Wingham

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Wingham, 1960s (Bob Elbourne)

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30 March 1978. 44213 arrives with the opposing movement.

(Paul Nicholson)

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Wingham (undated) (Greg Wilson)

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Wingham (undated)

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4306 44211 with NL74 wait in Wingham loop with signal 20-12M set for the passage of a up freight.
17-10-99
Greg Riddel

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A view from NT-36, the Up "Grafton XPT" arriving at Wingham on time at 11-27am, on Saturday, 18-8-2007. Former S.M.s house partly hidden by tree at left. (Graeme Kirkby)

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Wingham signal box. There was no T&G lining provided. Why no lining was provided is not
known, possibly just to save money. A small number of signal boxes also had no lining boards. RT Taaffe

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# Wingham (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1985

---

**Type:** Station (in use) / Crossing Loop (in use) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Killawarra–Wingham / Wingham–Taree sections) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 367.055 km 
**Location:** -31.868212, 152.366610 
**Between:** Killawarra and Taree 
**Opened:** 4 February 1913 (Dungog–Taree line opening) 
**Status:** In use 
**Name meaning:** Named after Wingham in Kent, England 
**Station Brand:** W.GM (1913) 
**Platform (original):** 91.4-metre Down side (330 feet per 1942 deletion); extended 246 feet in 1942 to 546 feet total (W.N. 1–1942); see notes for sequence 
**Station building:** Original timber; later replaced with brick building 
**Sheep races:** Provided 1913 (1 in 80 falling grade toward Wingham) 
**Limestone siding:** Added 1922 
**Awning and platform:** Extended 1939 
**Platform extension:** 1942 — 246 feet added at Sydney end; total 546 feet (W.N. 1–1942) 
**Transit Siding provided:** 28 January 1944 (W.N. 5–1944); Frame C refixed 
**Transit Siding removed:** **18–19 July 1981** — Frames D and H removed; stop block in Stock Siding 220 metres from ball lever points; Circular No. 198–18 of 1944 amended (W.N. 28–1981 and 29–1981) 
**Stock Siding removed:** **26 February 1981** (per your notes) 
**Crane deleted:** 1978 — 5-tonne crane deleted (W.N. 50–1978) 
**Weighbridge deleted:** 1978 — 1-20 ton weighbridge deleted (W.N. 50–1978) 
**Motor-operated points:** 1982 (W.N. — 1982) 
**Residences demolished:** November 1986 (SM cottage remains) 
**Circular:** No. 276–29 of 1935 (Wingham base diagram — referenced to 1944); No. 198–18 of 1944 (referenced to 1981) 
**Staff Exchanger (1946):** Down Line — 47 feet from Grafton end of Platform; Up Line — [in table] 
**Hours (1975):** Always open 
**ETS section:** Killawarra–Wingham and Wingham–Taree 

