Roma Street

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8049 and 80 Class, "Brisbane Limited Express", Roma Street, Brisbane, Qld, July 1987 (Anthony Astle)

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Type : Station
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 988.617km
Location : -27.465070, 153.017968
Opened : 1986 (as the new terminus)
Closed : n/a
Status : Open
Name meaning : After the location
Notes : Northern terminus for the line. Roma Street Station is a Queensland Railways facility that has been the terminus of QR long-distance trains since **1 December 1940**, when it opened for long-distance trains from North and West of Brisbane. NSW/SRA North Coast Line trains began terminating at Roma Street on **21 June 1986** following the closure of South Brisbane Station and the opening of the Merivale Bridge standard gauge connection.

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Roma Street, 1995 - Countrylink Tilt Train demo. (Ian Stevens)

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Ron Webb's photo's. The Bicentennial train. 1) 3801 at the dead end buffers at Roma street. 2) From the top of 3801's tender.  On 22/9/1988.

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NT32 XP2005/2000 Roma St (Scott Sashmo)

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Queensland extension: Roma Street station in 1931

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NT32 at Roma Street, 23/9/22 (Michael Clark)

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44217 and 44216 haul the Brisbane Limited Express from Sydney into platform 1 at Brisbane Roma Street station, 32 years ago today, May 13 1989.

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8033 at Roma St, 22/6/1986 (Eric Lyon)

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Richard Hamann : "The Brisbane Limited was one of my favourite trains. Here it is standing at Roma Street towards the end of 1988 led by 8033 and another of its class. I rode the cab from Casino to here seeing the Brisbane Expo in full swing."

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XP 2005 City of Newcastle stabled at Roma Street station with XP 2004 City of Kempsey on the rear of XPT Promo train from Grafton to Roma Street and back to Grafton , cars sitting in Platform for the first Brisbane Limiited to depart from this location , 4534 Candy with motorail car , Saturday 21/6/1986 . (Peter Dance)

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Roma St, undated (David Jack)

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> **Notes:** Roma Street Station is a Queensland Railways facility that has been the terminus of QR long-distance trains since **1 December 1940**, when it opened for long-distance trains from North and West of Brisbane. NSW/SRA North Coast Line trains began terminating at Roma Street on **21 June 1986** following the closure of South Brisbane Station and the opening of the Merivale Bridge standard gauge connection.
>
> The route from South Brisbane to Roma Street is entirely on Queensland Railways infrastructure: trains exit the Clapham–South Brisbane Single Line Track Block section at **Outer Home Signal SB.1**, proceed to **Home Signal SB.3**, thence the standard gauge line runs into the **dual gauge line** and proceeds over **Merivale Bridge** to Roma Street. Signals B.015 and B.011 are automatic; RS.31 and RS.39 are Home Signals. Platform No. 1 Roma Street is entered on a proceed aspect (yellow) in the subsidiary shunt signal. Standard gauge trains must not proceed unless the **"S.G." indicator is illuminated** on relevant signals.
>
> Locomotive release procedure after arrival: Queensland shunters detach locomotives and MBY from the train at Platform No. 1, run forward clear of crossover to Loop line, then propel MBY into unloading dock opposite Sydney end of platform. Locomotives then run back to Loop and await permission of Shunter and Starting Signal to depart for **Locomotive Depot, Yeerongpilly**. A signal box electrically released from Mayne Control Centre (**Frame 2 — No. 890 lever at Sydney end of Roma Street Platform**) allows shunting within the standard gauge complex.
>
> The Roma Street Freight Complex opened in March 1986 for L.C.L. goods traffic that can be loaded into RACE containers.

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## 1930–1939 — Roma Street as QR Destination (Pre-Terminus)

### Roma Street in NSW Distance Tables — 1930
> An intersystem rate from **Roma Street**, where cheaper than the sum of ordinary rates, applies. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

### "No. 4 North Extended to Roma Street" — 1931
> **No. 4 North** extended to **(Roma Street), Brisbane** — earliest reference to Roma Street as a destination on NSW trains via the Brisbane North Coast route. *(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** From 1931 through to 1985, Roma Street is referenced consistently in the NSW Weekly Notices as a QR station and destination for goods and passengers via Wallangarra — not via Kyogle. The Kyogle route terminus was South Brisbane throughout this period.

