Yumbunga Loop

[admin]

Type : Loop
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 316.438km
Location : -31.962613, 151.995293
Opened : 27 March 1945
Closed : 1984 (signal box), February 1995 (loop)
Status : Closed
Name meaning : An Aboriginal word meaning "camp"
Notes : Opened as a 429 metre central interlocked loop. *Yumbunga (North Coast) — Bringing Into Use as a Centrally-operated Crossing Loop** — On **Tuesday, 27th March, 1945**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., a new Centrally-operated Electric Train Staff and Crossing Loop, to be known as **"Yumbunga,"** will be brought into use between Gloucester and Bulliac at Mileage **196m 50c**. An employee platform was provided in 1948 - this was on the Up side and was 4.8 metres in length. Yumbunga opened on 27 March 1945 at Mileage 196m 50c (between Gloucester and Bulliac), splitting the Gloucester–Bulliac section. Gloucester–Yumbunga: Electric Train Staff, Type C, Nos. 1–50 Ordinary. Yumbunga–Bulliac: Electric Train Staff, Type B, Nos. 1–50 Ordinary. Circular and diagram issued prior to opening. Running times from opening (Down and Up journeys) published in W.N. 13–1945. Hours of attendance in 1975: 12.1 a.m. to 5.0 a.m.; 7.0 p.m. to midnight. The location had a signaller's house and a shunting cabin.

[admin]

8232 and 8229 approach Yumbunga with a Down goods and cross NT26, the Up "Grafton XPT" waiting in the Loop. 8-12-1994. Yumbunga Loop closed in February 1995.

[admin]

Yumbunga Loop was a one-time crossing loop about a kilometre north of Tugrabakh. The location had a signal box and house.

[admin]

Yumbumga Loop in 1981 (Chris Nelson)

[admin]

Yumbunga (1984, Laurie Anderson), although the signal box still exists, the house has been demolished. A new CTC safe working hut is seen here.

[admin]

44234 NL36 Grafton Express Yumbunga 29-9-91 (David Porter)

[admin]

44221-44232 down freight Yumbunga 29-9-91 (David Porter)

[admin]

The line at Yumbunga near the Barrington River, 1949

[admin]

View from NT-26 passing through Yumbunga on 24-9-1994. (Graeem Kirkby)

[admin]

View from NT-26, the Up "Grafton XPT" travelling slowly along the Loop at Yumbunga, there to wait for No.3, the Down "Murwillumbah XPT".  3-8-1994. Yumbunga Loop closed February 1995. (Graeme Kirkby)

[admin]

View from NT-26, Up "Grafton XPT" at Yumbunga, 24-9-1994. (Graeme Kirkby)

[admin]

A view from NT-26, " Grafton XPT" waiting in the Loop at Yumbunga as NT-3, the "Murwillumbah XPT" approaches. 3-8-1994. Countryside rather dry due to drought and winter. (Graeme Kirkby)

[admin]

Crossing loop and main line at Yumbunga, as viewed from NT-25, "Grafton XPT" on Friday 29-4-1994. (Graeme Kirkby)

[admin]

The approach to Yumbunga C.T.C. crossing loop as viewed from the Sydney bound "Grafton XPT", on 24-9-1994. (Graeme Kirkby)

[admin]

John Treuren:

Yumbunga a crossing loop 316km north of Sydney. In early 80s it converted to a CTC crossing loop along with CTC conversion on NC. Few years later, Yumbunga closed as a crossing loop, Forget which year - AFAIK the loop too short and became redundant with lesser trains but longer trains of up to 1800m.
And I do remember in Electric Staff days the Yumbunga access signposted from the country back road that linked Bucketts Way with Bundook.