Lowanna

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# Lowanna (Dorrigo Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1924–1975

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**Type:** Station / Crossing Loop (Closed; site reused) 
**Line:** Dorrigo Branch (Timber Top–Lowanna / Lowanna–Megan sections) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 684.400 km (approximately Mileage 428m–429m) 
**Location:** -30.206750, 152.898718 
**Between:** Timber Top (south) and Megan (north via Ulong) 
**Opened:** **23 December 1924** — with Dorrigo Branch; signal-box at opening; Circular No. 584 of 1924 (Glenreagh–Dorrigo) 
**Closed:** **1972** (final train); **21 August 1975** (station formally closed — per your notes) 
**Status:** Closed; site reused 
**Name meaning:** Aboriginal word meaning "girl" 
**Platform:** **30.4-metre (100-foot)** Down side 
**Yard cranes:** **Four 10-tonne cranes** provided (per your notes) 
**Loop at opening:** 377-metre interlocked loop; Signal-box A — Down and Up Home signals; Landmarks in lieu of Distant signals; Frames B and C (Duplex Lock on No. 2 Lever in Signal-box A; Regulation g); **Circular No. 584 of 1924** 
**Controlling station:** Lowanna — controlled Ulong, Brooklana, Mulhearn's Siding, Briggsvale, Megan and other sidings on Lowanna–Dorrigo section 

### ETS Sections History
| Date | Sections |
|------|---------|
| **23 Dec 1924** | Glenreagh–Lowanna; Lowanna–Dorrigo |
| **W.N. 46–1925** | Glenreagh–Timber Top (Type A); Timber Top–Lowanna (Type C) — **Circular No. 563 of 1925** |
| **W.N. 47–1925** | Lowanna–Megan (Type B); Megan–Dorrigo (Type A) — **Circular No. 589 of 1925** |
| **W.N. 48–1925** | Megan–Dorrigo corrected to Type B; cancels W.N. 47 |
| **W.N. 1–1925 (later)** | Final confirmed sections: Lowanna–Megan (Type B) and Megan–Dorrigo (Type A) |
| **1972** | Glenreagh–Lowanna created when Timber Top closed (31 May 1972) |

### Associated Sidings at Lowanna
- **Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge's Sidings:** Opened **9 May 1925** (W.N. 20–1925) — Mileage 434m 53c; No. 1 Siding 387 feet dead-end (Up side); No. 2 Siding 159 feet leading off No. 1 Siding; grades 1 in 200 and 1 in 50 falling from Main line
- **ACI Casemaker's Siding, Lowanna:** Listed in accommodation table (1961); renamed **Lloyd's Siding, Lowanna** — W.N. 18–1961 (ref. A.1–59–31,203); still in tables as both names 1972
- **Nairns Siding, Lowanna:** Listed in 1972 accommodation table 

### Key Administrative Events
**Loose key withdrawn:** **4 July 1961** — loose key for section Timber Top–Lowanna (siding worked — Moleton) withdrawn from service; all particulars in respect of loose key deleted (W.N. 27–1961; ref. S.&T.E. 60–630,351) 
**Glenreagh–Lowanna section created:** **31 May 1972** — when Timber Top closed as crossing station; Timber Top–Lowanna cancelled (W.N. 20 and 21–1972) 
**Power's code inserted:** W.N. — 1975 — **3390–6** (Lowanna) 

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> **Notes:** Lowanna opened 23 December 1924 with the Dorrigo Branch. Signal-box A with Duplex Lock on No. 2 Lever releasing Frames B and C (Regulation g) — a more complex arrangement than the intermediate sidings with simple Staff Drawer Locks. Controlling station for the Lowanna–Dorrigo section (Ulong, Brooklana, Mulhearn's Siding, Briggsvale, Megan etc.). The Lowanna–Dorrigo section was split in November 1925 into Lowanna–Megan and Megan–Dorrigo with two revisions (W.N. 47 and 48–1925). Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge's Sidings opened 9 May 1925, just north of Lowanna at Mileage 434m 53c. ACI Casemaker's Siding renamed Lloyd's Siding W.N. 18–1961. Loose key for Timber Top–Lowanna (serving Moleton siding) withdrawn 4 July 1961. Timber Top closed 31 May 1972 — Glenreagh–Lowanna section created.