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## 1940 — Roma Street Opened as QR Long-Distance Station — 1 December 1940

### Opening of Roma Street Station — W.N. 48–1940
> **Opening of New Railway Station at Brisbane** — Commencing on **Sunday, 1st December, 1940**, a new railway station at **Roma Street** will be brought into use for arrival and departure of long distance Mail trains to and from North and West of Brisbane.
>
> The 8.0 p.m. Mail to Townsville and 9.0 p.m. Mail to Rockhampton will start from Roma Street, and will **not pass through Central**.
>
> Trains shown on page 12 of the Queensland Public Time-table will depart from or terminate at Roma Street.
>
> Intending passengers to places beyond Brisbane should make further enquiries of the local Station-master. *(W.N. 48–1940)*

> **Note:** This is the opening of Roma Street as a QR long-distance station in 1940 — not as a NSW terminus. NSW trains continued to use South Brisbane as their terminus until 1986.

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## 1946 — "Yard Circuit to South Brisbane and Roma Street" — Early Standard Gauge Reference

### Electrical Circuit — South Brisbane and Roma Street — 1946
> The signal electrician's area of responsibility includes "yard circuit to **South Brisbane and Roma Street**." *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** This 1946 reference to "South Brisbane and Roma Street" in the electrical circuit confirms the two stations were already linked in the NSW railway electrical maintenance framework from an early date, though Roma Street was still a QR-only station for passenger operations.

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## 1971 — Roma Street Listed as Intersystem Destination

### Roma Street — Intersystem Destination
> **Brisbane (South Brisbane or Roma Street)** — listed as an intersystem destination alongside Oodnadatta, Port Pirie, Cook, Kalgoorlie and other capitals. *(Source: 1971 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1982 — Roma Street in Queensland Timetable Published in NSW Weekly Notices

### Queensland Timetable — Sunlander — 1982
> **Brisbane (Roma Street Station)** depart 0715, Bundaberg 1446, Gladstone 1842 — timetable for the Sunlander published in NSW Weekly Notices as it affected intersystem connections. *(Source: 1982 Weekly Notices)*

### Clause (i) — South Brisbane and Roma Street Listed Together — 1982
> **Clause (i) — Brisbane (South Brisbane and Roma Street)** — jointly referenced for the first time in the same clause, as the two stations were being administered together for goods and freight purposes. *(Source: 1982 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1986 — Roma Street Freight Complex Opened; South Brisbane–Roma Street Line; Signalling Installed

### Roma Street Freight Complex — March 1986
> **Roma Street Freight Complex** — opened March 1986, when South Brisbane Interstate Goods Depot closed on 10 March 1986:
>
> **(1) Inwards Traffic to Brisbane (via Kyogle):**
> L.C.L. goods traffic other than articles normally conveyed in open wagons are to be consigned to **Roma Street Freight Complex** for delivery.
>
> **(2) Outwards Traffic from Brisbane to Interstate (via Kyogle) — Roma Street Freight Complex:**
> L.C.L. goods traffic which can be easily loaded into **RACE containers** will be accepted at this station. Goods which cannot be easily handled will not be accepted.
>
> **R.O.A. Goods Rates Book** — South Brisbane deleted; **Roma Street** inserted in lieu. *(Source: 1986 Weekly Notices)*

### South Brisbane–Roma Street — Signalling — 1986
> **South Brisbane–Roma Street** — The colour light signals on the **dual gauge line** from the Sydney side of the **Merivale Bridge** to Roma Street will be of the single light type. Exceptions:
>
> 1. Marker lights will not be provided
> 2. **Junction Indicators** — for turnout movements, signals will display an inclined band of white lights in the junction indicator, plus a yellow light in the main signal head and an illuminated stencil **"SG"** in the subsidiary route indicator
>
> Shunt signals in accordance with Regulation 7 (Signalling).
>
> **Frame 2** — a ground frame electrically released from Mayne Control Centre by **No. 890 lever** is provided at the Sydney end of Roma Street Platform to allow shunting within the standard gauge complex.
>
> **Working of Trains — South Brisbane to Roma Street:**
> [Full working instructions to appear in a subsequent Weekly Notice.] *(Source: 1986 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1987 — Full Working Instructions for Roma Street; Signal Details; Locomotive Release

