Yumbunga Loop

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48115+4867 369 Yumbunga 08-10-88 (Leon Batman)

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48118+4533 279 Yumbunga 08-10-88 (Leon Batman)

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Yumbunga loop, diagram, 1960

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A Type Q signal box provided for another isolated wartime crossing loop. RT Taaffe

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# Yumbunga (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1945–1984

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**Type:** Crossing Loop (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Gloucester–Yumbunga / Yumbunga–Bulliac sections) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 316.438 km (Mileage 196m 50c at opening) 
**Location:** -31.962613, 151.995293 
**Between:** Gloucester and Bulliac 
**Opened:** **27 March 1945** — 429-metre central interlocked crossing loop; Gloucester–Bulliac section cancelled; new sections Gloucester–Yumbunga (Type C) and Yumbunga–Bulliac (Type B) 
**Employee Platform:** Provided **1948** — Up side, 4.8 metres (16 feet) in length 
**Signal Box closed:** **1984** 
**Loop closed:** **February 1995** 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Aboriginal word meaning "camp" 

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> **Notes:** 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.
>
> Staff exchanger positions (1946): Down Line — Opposite Signal-box (OCR: "Pumbunga" — corrected to Yumbunga); Up Line — 25 feet on Grafton side of Signal-box. An employee platform (16 feet / 4.8 metres, Up side) was provided in 1948.
>
> Additional Miniature ETS No. 52 provided on Yumbunga–Bulliac in 1955. Motor-operated points and colour light signals installed on **24 May 1982** as CTC preliminary — route control relay interlocking panel in signal-box; low speed indications on Down and Up Home signals; telephone call indicators (flashing blue light and hooter); ETS Gloucester–Yumbunga and Yumbunga–Bulliac retained; automatic staff exchangers remain. Signal box closed 1984. Loop closed February 1995. Speed board on Yumbunga–Bulliac amended in 1980 from 319.660 km to 320.410 km (50 Down / 70 Up mph).

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## 1945 — Opened 27 March 1945; Gloucester–Bulliac Cancelled; New Sections; Running Times

### Crossing Loop Opened — W.N. 13–1945
> **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**.
>
> The existing Electric Train Staff section **"Gloucester–Bulliac"** will be cancelled and new sections brought into use as follows:
> - **Gloucester–Yumbunga**: Electric Train Staff, Type **C**; Staffs Nos. 1–50 Ordinary
> - **Yumbunga–Bulliac**: Electric Train Staff, Type **B**; Staffs Nos. 1–50 Ordinary
>
> The complete arrangements will be in accordance with a Circular and diagram to be issued prior to the work being brought into use. *(W.N. 13–1945)*

### Running Times from Opening — W.N. 13–1945
> **Opening of Yumbunga as a Centrally-operated Crossing Loop between Gloucester and Bulliac** — From Tuesday, 27th March, 1945, the following running times will apply to all trains between Gloucester–Yumbunga and Bulliac:
>
> | Train | Gloucester–Yumbunga | Yumbunga–Bulliac |
> |-------|-------------------|-----------------|
> | No. 3 Express | [time] | [time] |
> | No. 3a Express | [time] | [time] |
> | No. 11 Mail | [time] | [time] |
> | No. 15 Mail | [time] | [time] |

*(W.N. 13–1945)*

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## 1946 — Automatic Staff Exchanger Positions; Yumbunga in Station Sequence

### Staff Exchanger Positions — 1946
> **Down Line — Yumbunga** (OCR: "Pumbunga"): **Opposite Signal-box**. 
> **Up Line — Yumbunga**: **25 feet on Grafton side of Signal-box**. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** The 1946 OCR renders Yumbunga as "Pumbunga" (Y/P confusion) in the Down Line entry. The Up Line entry correctly shows "Yumbunga." Both entries refer to the same station.