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## 1924 — Opened 23 December 1924; Signal-box A; Frames B and C; Duplex Lock; Regulation G; Circular No. 584

### Opening — 23 December 1924; Lowanna Signalling
> **LOWANNA** —
>
> **Signal-box "A"** — The Down and Up Home signals are worked from Signal-box "A." **Landmarks** are provided in lieu of Distant signals.
>
> **Frames "B" and "C"** — No. 1 Lever in Frames "B" and "C" are unlocked by either key from the **Duplex Lock on No. 2 Lever in Signal-box "A"**, and must be operated in accordance with **Regulation (g)** of Weekly Notice No. 37 of 1920. *(W.N. 53–1924; Circular No. 584 of 1924)*

### Sections and Controlling Station at Opening — 1924
> **Sections at opening:**
> - Timber Top and Moleton → Glenreagh–Lowanna section
> - Ulong, Brooklana, Mulhearn's Siding, Briggsvale and Megan → Lowanna–Dorrigo section
>
> **Lowanna** — Controlling station for Ulong, Brooklana, Mulhearn's Siding, Briggsvale, Megan and sidings between Lowanna and Dorrigo. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices — Circular No. 584 of 1924)*

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## 1925 — Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge's Sidings — 9 May 1925; Sections Revised — W.N. 46, 47, 48–1925

### Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge's Sidings — W.N. 20–1925
> **Pages 49, 62 and 302 — Between Lowanna and Dorrigo (Glenreagh–Dorrigo Branch) — Provision of Sidings for Messrs. Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge at Mileage 434.53** — On **Saturday, 9th May, 1925**, between 8.0 a.m. and 12 noon, new Sidings, laid in on the **Up side** of the Branch line at Mileage **434m 53c**, between Lowanna and Dorrigo, will be brought into use, known as **EARP, WOODCOCK AND BEVERIDGE'S SIDINGS**.
>
> **No. 1 Siding:** Dead-end; **387 feet** in length in the clear.
>
> **No. 2 Siding:** Leads off No. 1 Siding near catch-points; **159 feet** in length in the clear; also dead-end.
>
> **Grades:** No. 1 Siding — 1 in 200 falling from Main line; No. 2 Siding — 1 in 50 falling from No. 1 Siding. *(W.N. 20–1925)*

### Glenreagh–Lowanna Section Split — W.N. 46–1925
> **System of Working** — The existing Miniature Electric Train Staff section **Glenreagh–Lowanna** will be cancelled, and the new sections brought into use as follows:
> - **Glenreagh–Timber Top**: Miniature Electric Train Staff, Type **A**; Staffs Nos. 1–20 ordinary
> - **Timber Top–Lowanna**: Miniature Electric Train Staff, Type **C**; Staffs Nos. 1–20 ordinary
>
> Instruments equipped for Ordinary and Automatic Working. **Circular No. 563 of 1925.** *(W.N. 46–1925)*

### Lowanna–Dorrigo Section Split — W.N. 47–1925
> **System of Working** — The existing Miniature Electric Train Staff section **Lowanna–Dorrigo** will be cancelled, and new sections brought into use:
> - **Lowanna–Megan**: Type **B**; Staffs Nos. 1–20 ordinary
> - **Megan–Dorrigo**: Type **A**; Staffs Nos. 1–20 ordinary
>
> **Circular No. 589 of 1925.** *(W.N. 47–1925)*

### Megan–Dorrigo Corrected to Type B — W.N. 48–1925
> The **Megan–Dorrigo** section is **Type B** (not Type A as stated in W.N. 47–1925). Both Lowanna–Megan and Megan–Dorrigo are Type B; Staffs Nos. 1–20 ordinary. **Circular No. 589 of 1925.** This cancels the instruction in W.N. 47–1925. *(W.N. 48–1925)*

### Final Section Confirmation — W.N. 1–1925 (later)
> **Sections on pages 301–302 — Lowanna–Megan**: Type B, Nos. 1–20 ordinary; **Megan–Dorrigo**: Type A, Nos. 1–20 ordinary. The system shown on page 63 of W.N. 48–1925 is hereby cancelled. *(W.N. 1–1925 [later issue])*

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## 1930 — Lowanna Controlling Station; Guarantee Clause

