South Brisbane

[admin]

Horse box KKG531 at South Brisbane (undated) (State Archives)

[admin]

Up train at South Brisbane (undated) (State Archives)

[admin]

4216 and 44217 haul the empty cars from the recently arrived Brisbane Limited Express across the Merivale bridge near South Brisbane, Qld, May 13 1989.

[admin]

South Brisbane (Interstate) platform, serving the standard gauge line, 613 miles from Sydney, as seen by the mile post at left. Thursday, 14-9-1967. (Graeme Kirkby)

[admin]

Interstate platform, South Brisbane, 1979 (SLQ Peter Fischmann)

[admin]

The image displays passengers waiting for the Brisbane Limited amongst the pot plants on the interstate station platform in 1986. QR/QM Collection.

[admin]

The platform at the South Brisbane interstate station, 1986. The station and goods yard closed in June 1986 to make room for Expo 88. Interstate passenger services moved to Roma St station while interstate goods were handled at Acacia Ridge. The site is now home to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

QM/QR Collection

[admin]

# South Brisbane (North Coast Line — Border Loop to South Brisbane)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1930–1989

---

**Type:** Station / Terminus / Interstate Goods Depot 
**Line:** North Coast Line (terminus of Kyogle–Brisbane line) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 986.737 km (dead end at 986.834 km) 
**Mileage (Working TT):** approximately 612m 
**Opened:** 26 September 1930 (as Brisbane; known as South Brisbane locally) 
**Closed (passenger):** 21 June 1986 — line extended to Roma Street via Merivale Bridge 
**Closed (Interstate Goods Depot):** 10 March 1986 
**Status:** Closed (as NSW terminal); line continues to Roma Street 
**Name meaning:** After Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of NSW 1821–1825; "South Brisbane" because the station was south of the CBD 
**Platform:** Standard gauge platform 193.5 metres on the Down side 
**Dead end:** 986.834 km 
**Seal Press:** No. 332 (allocated from 1930; frequently missing — Relief Press No. 233 used at various times) 
**Circular:** No. 390–19 of 1930 (Kyogle–Brisbane base diagram — South Brisbane referenced throughout from 1930 to 1989) 

---

> **Notes:** South Brisbane was the original terminus of the North Coast Line's Queensland extension, opened 26 September 1930. The station was known locally as "South Brisbane" from the outset — the 1930 Weekly Notices confirm "Brisbane, the terminus of the Kyogle route, known locally as South Brisbane." The standard gauge platform (193.5 metres, Down side) served NSW/intersystem trains. The Interstate Goods Depot closed **10 March 1986** when the new Acacia Ridge complex opened. The passenger station closed **21 June 1986** when the line was extended via Merivale Bridge to Roma Street — the existing South Brisbane sidings (Platform Road, Run Round, Nos 1–5 Yard Sidings and Outside Loading Sidings) were removed and the standard gauge line extended to the Sydney side of the Merivale Bridge. South Brisbane Signal Box was then removed. From 1986–1987 the section became Clapham–South Brisbane (Single Line Track Block), and trains proceeded from South Brisbane signal SB2 via Merivale Bridge to Roma Street under Queensland control through Mayne Control Centre.

---

## 1930 — Opening; Name; Seal Press; Transhipping; Telephone Circuit; Sections

### Opened — 26 September 1930; Known as South Brisbane
> On **Friday, 26th September, 1930**, the extension of line from Kyogle to Brisbane opened for traffic.
>
> **Brisbane, the terminus of the Kyogle route, known locally as South Brisbane, is not open to interstate passengers for the present.** *(W.N. 39–1930)*

### Seal Press No. 332 Allocated — 1930
> **South Brisbane — Seal Press No. 332** — allotted to Brisbane (South). *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

### Ticketing of Trucks — 1930
> **Ticketing of Trucks for South Brisbane** — Stations must ticket trucks "South Brisbane" and the matter needs to be closely watched. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