### Yumbunga in Alphabetical List — 1946
> **Yumbunga** — North Coast — listed in station/siding alphabetical sequence. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1948 — Employee Platform Provided

### Employee Platform — 1948
> **Employee platform provided at Yumbunga, 1948** — Up side, **4.8 metres** (16 feet) in length. *(Source: your notes)*

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## 1955 — Additional ETS No. 52 on Yumbunga–Bulliac

### Additional ETS — W.N. — 1955
> **Electric Train Staff No. 52** will be provided on the section **Yumbunga–Bulliac**. *(Source: 1955 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1960 — Yumbunga E.S. (House Provided) — Staff Grade

### Staff Grade Reference — 1960
> **Yumbunga — E.S. (house provided)** — listed in staff-graded positions. *(Source: 1960 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1965 — Yumbunga E.S. (Cabin); Shunting

### Staff Grade — 1965
> **Yumbunga — E.S. (Cabin); Shunting** — listed in staff-graded positions (appearing twice). *(Source: 1965 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1975 — Hours of Attendance

### Hours of Attendance — 1975
> **Yumbunga** — **12.1 a.m. to 5.0 a.m.; 7.0 p.m. to 12 midnight**. *(Source: 1975 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** Like Monkerai and Nooroo before it, Yumbunga's hours of attendance were primarily on the night shift — confirming the loop's principal function was crossing the overnight passenger trains.

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## 1980 — Speed Board Yumbunga–Bulliac Amended

### Speed Board Amended — W.N. — 1980
> Under: **Yumbunga–Bulliac** — amend **319.660 km — 50 Down; 70 Up** to read **320.410 km — 50 Down; 70 Up**. *(Source: 1980 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1982 — Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — 24 May 1982

### Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — W.N. — 1982
> **Yumbunga (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — On **Monday, 24th May** [1982], between 7.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m., the Main line to loop points at each end of Yumbunga crossing loop will be converted to motor operation and the mechanical Main line and loop signals will be replaced by **colour light signals**.
>
> The foregoing points and signals will be worked from a **route control relay interlocking control panel** located in the signal-box. The existing mechanical interlocking machine will be placed out of use.
>
> **Colour light signals** — single light type; **low speed indication** (small green light) with route indicator, cleared by approaching train, beneath Down Home and Up Home signals.
>
> Entry to Loop line on authority of low speed signal with route indication.
>
> **Route Control Relay Interlocking Unit** — combined control panel and indicator diagram incorporating:
> (i) A diagram of the tracks throughout the Yumbunga area with track indicator lights.
>
> Electric Train Staff working remains in use on sections **Gloucester–Yumbunga** and **Yumbunga–Bulliac**; automatic staff exchanging equipment at Yumbunga remains available.
>
> **Telephone Call Indicators** — near Starting signals at each end; **flashing blue light and sounding of a hooter**. *(W.N. — 1982)*

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## 1984 — Section Lengths Confirmed; Signal Box Closed

### Section Lengths — 1984
> - Gloucester–Yumbunga: section reference
> - Yumbunga–Bulliac: section reference
>
> **Yumbunga** — listed in CTC section tables. *(Source: 1984 Weekly Notices)*

### Signal Box Closed — 1984
> **Signal box at Yumbunga closed, 1984** — following CTC conversion. *(Source: your notes)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **27 March 1945** | **Opened** as Centrally-operated Electric Train Staff and Crossing Loop at 196m 50c; Gloucester–Bulliac section cancelled; new sections Gloucester–Yumbunga (Type C) and Yumbunga–Bulliac (Type B); running times published (W.N. 13–1945) |
| 1946 | Staff exchanger: Down — Opposite Signal-box; Up — 25 feet Grafton side of Signal-box; listed in alphabetical station sequence |
| **1948** | **Employee platform provided** — Up side, 4.8 metres (16 feet) |
| W.N. — 1955 | Additional Miniature ETS No. 52 on Yumbunga–Bulliac |
| 1960 | Yumbunga E.S. (house provided) — staff grade |
| 1965 | Yumbunga E.S. (Cabin); Shunting — staff grade |
| 1975 | Hours: 12.1 a.m.–5.0 a.m.; 7.0 p.m.–midnight |
| W.N. — 1980 | Speed board Yumbunga–Bulliac amended — 319.660 km → 320.410 km (50 Down / 70 Up mph) |
| **24 May 1982** | **Motor-operated points and colour light signals** — route control relay interlocking panel; low speed indications; telephone call indicators (blue light and hooter); ETS Gloucester–Yumbunga and Yumbunga–Bulliac retained; automatic staff exchangers remain |
| **1984** | **Signal box closed** following CTC conversion |
| **February 1995** | **Loop closed** |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1945–1984.* 
*Note: The 1946 OCR renders Yumbunga as "Pumbunga" in the Down Line exchanger entry — a Y/P confusion consistent with the handwritten capital Y being misread. The loop's hours of attendance (night shift only) confirm its primary purpose was crossing the overnight Brisbane/Grafton Mail trains — the same pattern as Monkerai and Nooroo on the Dungog–Gloucester section.*