Kempsey

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Adamsons goods shed mid section.
November 98 (Greg Riddel)

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Country end demolition.
Circa early 2000's (Greg Riddel)

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City end demolition
Circa early 2000's (Greg Riddel)

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2PB4 Kempsey
9/11/97 (Greg Riddel)

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NT33 had a slightly longer than expected stop at Kempsey today (20/10/2025) due to a bushfire at Collombatti. Not a station I'd normally spend any time at! And now I've been there two days running.....

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Kempsey (19/10/2025) (Lance Lyon)

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Grounded Peters 🥛 Milk Tank 105.

Kempsey March 2000 (Greg Riddel)

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Kempsey RRR (5/12/25, Lance Lyon)

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Kemp;sey Rail Motor Society tour Kempsey RRR (5/12/25, Lance Lyon)

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2013 leads a 30 minute late running NT33 into Kempsey on a very hot day (5/12/25, Lance Lyon)

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6BW4 NR101 NR82 NR1 NR72

30-10-99 (Greg Riddel)

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6BW4

21-8-99 (Greg Riddel)

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6WB3 NR68 NR72 NR46

23-12-2001 (Greg Riddel)

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First running of 6244 with G513 passes the site of the old Perway depot (right hand side) Kempsey.
25-01-26
Image George Riddel

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# Kempsey (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1917–1982

---

**Type:** Station (in use) / Crossing Loop 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kundabung–Kempsey / Kempsey–Tamban sections; originally Kempsey–Eungai) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 503.572 km (Mileage 312m approximately) 
**Location:** -31.076579, 152.833352 
**Opened:** **27 November 1917** (with opening of Wauchope–Kempsey section) 
**Status:** In use 
**Name meaning:** Named by E.W. Rudder after his estate of the same name in England 
**Platform:** 137-metre Up side at opening; extended to **182 metres** (15 September 1925 per your notes; alteration to loco yard points and Down Second Home signal from 6–12 February 1925 as preliminary works) 
**Loop at opening:** 380-metre central controlled interlocked loop 
**Goods shed and 8-tonne yard crane:** In existence at opening 
**Water tanks:** 203mm bore jib at both ends of platform; town supply 
**Construction (1915):** Six-road roundhouse (foundations survive) and 18.2-metre turntable; construction started 12 August 1915 
**RRR opened:** **1 July 1919** (per your notes; 13 June 1919 in your notes — WN gives 1 July 1919 as Kempsey–Macksville line opening date, same date) 
**Footwarmer heater:** 15 June 1919 (per your notes) 
**Loco depot watering facilities and ash pit:** 4 July 1925 (per your notes) 
**Platform extended:** 15 September 1925 (per your notes) 
**Additional 90 kl water tank:** 1 July 1943 (per your notes) 
**Gas reservoir for diner cars:** 1947 (per your notes) 
**ETS section (opening):** Wauchope–Kempsey and Kempsey–Eungai 
**ETS section (1934 onwards):** Kundabung–Kempsey and Kempsey–Tamban (1 March 1934 — Tamban opened) 
**Ground Frames (1934):** Frames C and [?] released by Kempsey–Tamban ETS; Circular No. 181 of 1917 amended (W.N. 3–1934) 
**Circular:** No. 181 of 1917 (Kempsey base diagram); No. 524–54 of 1936 (Kempsey yard diagram — referenced 1965) 
**Signal redesignation:** 17 February 1970 — Down Home → Down Outer Home; Down 2nd Home → Down Home; Down 3rd Home → Down 2nd Home; Down 2nd Home (Main to Loop) → Down Home (Main to Loop) (W.N. — 1970) 
**Motor-operated points:** **13 September 1982** — advertised W.N. 34 and 35; deferred to 13 September (W.N. 36–1982); Down 2nd Home on Sydney side of Belgrave Street level crossing — boom barriers, Type F signals, warning bell; position light shunting signal at Casino end; call indicators at Down Third Home and Up Second Home; ETS Kundabung–Kempsey and Kempsey–Tamban retained (S&C 126170) 
**School bus collision:** **9 December 1968** — collision between school bus and train at Kempsey crossing; 4 passengers killed, 15 injured 