### Transhipping Charges — From Clapham
> Terminal charges at Clapham to be shown under Queensland proportion. All Intersystem Goods invoiced via Clapham, with the portion at Clapham for South Brisbane noted separately. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

### Telephone Circuit — South Brisbane Listed
> **South Brisbane Signal-box, South Brisbane Goods Office, South Brisbane Station-master** — listed in No. 89 Telephone Circuit alongside Clapham Signal-box, Clapham Goods Office, Yeerongpilly Signal-box and Yeerongpilly Loco. *(Source: 1930 and 1931 Weekly Notices)*

### Sections — 1930
> - **Yeerongpilly–Brisbane** (Schedule C) — from opening
> - Later: **Yeerongpilly–South Brisbane** and **South Brisbane–Park Road** (reversed direction)

### Code Address — "KYOG" — 1930
> Insert **"KYOG"** — Stations Casino to Brisbane Loco., Casino, Lismore, and Yeerongpilly. *(W.N. 52–1930)*

---

## 1931 — South Brisbane as Booking Point; Clapham Is Not South Brisbane

### Distinction Between South Brisbane and Clapham — 1931
> **Goods consigned to South Brisbane are being invoiced to Clapham for re-booking** — It is clearly understood that goods for delivery at Brisbane must be invoiced to **South Brisbane** direct and all concerned are enjoined to give this matter their special attention in future.
>
> **Similar traffic for South Brisbane must be waybilled direct to that station.** *(W.N. 2–1931)*

> **Note:** The problem of goods being incorrectly addressed to Clapham instead of South Brisbane was a persistent issue throughout the 1930s and 1940s, reflecting the administrative complexity of the interstate goods arrangements.

### "Clapham is 15 miles distant from South Brisbane" — 1931
> The distance from Clapham to South Brisbane is **15 miles** (approximately 24 km). *(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1933 — "KYOG" Code Expanded; Section West Maitland–South Brisbane

### KYOG Code — 1933
> **KYOG — All Stations Casino to South Brisbane; Loco., Casino; Lismore; and Yeerongpilly.** *(Source: 1933 Weekly Notices)*

### Section — West Maitland–South Brisbane — 1933
> The main working timetable section from 1933 is described as **West Maitland–South Brisbane**. *(Source: 1933 Working Timetable)*

---

## 1937 — Telegraph Communication; Signal Box; Goods Office; Station Master Listed

### No. 89 Telephone Circuit — 1937
> **South Brisbane Signal-box, South Brisbane Goods Office, South Brisbane Station Master** — listed in No. 89 Telephone Circuit alongside Clapham Signal-box, Yeerongpilly Signal-box and Roma Street Telegraph Office. *(Source: 1937 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1939–1941 — Seal Press Repairs; Two Engines Coupled Yeerongpilly–South Brisbane

### Two Engines Coupled — Yeerongpilly to South Brisbane
> Between **Yeerongpilly and South Brisbane**, two (2) engines may be coupled and run tender first at a speed not exceeding **20 miles per hour**, provided the leading engine is fitted with a bogie tender. *(Source: 1939, 1941, 1944, 1958 Weekly Notices — recurring instruction)*

---

## 1942 — Up Starting Signal No. 17; South Brisbane as Controlling Station for Park Road

### Up Starting Signal No. 17 — W.N. 35–1942
> The Signalman at South Brisbane may give permission for a Staff to be issued for a train to approach from Yeerongpilly, provided the line is clear to the **Up Starting signal, No. 17**.
>
> Circular No. 390–19 of 1930 and diagram attached thereto to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 35–1942)*

### Park Road Siding Under Control of South Brisbane — 1942
> **Park Road Siding** (12 November 1942) — under control of **South Brisbane**. Drawer Lock Key Releases A and B released by Electric Train Staff for the section **Yeerongpilly–South Brisbane**. *(W.N. 47–1942)*