### Controlling Station Reference — 1930
> **Lowanna** — Controlling Station. Guarantee to the extent of **£250** at Ulong. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1961 — ACI Casemaker's Siding Renamed Lloyd's Siding — W.N. 18–1961; Loose Key Withdrawn — W.N. 27–1961

### ACI Renamed Lloyd's Siding — W.N. 18–1961
> **Page 63 — Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Lowanna (Glenreagh–Dorrigo Branch)** — Delete **A.C.I. Casemaker's Siding, Lowanna** and insert **Lloyd's Siding, Lowanna**. (A.1–59–31,203.) *(W.N. 18–1961)*

> **Shunting charges table:** Delete Lowanna — A.C.I. Case-Makers Siding; insert Lowanna — **Lloyd's Siding**. *(W.N. 21–1961)*

> **Lloyd's Siding, Lowanna:** Standing room inserted in accommodation table (W.N. 22–1961); listed in alphabetical list W.N. 28–1961.

### Loose Key Withdrawn — W.N. 27–1961
> Since **4th July, 1961**, the key will be removed from the ordinary staff and key (and the loose key for the section **Timber Top–Lowanna** be withdrawn from service). All particulars in respect of the loose key for the section Timber Top–Lowanna (**siding worked — Moleton**) are to be deleted as from the abovementioned date. (S.&T.E. 60–630,351–W.&M.) *(W.N. 27–1961)*

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## 1972 — Glenreagh–Lowanna Created when Timber Top Closed — 31 May 1972

### Glenreagh–Lowanna Section — W.N. 20 and 21–1972
> Glenreagh–Timber Top and Timber Top–Lowanna cancelled. **Glenreagh–Lowanna** section created. *(W.N. 20 and 21–1972)*

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## 1975 — Power's Code Inserted — W.N. — 1975

### Power's Code — 1975
> Insert — **Lowanna** — Power's code **3390–6**. *(Source: 1975 Weekly Notices)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **23 December 1924** | **Opened** — 30.4-metre Down platform; 377-metre loop; Signal-box A; Frames B and C (Duplex Lock No. 2 Lever; Regulation g); Landmarks; Glenreagh–Lowanna and Lowanna–Dorrigo sections; Circular No. 584 of 1924; controlling station for Lowanna–Dorrigo sidings |
| **9 May 1925** | **Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge's Sidings** — Mileage 434m 53c; No. 1 Siding 387 feet; No. 2 Siding 159 feet; grades 1 in 200 and 1 in 50 (W.N. 20–1925) |
| **W.N. 46–1925** | Glenreagh–Lowanna cancelled; **Glenreagh–Timber Top** (Type A) and **Timber Top–Lowanna** (Type C) created; Circular No. 563 of 1925 |
| **W.N. 47–1925** | Lowanna–Dorrigo cancelled; **Lowanna–Megan** (Type B) and **Megan–Dorrigo** (Type A) created; Circular No. 589 of 1925 |
| **W.N. 48–1925** | Megan–Dorrigo corrected to Type B; cancels W.N. 47 |
| **W.N. 18–1961** | ACI Casemaker's Siding renamed **Lloyd's Siding, Lowanna** (ref. A.1–59–31,203) |
| **4 July 1961** | Loose key for Timber Top–Lowanna (serving Moleton siding) withdrawn (W.N. 27–1961) |
| **31 May 1972** | Timber Top closed; **Glenreagh–Lowanna** section created; Timber Top–Lowanna cancelled |
| **1972** | **Final train** |
| **21 August 1975** | **Station formally closed** |
| W.N. — 1975 | Power's code **3390–6** inserted |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1924–1975.* 
*Note: The Lowanna loop section history is unusually complex — the Lowanna–Dorrigo section was revised twice in rapid succession (W.N. 47 and 48 of 1925) to correct the ETS type designation for Megan–Dorrigo (Type A → Type B). This two-correction pattern within the same month of commissioning is rare and suggests the original Circular No. 589 of 1925 had an error that was caught after publication. Lowanna's role as the controlling station for the entire Lowanna–Dorrigo section (Ulong, Brooklana, Mulhearn's Siding, Briggsvale, Megan etc.) made it the operational hub of the upper Dorrigo Branch — more significant than its modest platform size might suggest.*