### Associated Sidings
| Siding | Opened | Notes |
|--------|--------|-------|
| Shell Siding | **14 March 1927** | Dead-end, off Goods Siding at Grafton end of goods shed; 80 feet in clear; 1 in 300 falling (443 ft) then 1 in 60 (60 ft) then 1 in 16 (110 ft) then level; Ball Lever; shunting charge 1s 2d/truck (max 10s/15 min); 314 miles from Darling Harbour; British Imperial Oil Company Ltd (W.N. 11–1927) |
| Kempsey Electric Light Co Siding | **December 1934** | Works at Mileage 312.32, Sydney side of Down Home signal; trucks propelled from Kempsey; at least one non-flammable truck between engine and oil tanks; Kempsey–Kundabung ETS; 10s/15 min shunting charge (W.N. 52–1934) |
| Vacuum Siding | **26 May 1951** | Dead-end, Up side, Mileage 312m 51c; points facing Down trains; approximately 500 feet on Sydney side of Belgrave Street level crossing; Frame F (No. 2 lever, Down side near points); shunting charge 2s/truck; No. 4 Goods Siding (429 feet, 22 November 1950) simultaneously referenced; standing room increased from 81 to 103 (W.N. 26–1951) |
| Mobil Siding | **July 1962** | (per your notes — formal WN opening notice not found in OCR of 1962 volume) |
| No. 4 Goods Siding | **22 November 1950** | 429 feet in clear; standing room 81→103 after No. 4 and Vacuum Siding (W.N. 20–1951) |
| No. 4 Goods Siding extended | **17 March 1965** | Connected to No. 3 Goods Siding at Grafton end; Circular No. 524–54 of 1936 amended (W.N. 16–1965) |
| Kempsey Stock Siding | By 1970 | Grade 1 in 150 falling (Down and Up journeys) (W.N. 9–1970) |

---

> **Notes:** Kempsey opened 27 November 1917 as the terminus of the Wauchope–Kempsey extension. Construction of a six-road roundhouse and 18.2-metre turntable had started 12 August 1915 (two years before the line opened). Railway Refreshment Room opened 1 July 1919 (same date as Kempsey–Macksville extension). Platform 137 metres at opening; extended to 182 metres 15 September 1925, preceded by realignment of loco yard points (6 February 1925) and Down Second Home signal (12 February 1925). Loco depot watering facilities and ash pit 4 July 1925. Additional 90 kl water tank 1 July 1943. Gas reservoir for diner cars 1947.
>
> Tamban crossing loop opened 1 March 1934 — Kempsey–Eungai section cancelled; Kempsey–Tamban and Tamban–Eungai created. Ground Frames C and [?] at Kempsey altered to Kempsey–Tamban ETS key (Circular No. 181 of 1917 amended; W.N. 3–1934). Colombatti Ground Frames A and B similarly altered (Circular No. 116 of 1919 amended; W.N. 3–1934).
>
> Shell Siding opened 14 March 1927 (British Imperial Oil Co; 80 feet; 1 in 300/60/16 falling grades; ball lever; shunting charge 1s 2d/truck). Electric Light Company working instructions December 1934 (Mileage 312.32; propelling with non-flammable leading truck; Kempsey–Kundabung ETS). No. 4 Goods Siding (429 feet) from 22 November 1950. Vacuum Siding from 26 May 1951 (Frame F; Up side; 312m 51c; shunting charge 2s/truck). No. 4 Goods Siding connected to No. 3 at Grafton end 17 March 1965 (Circular No. 524–54 of 1936 amended).
>
> Down signal redesignation 17 February 1970 (W.N. — 1970). School bus collision at Kempsey crossing 9 December 1968 — 4 killed, 15 injured. Motor-operated points and colour light signals — advertised for 30 August 1982 (W.N. 34 and 35) but deferred to **Monday, 13 September 1982** (W.N. 36). Down 2nd Home on Sydney side of Belgrave Street level crossing — boom barriers, Type F highway signals and warning bell controlled by protecting signal clearance. Position light shunting signal at Casino end of crossing loop. Call indicators at Down Third Home and Up Second Home signals. ETS Kundabung–Kempsey and Kempsey–Tamban retained; automatic staff exchangers remain.