### New Siding — 1,800 feet — at South Brisbane — 1942
> The new siding will be **1,800 feet (approx.)** in length in the clear, connecting with the Main line at the Sydney end about **200 feet on the South Brisbane side** of the Up Starting signal, No. 4, and at the South Brisbane end about **180 feet on the Sydney side of No. 8 points** (Main–Sidings).
>
> **Signal-box** — Two bracket locks, "X" and "Y," provided and will release the keys for Frames "B" and "C" respectively. *(Source: 1942 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1944 — Down Outer Distant Signal Relocated; Signal Alterations

### Down Outer Distant Signal Relocated — W.N. 25 and 26–1944
> **South Brisbane (North Coast) — Alteration to Location of Down Outer Distant Signal** — On **Thursday, 29th June, 1944**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., the Down Outer Distant signal will be refixed **1,130 feet nearer to Grafton** [i.e. toward Sydney/Clapham].
>
> Diagram attached to Circular No. 390–19 of 1930 to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 25 and 26–1944 — published twice)*

---

## 1952 — Alterations to Connections at South Brisbane End of Yard

### Yard Connections Altered — October 1952
> On **12th October, 1952**, alterations to connections at the South Brisbane end of the yard were carried out:
>
> 1. The crossover leading from the Main line to the Loop line (No. 8 Points) was removed and replaced by a new connection. No. 8 Points in the Main line were located **72 feet nearer to Sydney**.
> 2. The connection leading from the Loop line to No. 1 Down Siding and Nos. 1 and 2 Transhipping Sidings (No. 2 lever in Frame "E") and the connection leading to the Down Goods line (No. 9) were slewed to connect with the new Main–Loop connection (No. 8 Points). No. 2E Points were relocated **20 feet nearer** [to Sydney]. *(Source: 1952 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1953 — South Brisbane (Standard Gauge) — Down Outer Home Signal

### Down Outer Home — Not to be Passed at Stop Without Signalman's Authority — 1954
> The following signals at South Brisbane may not be passed at Stop without authority from the Signalman:
>
> - **South Brisbane — Down Outer Home, No. 1** *(Source: 1954 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1956 — Queensland Railway Electrician at South Brisbane; Seal Press No. 332 Frequently Missing

### QR Electrician at South Brisbane — 1956
> **Queensland Railway Electrician at South Brisbane** may be called to attend failures of the Down Outer Home Signal at South Brisbane and the Electric Releasing Switches at Clapham. *(Source: 1956 Weekly Notices)*

### Seal Press Issues — 1955 and 1956
> **Seal Press No. 233 is again in use at South Brisbane** (W.N. 22–1955) — confirming that the main Seal Press No. 332 was frequently out of service for repairs. *(Source: 1955 and multiple earlier Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1962 — Brisbane Limited Express Timetable; New Passenger Services

### Brisbane Limited Express — 1962 Timetable
> - **No. 2 "Brisbane Limited Express"** — depart South Brisbane **4.40 p.m.** — arrive Sydney
> - **No. 3 "Brisbane Express"** — depart Sydney **6.55 p.m.** — arrive South Brisbane **12.45 a.m.**

*(Source: 1962 Working Timetable)*

---

## 1969 — Engine Load Tables; South Brisbane as Section Boundary; Senior Inspector Casino

### Engine Load Tables — South Brisbane — 1969
> - **South Brisbane–Park Road–Clapham**: 300 tons
> - **Clapham–Park Road–South Brisbane**: 300 tons
> - **Yeerongpilly–South Brisbane**: 14 minutes running time
> - **Park Road–South Brisbane**: 6 minutes running time

*(Source: 1969 Weekly Notices)*

### Senior Inspector, Casino — South Brisbane Boundary
> **Senior Inspector, Casino — Casino (inclusive) to South Brisbane** (including Murwillumbah). *(Source: 1966 Weekly Notices — administrative boundary)*

---

## 1974 — Special Staff Receptacles; South Brisbane Platform and Yard References

### Platform — South Brisbane
> Berth and seat tickets at **South Brisbane** — departure time arrangements. *(Source: 1974 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1980 — Cease Issuing South Brisbane Tickets to Bromelton Passengers

