Manning River Siding

[Goldilocks]

Open as Taree Wharf Siding (no wharf) 9.3.1917,
Changed to Manning River siding 1.2.1926,

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5905 shunting the River sidings down to the milk and other factories at Taree on 19th April 1970 (George Stevens)

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48151 Manning River Sidings, Taree, 29 March 1987. (Ed Tonks)

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Taree (21) Station notes:
The de-industrialisation of the Taree Manning river branch:
here is a series of photo's taken recently along the Manning river branch, boy we've come a long way as a society vandalism & graffiti instead of jobs!
Greg Riddel.

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Manning River Siding, 2024 (John Grocott)

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5905 is shunting the River siding (more or less and industrial siding) at Taree on 19th April 1970 (George Stevens)

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4865 & 8249 heading onto the Manning river branch to shunt milk 🥛 wagons.

Circa mid to later 90's
Photo Justin Moy

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Peter's factory at Taree (undated) (Geoff Riley)

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# Manning River Siding (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1917–1985

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**Type:** Private Branch Siding (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (from Taree station, Grafton direction) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 379.813 km (Mileage 236.55 — Peters Creameries level crossing; 236.73 — Chatham Sawmilling level crossing) 
**Opened:** **9 March 1917** (coinciding with Taree–Shopernook ETS installation — see Wharf Siding note) 
**Closed:** 2002 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after the Manning River, along which the siding ran 
**Length (1944):** .67 chains — terminates in dead end 
**Branch character:** 1.5 km branch running along Manning River serving multiple local industries 
**Industries served:** Peters Creameries Pty. Ltd.; Manning Co-operative Dairy Society Ltd. (later Dairy Farmers); Chatham Sawmilling Co.; Taree Timber and Trading Company (Taree Timber Siding from 1918); Allowrie Butter 
**Level crossings:** Mileage 236.55 (Peters Creameries Pty. Ltd.); Mileage 236.73 (Chatham Sawmilling Co.) 
**Speed limit:** 15 mph maximum 
**Working:** Engine sent from Taree; hauled to and from siding; daylight or dark 
**Telephone:** Direct telephone between Taree North Signal-box and Manning River Siding intermediate staff hut 
**Pilotman's Key:** In Taree North Signal-box — for operating Frame A at Manning River Siding during Pilot Working 
**Release Button:** No. 88 release button (1985) — signalman depresses for one second for electric release 
**Emergency Release Keys:** Frames B, C, D/G, E1, E2, F, H, J, M and N in releasing locks in Traffic Room (1985) 

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> **Notes:** Manning River Siding opened on 9 March 1917 as part of the broader Taree yard development coinciding with ETS installation on the Gloucester–Taree section. The siding ran approximately 1.5 km along the Manning River serving Peters Creameries, the Manning Co-operative Dairy Society, Chatham Sawmilling and other industries. From 13 July 1918 the terminal end (245 feet) was granted to the Taree Timber and Trading Company (Taree Timber Siding). Peters' Siding was later connected off the Down side of Manning River Siding from 18 September 1939. By 1944 the siding had been reconditioned (since 29 October 1943) and a Loop siding of 220 feet provided on the Up side near the Manning Co-op Dairy Society building. The gate in the boundary fence (from 8 May 1930, Circular No. 129 of 1926) required the Guard or Shunter to secure it for train passage and close it on completion. By 1975 direct telephone communication from Taree North Signal-box to the Manning River intermediate staff hut was in place, and a Pilotman's Key in Taree North Signal-box operated Frame A at Manning River during Pilot Working. By 1985 the siding was operated by electric release button No. 88 from the signalman (shunting signal 11(S)M for Down direction movements), with emergency release keys for multiple frames in the Traffic Room. The siding closed in 2002.

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## 1917 — Siding Opened — 9 March 1917

### Opening — 1917
> Manning River Siding opened **9 March 1917** in conjunction with the Taree yard developments associated with ETS installation on Gloucester–Taree (March 1917). *(Source: your notes; referenced in subsequent WN entries)*

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## 1930 — Gate Provided in Boundary Fence — 8 May 1930; Circular No. 129 of 1926

### Gate in Boundary Fence — W.N. 38–1930
> **Page 264 — Manning River Siding (North Coast)** — Since **8th May, 1930**, a Gate has been provided in the boundary fence about [blank] feet inside the Catch-points, and when proceeding to or from the Siding, the Guard or Shunter must secure the Gate for the safe passage of the train, and when the work has been completed the Gate must be closed and properly secured.
>
> **Circular No. 129 of 1926** to be also posted accordingly. (30–27,027.) *(W.N. 38–1930)*

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## 1944 — Reconditioned Throughout — since 29 October 1943; Loop Siding Provided; Level Crossings