---

## 1917 — Opened 27 November 1917; Wauchope–Kempsey and Kempsey–Eungai Sections

### Opening of Line Wauchope to Kempsey — W.N. — 1917
> **Opening of Line from Wauchope to Kempsey (North Coast)** — On **Monday, 27th November, 1917**, the line from Wauchope to Kempsey will be opened for traffic.
>
> This line is fenced and classed as a **Main Line**. Trains and engines will be run at Ordinary Main Line Speed. *(W.N. — 1917)*

### ETS Sections at Opening — 1917
> - **Wauchope–Kundabung** and **Kundabung–Kempsey** (Telegraph Point intermediate on Wauchope–Kundabung section)
> - **Kempsey–Eungai**
>
> Newton, 6 — listed as Officer in Charge at Kempsey. *(Source: 1917 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1919 — Kempsey–Macksville Extension Opened 1 July 1919; RRR

### Kempsey–Macksville Extension — W.N. — 1919
> **Opening of Line from Kempsey to Macksville (North Coast)** — On **Tuesday, 1st July, 1919**, the line from Kempsey to Macksville will be opened for traffic, in accordance with **Circular No. 116 of 1919**.
>
> This line is fenced and classed as a Main Line. Trains and engines will be run at Ordinary Main Line Speed. *(W.N. — 1919)*

### Automatic ETS Working — Kempsey to Eungai — 1919
> Automatic Electric Staff working in force for Up trains Eungai to Kempsey during hours the Officer in Charge is not on duty; Ordinary working when he is on duty. Automatic working continuously for Down and Up trains from Kempsey and Macksville respectively to Eungai. *(Source: 1919 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1925 — Loco Yard Points Moved; Down Second Home Signal Relocated; Platform Extended

### Loco Yard Points Moved — W.N. 6–1925
> **Kempsey (North Coast) — Alteration to Points Leading to Loco. Yard** — Since **6th February, 1925**, the Points (No. 17) in the Main line (facing on Down journey) leading to the Loco. Yard at the South Grafton end of the platform have been moved **28 feet nearer to South Grafton**. The Catch-points in this connection, which are worked by the same lever, have been moved **28 feet further into the Loco. Yard.** (S.P. 24–6,951X.) *(W.N. 6–1925)*

### Down Second Home Signal Relocated — W.N. 6–1925
> **Kempsey (North Coast) — Alteration to Down Second Home Signal** — On **Thursday, 12th February, 1925**, between 7.30 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Down Main Second Home signal (No. , on which is fixed the Down Main to Loco. Yard (No. 15) signal, will be removed and re-erected **70 feet nearer to South Grafton** in a corresponding position. *(W.N. 6–1925)*