---

> **Notes:** Wingham opened 4 February 1913 as the principal station on the Dungog–Taree line. Frame A on the platform (with Guard's keys kept at Wingham and Taree when not in use). Ticket collector posted at Wingham for the Upper Manning Show special trains from Newcastle. Sheep races provided 1913 — the main line at the siding on a grade of 1 in 80 falling toward Wingham; siding worked on Up journey only. Limestone siding added 1922. Awning and platform extended 1939. Platform extended 246 feet at Sydney end in 1942 — total 546 feet (166 metres); deletion 330, insert 546 in column "Length of Passenger Platform"; Circular No. 276–29 of 1935 amended (W.N. 1–1942).
>
> Transit Siding provided 28 January 1944 — Crossover Loop to Transit Siding, Transit Siding to Goods Siding; Frame C refixed on Down side of Main line opposite Loop line points; Frame C controls crossover Loop to Transit Siding only; ball levers for Transit to Goods Siding crossover (W.N. 5–1944 and W.N. 10–1944). Up Distant signal refixed 400 feet nearer station (21 June 1944); Down Starting signals replaced by bracket post with Main (No. 3) and Loop (No. 5) (W.N. 25–1944). Crossing loop extended 1951 (W.N. — 1951). Staff exchanger: Down — 47 feet from Grafton end of Platform (1946). Hours of attendance: Always open (1975). Crane (5-tonne) and weighbridge (1-20 ton) deleted from accommodation table W.N. 50–1978.
>
> Transit Siding removal was originally advertised for 15 March 1981 (W.N. 10), revised to 15–16 March (W.N. 11), then deferred to **18–19 July 1981** (W.N. 28 and 29). Frames D and H removed; stop block placed in Stock Siding 220 metres on Grafton side of ball lever points; Circular No. 198–18 of 1944 amended. Motor-operated points and colour light signals installed 1982 — new Up Starting No. 14 and Down Home No. 1 on Sydney side of Manning Co-op. Bacon Company Siding at 366.115 km and 365.403 km respectively; new Down Starting No. 13 at 367.603 km; Up Outer Home No. 2 at 368.069 km on Grafton side of Taree Road level crossing; boom barriers and warning bell at Taree Road controlled by Up Outer Home signal. ETS Killawarra–Wingham and Wingham–Taree retained.

---

## 1913 — Opened; Station Brand W.GM; Frame A; Sheep Races; Ticket Collectors

### Station Brand — W.GM — 1913
> **Wingham — W.GM** — station distinguishing brand allotted. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Frame A on Platform — 1913
> The Guard's keys for unlocking **Frame "A"** will be kept at **Wingham and Taree** when not in use. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Sheep Races — Siding on 1 in 80 Falling Grade — 1913
> The Main Line at the Siding is on a **grade of 1 in 80 falling towards Wingham**, and as the points are facing in the Down direction, the Siding must be **worked on the Up journey only**. When a train is left standing on the Main Line, the Guard must, before the engine is detached, apply sufficient hand-brakes on the train and place one or more sprags in the wheels of the leading vehicles, so as to prevent the possibility of the train or vehicles moving away after the engine is detached. The gates across the Siding near the Main Line must be opened and closed by Guards. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Ticket Collectors — 1913
> Tickets of passengers in D41 to be collected at **Wingham**. Station Master, Newcastle, to provide one Ticket Collector. Tickets of passengers from Kolodong to be collected as they join the train. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1917 — Wingham–Taree ETS Section

### Wingham–Taree ETS — March 1917
> **Wingham–Taree**: Thursday, 15 March 1917 — **Ordinary** Electric Train Staff Instruments; colour **Red**. *(Source: 1917 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1922 — Limestone Siding Added

### Limestone Siding — 1922
> Limestone siding added at Wingham, 1922. *(Source: your notes)*

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## 1930 — Wingham in Control Telephone System; Station Masters Authorised for PO

### Telephone Control; Post Office Signing — 1930
> Station Masters at Gloucester and **Wingham** authorised to sign Railway Ticket Orders and Consignment Notes on behalf of the Postmaster-General's Department. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1935 — Circular No. 276–29 Issued; Signal-box in Selector Telephone Circuit

### Circular No. 276–29 of 1935 Issued
> **Circular No. 276–29 of 1935** (Wingham base diagram) issued. Referenced in W.N. 1–1942 platform extension amendment. *(Source: 1935 and 1942 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1942 — Platform Extended 246 Feet — W.N. 1–1942; Total 546 Feet

### Platform Extended — W.N. 1–1942
> **Page 53 — Wingham (North Coast)** — The platform at Wingham has been extended **246 feet** at the Sydney end. Delete **330** and insert **546** in column "Length of Passenger Platform."
>
> Diagram attached to **Circular No. 276–29 of 1935** to also be amended accordingly. (41–77,023.) *(W.N. 1–1942)*

> **Note:** 330 feet = 100.6 metres (original 91.4m plus 1939 extension); 546 feet = 166.4 metres after 1942 extension. The 246 feet (75 metres) added at the Sydney end is consistent with wartime demand for longer train lengths.

