** [i.e. the designation changes — Tyagarah is now listed without the goods siding designation].

> **Tyagarah** — The goods siding has been abolished. **Insert (P)** after station name.

*(W.N. 36–1954)*

> **Note:** The two entries appear contradictory but relate to different publications — one deletes the (P) in one context and the other inserts (P) in another publication to reflect the change in status. The net result is that Tyagarah is reclassified from a station with a goods siding to a platform only.

---

## 1959 — Sleeper Platform Between Tyagarah and Myocum; Speed Board Sequence

### Sleeper Platform — Between Tyagarah and Myocum
> **Between Tyagarah and Myocum — Sleeper Platform** — A sleeper platform measuring **16 ft. × 8 ft.** is provided on the Up side of the line at **Mileage 554m. 69c.** between Tyagarah and Myocum. The platform is for use of **school children** travelling by trains specified in the Working Timetable. (A. 1–58–72,003.)

*(W.N. 9–1959)*

### Confirmed in Local Appendix
> **Stations and Platforms, etc. — Casino–Murwillumbah Line** — A sleeper platform has been provided at Mileage 554m. 69c. between Tyagarah and Myocum for the convenience of school children. **The platform is un-named.**

*(W.N. 13–1959)*

### Speed Board Sequence
> Quarry Siding–Tyagarah ... **Tyagarah–Myocum** ... (load restriction p23a applies between Tyagarah and Myocum)

*(Source: 1959 Working Timetable — speed board and load restriction tables)*

---

## 1962–1963 — Speed Board Sections

> Speed board sections: 
> **Byron Bay–Tyagarah** (1962 and 1963) 
> **Tyagarah–Myocum** (1962 and 1963)

*(Source: 1962 and 1963 Working Timetables — speed boards)*

---

## 1971 — Type "F" Flashing Light Highway Signals — Pacific Highway Level Crossing

### Type "F" Signals — Proposed
> **Tyagarah (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Provision of Type "F" Flashing Light Highway Signals at Pacific Highway Level Crossing** — On a date to be advised by circular, Type "F" Flashing Light highway signals and a warning bell will be brought into use at the **Pacific Highway level crossing, Tyagarah (Mileage 553m. 52c.)**.
>
> The highway signals will be automatically controlled by track circuit for Down or Up trains.
>
> **Testing of Equipment** — A test of the highway signals and warning bell must be carried out each day by the **local fettling ganger**. The result of each test must be recorded by the **Station Master, Byron Bay** in the train register book.
>
> **Control of Equipment in the Event of Emergency** — Keys for the emergency box and switches are kept by the **Station Master, Byron Bay** and also by the **Station Master, Casino** (for use when Byron Bay is unattended).

*(W.N. 24–1971)*

### Type "F" Signals Confirmed Operational — Since 23 June 1971
> **Tyagarah (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Provision of Type "F" Flashing Light Highway Signals at Pacific Highway Level Crossing** — Since **23rd June, 1971**, Type "F" flashing light highway signals and a warning bell have been in use at the Pacific Highway level crossing, Tyagarah (Mileage 553m. 52c.).
>
> Full particulars appear in Weekly Notice No. 24.

*(W.N. 27–1971)*

### Speed Board Locations
> Byron Bay–Tyagarah: 548m 65c 
> **Tyagarah–Myocum**: 554m 52c

*(Source: 1971 Working Timetable — speed boards)*

---

## 1972 — Platform Abolished; Deleted from All Publications

### Platform Abolished
> **The Platform at Tyagarah (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch) has been abolished** and reference to this location should be deleted from the Public Timetable. (A. 1–72–55,601.)

*(W.N. 7–1972)*

### Deleted from All Publications — Multiple Entries
> Delete Tyagarah and relevant particulars — Local Appendix pages 241–244, page 70, page 87, page 105. *(W.N. 7–1972)* 
> Delete Tyagarah and relative particulars — Alphabetical List of Stations. *(W.N. 8–1972)* 
> Delete Tyagarah and relative particulars — Alphabetical List (Other States Rates Books). *(W.N. 8–1972)* 
> Delete Tyagarah and relative particulars — Merchandise and Livestock Rates Book Vol. II, pages 174, 197, 223. *(W.N. 8–1972)* 
> Delete — M.553.25 chs. Tyagarah — from accommodation provided table. *(W.N. 7–1972)* 
> Station Code: **3455–7** — deleted. *(W.N. 7–1972)*

*(W.N. 7 and 8–1972)*

---

## 1977 — Pacific Highway Level Crossing Listed

### Level Crossing — Pacific Highway, Tyagarah
> **Tyagarah, Pacific Highway — 891.013 km** — Station Master, Mullumbimby. Fettling ganger, Mon., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sun. (A4 75 50416.)

*(W.N. 41–1977)*

> **Note:** Although Tyagarah platform had been abolished in 1972, the Pacific Highway level crossing remained in operation, maintained by a fettling ganger and under the administrative control of the Station Master, Mullumbimby. The crossing is at 891.013 km — consistent with the mileage of 553m 52c noted in the 1971 signals notice.

---

## 1983 — Pacific Highway Level Crossing Deleted

### Level Crossing — Deleted from All Publications
> **Delete:** All reference to **Pacific Highway, Tyagarah 891.013 km \* AF**.

*(W.N. 20–1983)*

> **Delete:** All reference to **Tyagarah, Pacific Highway, 891.013 km** — from Level Crossing Protection table.

*(W.N. 20–1983)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| By 1897 | Referenced as a named location between Byron Bay and Myocum |
| 11 August 1913 | Ground frames installed at siding — unlocked by Byron Bay–Mullumbimby train staff |
| 1925 | 5 minutes allowed for goods work at Tyagarah by mixed trains |
| 24 June 1930 | Gantry crane removed (W.N. 24–1930) |
| 1931 | 8 minutes allowed for Up goods; Tyagarah Yard listed at 553m 25c; adjacent private sidings (Timm's, Mellor's, Woodford's, McCauley's) noted |
| 1934 | Listed as switched station (asterisk) — attended intermittently |
| W.N. 9–1935 | Enclosed pig loading stage and portable race provided alongside goods siding |
| W.N. 42–1944 | Passenger platform length recorded as 50 feet |
| W.N. 32 & 36–1954 | **Goods siding abolished** (16–18 August 1954); Frames A and B removed; out-of-shed and platform provided; station reclassified to Platform (P) |
| W.N. 9–1959 | Sleeper platform (16ft × 8ft, unnamed) provided at 554m 69c between Tyagarah and Myocum for school children |
| 23 June 1971 | Type "F" flashing light highway signals brought into use at Pacific Highway level crossing (553m 52c / 891.013 km) |
| W.N. 7–1972 | **Platform abolished**; deleted from all publications; Station Code 3455–7 cancelled |
| W.N. 41–1977 | Pacific Highway level crossing still maintained — under Station Master, Mullumbimby |
| W.N. 20–1983 | Pacific Highway level crossing, Tyagarah deleted from all publications |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1889–1989.*