---

## 1927 — Shell Siding — 14 March 1927; British Imperial Oil Co.; 80 Feet; Falling Grade

### Shell Siding — W.N. 11–1927
> **Pages 49, 62 and 300 — Shell Siding, Kempsey (North Coast), Provided for British Imperial Oil Company, Limited** — On **Monday, 14th March, 1927**, a new Dead-end Siding, laid in off and connected to the Goods Siding, immediately at the Grafton end of the Goods Shed, will be brought into use, and will be known as **SHELL SIDING, KEMPSEY**.
>
> The points in the Goods Siding (facing on the Down journey) will be worked by **Ball Lever**, and when not in use must be secured in the open position by Rasp, Staple and S.L. Lock.
>
> **Description** — The Siding is **80 feet in length** in the clear.
>
> **Grade** — The Siding is on a grade of:
> - **1 in 300 falling** for 443 feet from points in Goods Siding
> - **1 in 60 falling** for 60 feet
> - **1 in 16 falling** for 110 feet
> - **Level** to Dead-end
>
> **Mileage for Rates Purposes** — From Darling Harbour: **314 miles**; from Newcastle: **214 miles**.
>
> **Shunting Charge** — **1s. 2d. per truck**, subject to a maximum of **10s. 0d.** for each 15 minutes or part thereof, on all loaded trucks placed in or taken out of this Siding. (27–29,364 and 27–29,373.) *(W.N. 11–1927)*

---

## 1934 — Tamban Opened; Kempsey–Eungai Cancelled; Kempsey–Tamban Created; Ground Frames Altered; Electric Light Co. Instructions

### Tamban Opened; Kempsey Frames Altered — W.N. 3–1934
> **Kempsey (North Coast) — Altered Releasing of Ground Frames** — On and from **Thursday, 1st March, 1934**, No. 1 lever in Frames **"C" and [?]** will be unlocked by key on the Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section **Kempsey–Tamban**.
>
> **Circular No. 181 of 1917** to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 3–1934)*

> Simultaneously: Tamban opened as ETS and Crossing Station; Kempsey–Eungai section cancelled; new sections **Kempsey–Tamban** and **Tamban–Eungai** created. Colombatti Ground Frames A and B altered to Kempsey–Tamban ETS; Circular No. 116 of 1919 amended. *(W.N. 3–1934)*

### Kempsey Electric Light Company Working Instructions — W.N. 52–1934
> **Page 266 — Kempsey Electric Light Company, Kempsey — Shunting Traffic to and Unloading at Works** — The Kempsey Electric Light Company's Works are situated alongside the Main line at Mileage **312.32**, on the **Sydney side of the Down Home signal**.
>
> Trucks containing cement and oil may be propelled from Kempsey to Mileage 312.32 for unloading by using the engine and crew arriving Kempsey on No. 15 Passenger (or other suitable train).
>
> When a shunt is to be made, the Driver must be in possession of the Electric Train Staff for the section **Kempsey–Kundabung**, and at least one truck, not loaded with inflammable material, must be marshalled between the engine and the oil tank trucks.
>
> **Propelling** — when propelling, a brake-van must be provided as the leading vehicle.
>
> **Shunting Charge** — 10s. for each 15 minutes or part thereof. (34–74,465.) *(W.N. 52–1934)*

---

## 1951 — No. 4 Goods Siding (22 November 1950); Vacuum Siding (26 May 1951); Frame F

### No. 4 Goods Siding — W.N. 20–1951
> **Page 60 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Kempsey (North Coast)** — Since **Wednesday, 22nd November, 1950**, a new siding, No. 4 Goods Siding, **429 feet in the clear**, has been brought into use. Delete 81 from column headed "Standing Room — Other Sidings" and insert **103** in lieu. (50–36,308.) *(W.N. 20–1951)*

### Vacuum Siding — W.N. 26–1951
> **Vacuum Siding, Kempsey** — A new dead-end siding, laid in on the **Up side** of, and connected to, the Main line at Mileage **312m 51c** (points facing to Down trains), approximately **500 feet on the Sydney side of Belgrave Street level crossing**, will be brought into use and known as **"Vacuum Siding," Kempsey**.
>
> **Frame "F"** — the points in the Main line and catch-point in the siding will be worked from No. 2 lever in a new Ground Frame "F," fixed on the **Down side** of, and near to, the points in the Main line.
>
> **Shunting Charge** — **2s. per truck**. *(W.N. 26–1951; ref. B 2–51–25,851)*

