Gurranang

[admin]

Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 727.700km
Opened : 6 November 1905
Closed : 30 June 1972 (station), 1983 (signal box)
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Aboriginal word meaning "native bee" or sugar
Notes: GURRANANG 727 .662km/ 23.7m Opened as SPORTMANS CREEK 6.11.1905, changed to GURRANANG 29.9.1910, closed 30.6.1974. Line opened 6.11.1905 from Grafton to Casino, single track, construction carried out by the Public Works Department and work commenced 6.1901. An Aboriginal word for Native bee or Sugar. Sportmans Creek passes under the line 2. 89km south of the station. The first 30.48m long platform was constructed by H.W.Owen with a 4.57m long timber waiting shed. In 1925 the platform was renewed in brick. There was a 203mm bore water column serving the Main and Loop 91.44m from the Sydney end of the platform, and another 203mm bore water column servicing the Main and loop 73.15m from the Brisbane end of the platform. Weekly Notice #33/1966 indicated the removal of a tank with a 203mm bore jib 21.33m from the Brisbane end of the platform. The water was pumped by a steam plant from a weir on Sportmans Creek. 24.11.1911 - Level-crossing provided. 15.9.1925 - Interlocked crossing loop 383m long laid in. 13.10.1925 - Trucking yards constructed. 15.11.1925 - Brick platform erected. 19.12.1977 - Goods siding removed. 28.2.1983 - Conversion to power control of signals and points.

[admin]

Gurranang, 1982 (Greg Lee)





Greg Lee:


"Some itinerate railway workers did actually camp in trolley sheds, with the permission of the local Ganger. The sort of people who did that also tended to eat things like "red bill" (swamp hen). Or duck, or anything really."

[admin]

Gurranang, 1982 (Greg Lee)

[admin]

Gurranang, 1982 (Greg Lee)

[admin]

Gurranang 1978 (Ian Boswell)

[admin]

3604 hauling #11 Mail crosses 3636 hauling #14 Mail at Gurranang 18/9/1936 (State Archives)

[admin]

3636 hauling Mail #14 changes crew at Gurranang 30/9/1938 (State Archives)

[admin]

Gurranang Station in 1948 - it had a bank engine working with a small 12 class to assist to Ml.407 over the range and return .Station was manned by an ASM grade 5 and a safe-working porter (Wal Browning)

[admin]

31/12/1934 - derailment near Gurranang

[admin]

Gurranang in 2013

[admin]

Location of Gurranang (Six Maps)

[admin]

Bank engine instructions from Weekly Notice 32 of 1943

[admin]

Wal Browning:

I would like to add to my Photo an experience that happened 74 years ago at this place : Gurranang was noted for swarms of mosquitoes come evening I was doing a night-shift and just about been drained by these insects the previous night, so I had a plan I cut holes in the SOG despatch bag for vision pulled it over my head and used the canvas parcel bag stepped into it and tired around my waste. I sat on the chair and dozed off next thing I knew was a loud knocking on the door I jumped up opened it confronted by a guard he took one look and raced in a down direction toward his train I was calling out it`s me the Signalman he just kept running . I pulled off the up home and as he went past the box gave me a lesson in language and a bucket of water

[admin]

Plan of the proposed town.

[admin]

Gurranang 1973, the automatic staff exchanger set up to deliver the token for the section to Banyabba without the train slowing down (John Shields)