### Manning River Siding Reconditioned — W.N. — 1944
> **Page 264 — Manning River Siding — Reconditioning of Line** — Since **29th October, 1943**, Manning River Siding has been reconditioned throughout, and instructions on the subject in Weekly Notice No. 11 of 1937 are hereby cancelled.
>
> The following instructions apply:
>
> **Manning River Siding** — This siding is **.67 chains in length** and terminates in a dead end.
>
> A **Loop siding, 220 feet in length** in the clear, is provided on the **Up side** of the siding on the **Taree side of the Manning River Co-op. Dairy Society Ltd building**.
>
> The siding must be worked by an engine sent from Taree, and may be worked **during daylight or dark** as required. The train must be **hauled to and from the siding**, and the speed must not exceed **15 miles per hour**. During dark, the Guard or Shunter must bring the train to a stand at the facing points at the Sydney end of the siding and satisfy himself that the road is clear before entering the siding.
>
> **Level Crossings** — The siding passes over two private level crossings:
> - Mileage **236.55** — **Peters Creameries Pty. Ltd.**
> - Mileage **236.73** — **Chatham Sawmilling Coy.**
>
> All movements of trains over these level crossings must be protected in accordance with the Regulations; trains must not be allowed to pass over the level crossing until the Guard or Shunter has satisfied himself no road vehicles are approaching. *(Source: 1944 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1945 — Manning Co-op Dairy Society — Siding Referenced

### Manning Co-op Dairy Society Loop — W.N. — 1945
> Loop siding on Up side of Manning River Siding on Taree side of Manning River Co-op. Dairy Society Ltd building referenced in Taree yard working instructions. *(Source: 1945 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1975 — Direct Telephone; Pilotman's Key at Taree North Signal-box; ETS Released by Taree North–Melinga or Pilotman's Key

### Telephone and Pilotman's Key — W.N. 18–1975
> **Telephone** — Direct telephone communication provided between **Taree North Signal-box** and the intermediate staff huts at the **Manning River and Grasslands Pty. Ltd. sidings**.
>
> **Pilotman's Key** — A Pilotman's key is provided in **Taree North Signal-box** for the purpose of operating **Frame A at Manning River Siding** or Duplex Lock A at Grasslands Siding during Pilot Working.
>
> **Duplex Lock A** is unlocked by key on Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section **Taree North–Melinga** or by Pilotman's Key. (S. & C. 73–624506–W. & M.) *(W.N. 18–1975)*

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## 1985 — Electric Release Button No. 88; Shunting Instructions; Emergency Release Keys

### Shunting Manning River Siding — 1985
> **(c) Shunting Manning River Siding** — The signalman will set the shunting signal **11(S)M** for a Down direction shunting movement. When the shunting portion of the train or light loco has been brought to a stand clear of the points, the signalman, upon being requested by the shunter with the train, will give the electric release by depressing **No. 88 release button for one second**. The points may then be unlocked and operated as required.
>
> When the electric release is taken, the yellow "release normal" light will be extinguished.
>
> When shunting is completed, all levers in the ground frame must be returned to the normal position; the releasing switch restored to normal and the **cancel button under the ground frame releasing button depressed by the signalman for one second**. The steady yellow "release normal" light will then be displayed on the control panel.
>
> **Emergency release keys** — for Frames B, C, D/G, E1, E2, F, H, J, M and N provided in releasing locks in the **Traffic Room** attached to [the signal box]. *(Source: 1985 Weekly Notices)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **9 March 1917** | **Siding opened** — approximately 1.5 km branch along Manning River from Taree station (Grafton direction); Peters Creameries, Manning Co-op Dairy Society, Chatham Sawmilling |
| **13 July 1918** | Terminal 245 feet granted to Taree Timber and Trading Company — becomes Taree Timber Siding (gazetted W.N. 33–1929) |
| Circular No. 129 of 1926 | Manning River Siding base instructions issued |
| **8 May 1930** | Gate provided in boundary fence — Guard/Shunter must secure before train passage; Circular No. 129 of 1926 amended (W.N. 38–1930) |
| **18 September 1939** | Peters' Siding connected off Down side of Manning River Siding — 570 feet, Taree Central Creameries Pty. Ltd. |
| **29 October 1943** | Siding reconditioned throughout; Weekly Notice No. 11 of 1937 instructions cancelled |
| W.N. — 1944 | **Reconditioned instructions published** — 0.67 chains to dead end; Loop siding 220 feet Up side near Manning Co-op Dairy Society building; level crossings at 236.55 (Peters) and 236.73 (Chatham Sawmilling); 15 mph limit; hauled working |
| **13 February 1945** | Peters' Siding extended 316 feet |
| W.N. 18–1975 | Direct telephone Taree North–Manning River staff hut; Pilotman's Key at Taree North for Frame A at Manning River; Duplex Lock A released by Taree North–Melinga ETS or Pilotman's Key |
| W.N. — 1985 | Electric release No. 88 button for Down shunting; shunting signal 11(S)M; cancel button procedure; emergency release keys Frames B, C, D/G, E1, E2, F, H, J, M, N in Traffic Room |
| **2002** | **Siding closed** |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1917–1985.* 
*Note: Manning River Siding's 85-year operational life (1917–2002) is the longest of any siding documented in the North Coast collection, surpassing even the 78 years of Manning Co-operative Bacon Company's Siding. The number of named ground frames (B, C, D/G, E1, E2, F, H, J, M and N) by 1985 reflects the accumulation of connections to multiple industrial customers over the siding's 68-year life to that point.*