### Bromelton Tickets — 1980
> Cease issuing **South Brisbane tickets** to passengers travelling to Bromelton and instead issue correct Bromelton tickets. *(Source: 1980 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1982 — Starting Signal No. 5-6 Relocated; Clapham–South Brisbane Section Created

### Starting Signal No. 5-6 Relocated — W.N. 16–1982
> **South Brisbane** — No. 5-6 Starting Signal, Yard, will be relocated **25 metres nearer to South Brisbane** and No. 4 catchpoint will be removed and **No. 4 derail substituted** in lieu thereof.
>
> Diagram that appeared in W.N. 21 of 1980, to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 16–1982)*

### Clapham–South Brisbane Section Created — April and July 1982
> Following the abolition of Yeerongpilly signal box (April 1982) and introduction of Single Line Track Block Working (Clapham–South Brisbane, 29 July 1982):
>
> - Section Yeerongpilly–South Brisbane cancelled
> - New section: **Clapham–South Brisbane** (9.174 km) — Single Line Track Block System
>
> **South Brisbane Down Starting Signal No. 38 (YY29)** and Clapham signal-box No. 43 interlocked.

---

## 1986 — Interstate Goods Depot Closed 10 March 1986; South Brisbane Station Closed 21 June 1986; Extension to Roma Street

### South Brisbane Interstate Goods Depot Closed — 10 March 1986
> **Closure of South Brisbane Interstate Goods Depot** — Due to the **closure of South Brisbane Goods on and from 10 March 1986** and the opening of the new Interstate Goods Handling Complex at **Acacia Ridge**, L.C.L. goods traffic is to be consigned to either Acacia Ridge or Roma Street. *(W.N. 8–1986)*

### South Brisbane Station (Standard Gauge) Closed — 1986
> **Due to the impending closure of South Brisbane Station (Standard Gauge) from the 10th March, 1986** [later confirmed as 21 June 1986 for passenger services]:
>
> - **ROA Goods Rates Book** — Delete: South Brisbane; Insert: Acacia Ridge / Roma Street
> - Page 3 Intersystem Traffic — Delete: South Brisbane; Insert: Acacia Ridge
> - Page 5 Methods of Application — Delete: South Brisbane; Insert: Roma Street
> - Page 7 Bogie Exchange or Transfer — Delete: South Brisbane; Insert: Roma Street

*(Source: 1986 Weekly Notices)*

### Extension to Roma Street — South Brisbane Sidings Removed — 1986
> **South Brisbane** — The Platform Road, Run Round, Nos 1–5 Yard Sidings and the Outside Loading Sidings will be **removed** and the single line standard gauge line extended to the Sydney side of the **Merivale Bridge** where it joins the dual gauge line (Down Southern Main Line) to proceed to **Roma Street**.
>
> The South Brisbane Signal Box, Lever B, Frame C, mechanical signals, points and associated signalling equipment will be **removed**.
>
> The existing Down fixed distant signal will be replaced by a single light colour light signal numbered **SB1P** at approximately the same location.
>
> The existing Down Outer Home signal, **SB-1-2**, has been renumbered **SB 1** and the Up Starting signal, **SB 17**, will be removed. *(Source: 1986 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1987 — Single Line Track Block — Clapham to South Brisbane Confirmed; Emergency Working

### Clapham–South Brisbane Section — Emergency Working
> **Clapham–South Brisbane** — Single Line Track Block system operating between Down Starting Signal **YY29** at Clapham and Up Starting Signal **SB2** at South Brisbane. Both signals fitted with half pilot staffs.
>
> **Emergency Working** — In the event of failure, South Brisbane Starting Signal SB2 is to be manned and Pilot Staff working instituted. The Officer taking charge at South Brisbane is to confer with the Supervisor at **Mayne Control Centre** and with the Signalman at Clapham. *(Source: 1987 Weekly Notices)*