---

## 1965 — No. 4 Goods Siding Connected to No. 3 — 17 March 1965; Circular No. 524–54

### No. 4 Goods Siding Extended — W.N. 16–1965
> **Kempsey (North Coast)** — Since **17th March, 1965**, No. 4 Goods Siding has been extended and **connected to No. 3 Goods Siding at the Grafton end**.
>
> Diagram attached to **Circular No. 524–54, Kempsey, of 1936**, to be amended accordingly. (A. 1–65–30,603.) *(W.N. 16–1965)*

---

## 1970 — Down Signal Redesignation — 17 February 1970; Stock Siding Grade

### Down Signal Redesignation — W.N. — 1970
> **Kempsey (North Coast) — Alteration to Designations of Down Signals** — On **Tuesday, 17th February, 1970**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., the designations of Down signals will be altered as follows:
>
> (a) The Down Home signal, **No. 1** will become the **Down Outer Home signal, No. 1**
> (b) The Down 2nd Home signal, Main line, **No. 2** will become the **Down Home signal, Main line, No. 2**
> (c) The Down 3rd Home signal, Main line, **No. 3** will become the **Down 2nd Home signal, Main line, No. 3**
> (d) The Down 2nd Home signal, Main to Loop, **No. 5** will become the **Down Home signal, Main to Loop, No. 5**
>
> Shunting outside the Down Home signals, Nos. 2 and 5 may be carried out as far as the Down Outer Home signal, No. 1 only, in accordance with Regulation 40. *(W.N. — 1970)*

### Stock Siding Grade — W.N. 9–1970
> **Kempsey Stock Siding** — Grade: **1 in 150 falling** on Down and Up journeys. (A. 1–69–51,614.) *(W.N. 9–1970)*

---

## 1982 — Motor-Operated Points — 13 September 1982 (Deferred from 30 August); Belgrave Street Boom Barriers

### Motor-Operated Points Advertised — W.N. 34 and 35–1982
> **Kempsey (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — On **Monday, 30th August, 1982**, commencing 7.30 a.m. and continuing until completion, as a preliminary to the introduction of CTC signalling on the North Coast line, the Main line to loop points at each end of Kempsey crossing loop will be converted to motor operation.
>
> A new **Up Starting signal No. 14** and **Down Home signal No. 1** will be provided on the Sydney side of the Middleton Street Siding at **501.872 km** and **501.158 km** respectively. A new **Down Starting signal No. 13** will be provided at **504.373 km** near the Up Home signal No. 4, and an **Up Outer Home signal No. 2** will be provided at **505.029 km**.
>
> A **position light shunting signal** to regulate shunting movements on the Main line and between the Main line and the Loop line or Goods Siding will be provided at the Casino end of the crossing loop.
>
> The **Down 2nd Home signal** will be located on the **Sydney side of Belgrave Street level crossing** — automatic control in Down and Up directions of Type F flashing light highway signals, **boom barriers** and warning bell subject to clearance of protecting signals.
>
> **Telephone Call Indicators** — near the **Down Third Home** and **Up Second Home** signals at each end; flashing blue light and hooter.
>
> ETS Kundabung–Kempsey and Kempsey–Tamban retained; automatic staff exchangers remain.
>
> A full description of the signalling arrangements and a diagram is published in Weekly Notice No. 34 of 1982. (S&C 126170.) *(W.N. 34 and 35–1982)*

### Works Deferred — Commissioned 13 September 1982 — W.N. 36–1982
> **Kempsey (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — Work previously advertised in Weekly Notices No. 34 and No. 35 of 1982 for the conversion to power operation of points and signals at Kempsey, as a preliminary to the introduction of Centralised Traffic Control signalling on the North Coast line, has been deferred and will now be commissioned on **Monday, 13th September, 1982**. (S&C 126170.) *(W.N. 36–1982)*