### Working of Trains — Full Instructions — W.N. 22–1987
> **Roma Street — Working of Trains** — A signal box electrically released from **Mayne Control Centre** is provided at the Sydney end of Roma Street platform to allow shunting within the Standard Gauge Complex.
>
> **Down Journey (Sydney to Roma Street):**
> 1. Trains exit the **Clapham–South Brisbane Single Line Track Block** section at **Outer Home Signal SB.1**
> 2. Proceed to **Home Signal SB.3**
> 3. From SB.3, the Standard Gauge Line runs into the Dual Gauge Line and proceeds over **Merivale Bridge** to Roma Street
> 4. Signals **B.015 and B.011** — Automatic
> 5. Signals **RS.31 and RS.39** — Home Signals
> 6. Notice board on RS.31: **"Standard Gauge trains not to proceed unless 'S.G.' Indicator is illuminated"**
> 7. After passing RS.31 — proceed to Home Signal RS.39 and enter **Platform No. 1, Roma Street** on a proceed aspect (yellow) in the Subsidiary Shunt Signal
>
> **Up Journey (Roma Street to Sydney):**
> - Signal **GF.7** at the Sydney end of Roma Street Platform — Shunt Signal
> - Signals **RS.34, RS.32** — Home Signals; **B.010** — Automatic; **SB.6 and SB.4** — Home Signals
> - Signals RS.32 and SB.4 installed with "S.G." illuminated indicator boards; junction indicators illuminated in conjunction with Caution (yellow) aspect; stencil "S.G." indicator for trains proceeding from Roma Street
>
> **Release of Locomotives after Arrival at Platform No. 1:**
> 1. **Queensland Shunters** detach locomotives and MBY from train
> 2. Run forward clear of crossover to Loop line
> 3. MBY propelled into **unloading dock**, opposite Sydney end of platform
> 4. Locomotives detached and run back to Loop
> 5. Await permission of Shunter and Starting Signal to depart for **Locomotive Depot, Yeerongpilly** *(W.N. 22–1987)*

### Failure of Signals at Roma Street — 1987
> **Failure of Home Signals and Shunting Signals** — Within the Mayne Control Signalling area of Roma Street, all signals with the prefix "**RS**" if defective are to be passed at Stop on **telephone authority from the Controlling Signalman** under specific conditions:
>
> 1. Driver must wait one minute after arriving at controlled signal in stop position, then contact Signalman by telephone
> 2. Power operated points need not be secured by point clip or SL lock providing Signalman operates points switch to required position and confirms point detector light
> 3. Signalman must operate route set buttons and place switch collar over applicable buttons; lever sleeve must remain until train clears track circuit
>
> **Failure of Telemetry Control System** — All "SB" signals (except SB2) are provided with push buttons in SL-locked boxes to allow signals to be cleared when telemetry from Mayne Control Centre is lost.
>
> **Working of Traffic Between South Brisbane and Roma Street over a Single Line during Repairs** — Pilot Working to be instituted under Queensland Regulations. *(Source: 1987 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1989 — Roma Street/Clapham Substituted for South Brisbane in Goods Rates

### Roma Street/Clapham — Joint Accounting Reference — 1989
> Delete "South Brisbane" and insert instead **"Roma St/Clapham"** in goods rate book references.
>
> Delete all reference to **South Brisbane (Passenger train only)**. *(W.N. — 1989)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| 1930 | Roma Street referenced in NSW intersystem rate tables as a QR destination |
| 1931 | "No. 4 North extended to (Roma Street), Brisbane" — first reference to NSW train reaching Roma Street |
| **1 December 1940** | **Roma Street Station opened** by Queensland Railways for long-distance trains to/from North and West of Brisbane; 8.0 p.m. Mail (Townsville) and 9.0 p.m. Mail (Rockhampton) start from Roma Street (W.N. 48–1940) |
| 1946 | "Yard circuit to South Brisbane and Roma Street" — electrical maintenance boundary |
| 1971 | "Brisbane (South Brisbane or Roma Street)" listed jointly as intersystem destinations |
| 1982 | "Brisbane (South Brisbane and Roma Street)" — Clause (i) — joint reference for goods purposes |
| **10 March 1986** | **Roma Street Freight Complex opened** — L.C.L. goods (RACE containers) accepted; South Brisbane deleted from ROA Goods Rates Book; Roma Street inserted; goods routed via Kyogle now to Roma Street or Acacia Ridge |
| **21 June 1986** | **Roma Street becomes NSW terminus** — South Brisbane passenger station closed; dual gauge line via Merivale Bridge opened; Frame 2 (No. 890 lever) at Sydney end of Roma Street Platform; South Brisbane–Roma Street signalling installed (dual gauge, SG indicators) |
| W.N. 22–1987 | **Full working instructions published** — Down journey SB.1→SB.3→Merivale Bridge→RS.31→RS.39→Platform 1; Up journey GF.7→RS.34→RS.32→B.010→SB.6→SB.4→Clapham; locomotive release by QR shunters; loco to Yeerongpilly Depot |
| W.N. — 1989 | **"Roma St/Clapham"** substituted for "South Brisbane" in all goods rate references |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1930–1989.* 
*Note: Roma Street Station is a Queensland Railways facility. NSW/SRA trains have used Roma Street as their Brisbane terminus from 21 June 1986, when the Merivale Bridge standard gauge connection opened and South Brisbane Station closed. All signalling and shunting at Roma Street is controlled by Mayne Control Centre (Queensland Railways). The locomotive release procedure — QR shunters, unloading dock, then loco to Yeerongpilly Depot — is documented in detail in W.N. 22–1987.*