### South Brisbane–Roma Street — Telemetry and Signals
> **Failure of Telemetry Control System** — All SB signals (except SB2) are provided with push buttons in SL-locked boxes to allow signals to be cleared when Mayne Control Centre telemetry is lost.
>
> **Working of Traffic Between South Brisbane and Roma Street over a Single Line during Repairs** — Pilot Working to be instituted under Queensland Regulations.
>
> **From South Brisbane to Roma Street:** trains exit Clapham–South Brisbane Block section at Outer Home Signal SB1, proceed to Home Signal SB3, thence via Merivale Bridge to Roma Street. Signals B.015 and B.011 are automatic; RS.31 and RS.39 are Home Signals. *(Source: 1987 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1989 — South Brisbane References Deleted; "Roma St/Clapham" Substituted

### South Brisbane Deleted from Goods Rate References — 1989
> Delete "South Brisbane" and insert instead **"Roma St/Clapham"** — in goods rate book references. *(W.N. — 1989)*

### South Brisbane (Passenger Train Only) Deleted
> Delete all reference to **South Brisbane (Passenger train only)**. *(W.N. — 1989)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **26 September 1930** | **Opened as Brisbane** — terminus of Kyogle–Brisbane line; known locally as South Brisbane; Seal Press No. 332; sections Yeerongpilly–Brisbane and Brisbane–Park Road; Circular No. 390–19 of 1930 |
| 1930 | "Brisbane, the terminus of the Kyogle route, known locally as South Brisbane, is not open to interstate passengers for the present" — passengers admitted shortly after |
| 1931 | Distinction established — goods for South Brisbane must not be invoiced to Clapham; Clapham is 15 miles from South Brisbane |
| 1933 | "KYOG" code — All Stations Casino to South Brisbane; West Maitland–South Brisbane section designation |
| 1937 | No. 89 Telephone Circuit — South Brisbane Signal-box, Goods Office and Station Master listed |
| 1939–1958 | Two engines coupled — Yeerongpilly to South Brisbane — max 20 mph, bogie tender required on leading engine |
| W.N. 35–1942 | Up Starting signal No. 17 — Signalman at South Brisbane controls approach from Yeerongpilly |
| 12 November 1942 | Park Road Siding opened — under control of South Brisbane |
| W.N. 25–1944 | Down Outer Distant signal refixed 1,130 feet nearer to Grafton |
| October 1952 | Yard connections altered at South Brisbane end — No. 8 Points relocated 72 feet nearer Sydney |
| 1954 | Down Outer Home signal No. 1 — not to be passed at Stop without Signalman's authority |
| 17–18 April 1982 | Yeerongpilly signal box abolished; Clapham–Yeerongpilly and Yeerongpilly–South Brisbane sections cancelled |
| 29 July 1982 | **Single Line Track Block Working — Clapham–South Brisbane** (9.174 km) |
| W.N. 16–1982 | Starting signal No. 5-6 relocated 25 metres nearer to South Brisbane; No. 4 catchpoint replaced by derail |
| **10 March 1986** | **South Brisbane Interstate Goods Depot closed** — goods transferred to Acacia Ridge and Roma Street |
| **21 June 1986** | **South Brisbane Station (standard gauge) closed** — Platform Road, Run Round, Nos 1–5 Yard Sidings and Outside Loading Sidings removed; signal box removed; line extended via Merivale Bridge to Roma Street; SB1P installed |
| 1987 | Clapham–South Brisbane Single Line Track Block confirmed; emergency working procedures; Roma Street working instructions |
| W.N. — 1989 | "Roma St/Clapham" substituted for "South Brisbane" in all goods rate references; South Brisbane (Passenger train only) deleted |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1930–1989.* 
*Note: South Brisbane was the original terminus of the Kyogle–Brisbane line from 1930. Circular No. 390–19 of 1930 (Kyogle–Brisbane base diagram) was referenced at South Brisbane from 1930 through to at least 1983 — 53 years. The Interstate Goods Depot closed 10 March 1986, passenger services ceased 21 June 1986, with the line extended via the Merivale Bridge to Roma Street.*