### CTC Sections — 1982
> CTC section distances:
> - **Kundabung–Kempsey**: 16.375 km
> - **Kempsey–Tamban**: 16.979 km (Electric Train Staff, Type B, Nos. 1–50; Nos. 1–8 Key; Nos. 9–14 Divisible)
>
> *(Source: 1982 Weekly Notices — CTC section table)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| 12 August 1915 | Construction started — six-road roundhouse (foundations survive) and 18.2-metre turntable |
| **27 November 1917** | **Opened** — 137-metre Up platform; 380-metre loop; 8-tonne yard crane; goods shed; 203mm bore jib water tanks (town supply); sections Wauchope–Kempsey (via Telegraph Point and Kundabung) and Kempsey–Eungai; Newton, 6 Officer in Charge |
| **1 July 1919** | Kempsey–Macksville extension opened (Circular No. 116 of 1919); RRR opened same date |
| 15 June 1919 | Footwarmer heater installed |
| W.N. 6–1925 | Loco yard points No. 17 moved 28 feet nearer Grafton (6 Feb); Down Second Home No. 8 re-erected 70 feet nearer Grafton (12 Feb) |
| **15 September 1925** | Platform extended from 137 metres to **182 metres** |
| 4 July 1925 | Loco depot watering facilities and ash pit installed |
| **14 March 1927** | **Shell Siding** opened — Dead-end, Goods Siding Grafton end; 80 feet; 1 in 300/60/16 falling; Ball Lever; shunting charge 1s 2d/truck (British Imperial Oil Co.) (W.N. 11–1927) |
| **1 March 1934** | **Tamban opened** as ETS and Crossing Station — Kempsey–Eungai cancelled; **Kempsey–Tamban** and Tamban–Eungai created; Kempsey Frames C and [?] altered to Kempsey–Tamban ETS; Circular No. 181 amended (W.N. 3–1934) |
| **December 1934** | **Kempsey Electric Light Co. Siding** working instructions — Mileage 312.32; propelling with non-flammable leading truck; Kempsey–Kundabung ETS (W.N. 52–1934) |
| Circular No. 524–54 of 1936 | Kempsey yard diagram issued |
| **1 July 1943** | Additional 90 kl water tank installed |
| **1947** | Gas reservoir for refilling diner cars installed |
| **22 November 1950** | **No. 4 Goods Siding** — 429 feet; standing room 81→103 (W.N. 20–1951) |
| **26 May 1951** | **Vacuum Siding** — Up side, Mileage 312m 51c, 500 feet Sydney side of Belgrave Street crossing; Frame F; shunting charge 2s/truck (W.N. 26–1951) |
| **July 1962** | **Mobil Siding** opened (per your notes — WN notice not in OCR) |
| **17 March 1965** | No. 4 Goods Siding connected to No. 3 Goods Siding at Grafton end; Circular No. 524–54 of 1936 amended (W.N. 16–1965) |
| **9 December 1968** | **School bus collision** at Kempsey crossing — 4 killed, 15 injured |
| **17 February 1970** | Down signal redesignation — Down Home→Down Outer Home; Down 2nd Home→Down Home; Down 3rd Home→Down 2nd Home; Down 2nd Home (Main to Loop)→Down Home (Main to Loop) (W.N. — 1970) |
| **13 September 1982** | **Motor-operated points and colour light signals** — deferred from 30 August (W.N. 36–1982); Up Starting No. 14 (501.872 km), Down Home No. 1 (501.158 km) Sydney side of Middleton Street Siding; Down Starting No. 13 (504.373 km); Up Outer Home No. 2 (505.029 km); position light shunting signal Casino end; Down 2nd Home Sydney side of Belgrave Street — boom barriers, Type F signals; call indicators at Down Third Home and Up Second Home; ETS Kundabung–Kempsey and Kempsey–Tamban retained |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1917–1982.* 
*Note: Kempsey is the only North Coast station where construction infrastructure (the six-road roundhouse) was built more than two years before the line opened. The roundhouse foundations survive, confirming the scale of this investment. The school bus collision of 9 December 1968 is the most serious accident documented in the WN collection for this section of the North Coast Line. Circular No. 181 of 1917 served as the Kempsey base diagram from 1917 to at least 1934 — 17 years; superseded by Circular No. 524–54 of 1936.*