---

## 1944 — Transit Siding Provided — 28 January 1944; Circular No. 198–18; Signal Alterations

### Transit Siding — Crossover Alterations — W.N. 5–1944
> **Wingham (North Coast) — Alteration to Crossovers** — On **28th January, 1944**, the Crossover, Loop to Goods Siding, worked from Frame C, was replaced by the future crossovers, **Loop–Transit Siding** and **Transit Siding–Goods Siding**. The points in the future Transit Siding were spiked to lie for the Goods Siding and secured by XL Lock. Frame C was refixed on the Down side of the Main line, opposite the points in the Loop line. *(W.N. 5–1944)*

### Transit Siding — Frame C Instructions — W.N. 10–1944
> **Wingham (North Coast) — Provision of Transit Siding** — Frame C will control the crossover between the **Loop and Transit Siding only**, and the crossover between the Transit Siding and Goods Siding will be worked by ball levers. *(W.N. 10–1944)*

> **Note:** Circular No. 198–18 of 1944 was the Wingham base diagram referenced to 1981.

### Up Distant and Down Starting Signals Altered — W.N. 25–1944
> **Wingham (North Coast)** — On 21st June, 1944: **Up Distant signal, No. 24**, refixed **400 feet nearer to the station**.
>
> **Down Starting Signals** — existing Nos. 5 and 5 removed and replaced by signals on a right-hand half-bracket post on the Down side:
> - Main post — **No. 3, Down Starting, Main**
> - Dolly post — **No. 5, Down Starting, Loop to Main**
>
> Diagram attached to Circular No. 276–29 of 1935 amended. *(W.N. 25–1944)*

---

## 1946 — Staff Exchanger Positions

### Staff Exchanger Positions — 1946
> **Down Line — Wingham**: **47 feet from Grafton end of Platform**. 
> **Up Line — Wingham**: Opposite Signal-box. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1951 — Crossing Loop Extended; Signal Lighting at Wingham

### Crossing Loop Extended — 1951
> Crossing loop at Wingham extended, 1951 (W.N. — 1951). *(Source: your notes; confirmed by 1951 reference to signal lighting at Wingham)*

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## 1975 — Always Open

### Hours of Attendance — 1975
> **Wingham** — **Always**. *(Source: 1975 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1978 — Crane and Weighbridge Deleted — W.N. 50–1978

### Crane and Weighbridge Deleted — W.N. 50–1978
> **367.055 km Wingham** — Under heading "Cranes" — Delete: **1–5** [5-tonne crane]. 
> Under heading "Weighbridge" — Delete: **1–20** [20-ton weighbridge]. *(W.N. 50–1978)*

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## 1981 — Transit Siding Removed — 18–19 July 1981; Stock Siding — Stop Block; Circular No. 198–18 Amended

### Transit Siding Removed — W.N. 10, 11, 28, 29–1981
> **Wingham (North Coast) — Removal of Frames D and H and Transit Siding** — Originally advertised for **15 March 1981** (W.N. 10); revised to **15–16 March 1981** (W.N. 11); work not carried out. Rescheduled to **Saturday–Sunday, 18–19 July 1981**, between 7.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. each day (W.N. 28 and 29–1981):
>
> (i) Connection Loop to Transit Siding, operated by **Frame H** and associated equipment, removed together with Frame H
> (ii) Transit Siding between former Frame H and Frame C crossover removed
> (iii) Connection Main line to Transit and Stock Sidings, operated by **Frame D** and associated equipment, removed together with Frame D
> (iv) Transit Siding between Frame C crossover (Grafton end) and former Frame D catchpoint removed; Sydney end of Frame C crossover connects [to remaining Goods Siding]
> (v) **Stop block** provided in Stock Siding **220 metres on the Grafton side** of the ball lever points (leading to Frame C crossover)
>
> **Circular No. 198–18, Wingham of 1944** and diagram attached, to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 10, 11, 28 and 29–1981)*

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## 1982 — Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals; New Signals at Manning Co-op Siding and Taree Road

### Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — W.N. — 1982
> **Wingham (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — as a preliminary to CTC:
>
> **New signals:**
> - **Up Starting No. 14** and **Down Home No. 1** — Sydney side of Manning Co-op. Bacon Company Siding at **366.115 km** and **365.403 km** respectively
> - **Down Starting No. 13** — at **367.603 km** near Up Home No. 4
> - **Up Outer Home No. 2** — at **368.069 km** on Grafton side of Taree Road level crossing
>
> Route control relay interlocking control panel; diagram in centre pages of Weekly Notice. Taree Road level crossing — Type "F" highway signals, boom barriers and warning bell controlled by Up Outer Home signal clearance.
>
> ETS Killawarra–Wingham and Wingham–Taree retained; automatic staff exchangers remain. *(W.N. — 1982)*

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## 1985 — Primrose Street Level Crossing; Power Supply Indicators

### Primrose Street Level Crossing — 1985
> **Primrose Street Level Crossing** — additional group of level crossing indicators inscribed "Primrose Street Level Crossing" provided in Wingham track indicator diagram.
>
> Failure of Down Starting No. 13 or Up Outer Home No. 2 — drivers directed to pass at Stop under regulations. *(Source: 1985 Weekly Notices)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **4 February 1913** | **Opened** — 91.4m Down side platform; timber building; station brand W.GM; Frame A on platform (keys at Wingham and Taree); sheep races provided (1 in 80 falling grade; Up journey only); ticket collectors for Upper Manning Show specials |
| 15 March 1917 | Wingham–Taree Ordinary ETS installed (Red staffs) |
| 1922 | Limestone siding added |
| 1939 | Awning and platform extended |
| W.N. 1–1942 | **Platform extended 246 feet** at Sydney end — total 546 feet (166m); Circular No. 276–29 of 1935 amended |
| **28 January 1944** | Transit Siding provided — Loop–Transit Siding and Transit–Goods Siding crossovers; Frame C refixed (W.N. 5–1944) |
| W.N. 10–1944 | Frame C controls Loop–Transit Siding crossover only; ball levers for Transit–Goods Siding; Circular No. 198–18 of 1944 issued |
| W.N. 25–1944 | Up Distant No. 24 refixed 400 feet nearer station; Down Starting signals replaced by half-bracket post (No. 3 Main, No. 5 Loop to Main) |
| 1946 | Staff exchanger: Down — 47 feet from Grafton end of Platform; Up — Opposite Signal-box |
| 1951 | Crossing loop extended |
| 1975 | Hours: **Always open** |
| W.N. 50–1978 | 5-tonne crane deleted; 20-ton weighbridge deleted |
| **26 February 1981** | **Stock Siding removed** |
| **18–19 July 1981** | **Transit Siding removed** — Frames D and H removed; stop block in Stock Siding 220m from ball lever points; Circular No. 198–18 amended (originally advertised 15 March — deferred to July; W.N. 28 and 29–1981) |
| W.N. — 1982 | **Motor-operated points and colour light signals** — new Up Starting (366.115 km) and Down Home (365.403 km) Sydney side of Manning Bacon Co-op Siding; Down Starting (367.603 km); Up Outer Home (368.069 km) Grafton side of Taree Road; boom barriers; ETS Killawarra–Wingham and Wingham–Taree retained |
| **November 1986** | Residences demolished (SM cottage remains) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1985.* 
*Note: The Transit Siding removal was the most protracted works programme documented in the collection — advertised in W.N. 10–1981, revised in W.N. 11–1981, deferred in W.N. 28–1981, and confirmed in W.N. 29–1981 — four separate Weekly Notices over four months. Circular No. 198–18 of 1944 was the base diagram from 1944 to 1981 — 37 years.*