Koolkhan

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# Koolkhan (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1989

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**Type:** Station (Closed); Goods Siding (in use post-closure) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Grafton–Kyarran section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 706.500 km (Mileage **438m 71c** — per 1965 level crossing notice) 
**Location:** -29.622530, 152.930334 
**Between:** Grafton (south) and Kyarran / Gurranang (north) 
**Construction name:** Sulferino Road (used during construction of Grafton–Casino line) 
**Opened:** **6 November 1905** — with Grafton to Casino line; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905 
**Closed:** **1975** (station); tank and station demolished **16 July 1975** (per your notes) 
**Status:** Closed (station); Rocla Siding removed in the 1990s 
**Name meaning:** Named after the nearby Koolkhan Creek, itself named after an old homestead in the area 
**Platform:** **30.48-metre (100-foot)** Up side 

### Rocla Siding
**Rocla Siding, Koolkhan:** 300-metre loop siding; removed in the 1990s 
*Note: The 1945 WN reference to "Rocla Siding, Enfield South" is a separate siding at Enfield and is unrelated to the Koolkhan Rocla Siding.* 

### County Council Siding (Clarence River County Council)
**Power's code inserted — W.N. — 1950:** County Council Siding, Koolkhan — Ordinary code **3410–8**; Local code **3415–58** (alongside Ampol Siding Taree and Sulphide Junction Coal Siding) 

**Type F highway signals and ground frame alterations — Tuesday, 2 November 1965 — W.N. 45–1965:** 
- Type F flashing light highway signals and warning bell at Copmanhurst Road level crossing, Koolkhan (Mileage **438m 71c**); automatically controlled by track circuit 
- **Frames A and B (Clarence River County Council Siding):** Duplex Locks A and B provided on posts adjacent to Frames A and B at Sydney and Brisbane ends respectively 
- Top lock of each duplex lock released by key on Miniature ETS for section **Grafton–Kyarran**; No. 1 lever in Frame A or B released by key from bottom lock of corresponding duplex lock 
- **Shunting procedure:** Guard inserts staff key in top lock → obtains key from bottom lock → unlocks No. 1 lever → operates No. 2 points lever; on completion, levers restored, key returned to bottom lock, staff key obtained from top lock 
- During Down train shunting via Frame B, automatic operation and suppression of Type F highway signals and warning bell at Copmanhurst Road 
- Testing: switch in locked "Test" box attached to signalling hut; daily test by local Fettling Ganger; result reported to Signalman at Grafton; daily record in train register book 
- Power supply indicator: two white lights in Test box 
- Telephone: No. 283 channel on signalling hut wall 
- Emergency switches: "Down Light," "Up Light" and "Bell" in locked "Emergency" box on signalling hut wall; key kept by Station-master at Grafton 
- Level crossing classification: delete "GB" insert **"AF"** (W.N. 45–1965; ref. S.&T.E. 64–607,001) 

### Koolkhan Goods Siding
**Power's code — W.N. 42–1975:** Koolkhan Siding — listed in North Coast siding cluster between Clearfield and Piercey-Nott and P.D.S. Holdings 
**Koolkhan Goods Siding — Power's code 3410–21** (W.N. 42–1975 — listed separately; ref. 1970 tables) 

### Tool House
**Koolkhan Tool House (439m 30c)** — Telephone No. 83 Circuit, North, transferred from Warragai Creek to Koolkhan Tool House on **30 July 1945** (W.N. 35–1945); code call (m) unchanged 

### Other References
**Copmanhurst Road level crossing (438m 71c):** Station-master at Grafton held emergency switch box key 
**Gatekeeper's Residence (438m 71c):** Referenced in 1955 WN 
**Four-wheeled wagons:** Koolkhan was the southern boundary — "Stations and Sidings North of Koolkhan to South Brisbane" prohibited from running four-wheeled wagons (W.N. 21–1974) 
**Rocla Siding:** 300-metre loop siding at Koolkhan — removed in the 1990s (per your notes; not in WN collection to end of 1989 as a removal notice) 

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> **Notes:** Koolkhan opened 6 November 1905 with the Grafton to Casino line (construction name Sulferino Road). The station was also known as a district boundary — "North of Koolkhan to South Brisbane" being a common administrative designation for the upper North Coast working district. A gatekeeper's residence was at 438m 71c; the Koolkhan Tool House was at 439m 30c. The Clarence River County Council Siding had a complex duplex lock arrangement introduced November 1965, linked to the Copmanhurst Road Type F highway signals — one of the more elaborate automatic level crossing/siding interaction arrangements on the North Coast. The siding was released by the Grafton–Kyarran Miniature ETS section staff. Station and tank demolished 16 July 1975. Rocla Siding (300 metres, loop) removed in the 1990s.

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## 1905 — Opened 6 November 1905 as Koolkhan; Construction Name Sulferino Road

### Opening — 1905/1906
> **Circular No. A.182 of 1st November, 1905** — Opening of the Branch line from **Grafton to Casino**. Koolkhan (construction name Sulferino Road) opened as a station on this line. *(Source: 1906 WN reference to Circular No. A.182)*

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## 1945 — Telephone Transferred to Koolkhan Tool House — W.N. 35–1945

### Tool House Telephone — W.N. 35–1945
> **Page 96 — No. 83 Telephone Circuit, North** — On **30th July, 1945**, the telephone previously installed at "Warragai Creek" was transferred to **"Koolkhan Tool House," 439m 30c**. The code call (m) will remain unaltered. *(W.N. 35–1945)*

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## 1950 — County Council Siding Power's Code Inserted

### County Council Siding — W.N. — 1950
> **Station, Siding and Platform Code Lists — Insert: County Council Siding, Koolkhan** — Ordinary: **3410–8**; Local: **3415–58**. *(Source: 1950 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1965 — Type F Highway Signals; Frames A and B Duplex Locks; Shunting Instructions — W.N. 44 and 45–1965

### Type F Signals and Duplex Locks — W.N. 44–1965
> **Koolkhan (North Coast) — Provision of Type 'F' Flashing Light Highway Signals at Copmanhurst Road Level Crossing and Altered Releasing of Ground Frames at Siding** — On **Tuesday, 2nd November, 1965**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., Type 'F' flashing light highway signals and a warning bell will be brought into use at the **Copmanhurst Road** level crossing, Koolkhan (Mileage **438m 71c**).
>
> The Type 'F' signals and warning bell will be automatically controlled by track circuit. Warning of the approach of a train will be given by the alternate flashing of the red lights in the Type 'F' signals and at the same time an audible indication will be given by the ringing of the bell.
>
> **Frames A and B (Clarence River County Council Siding)** — Duplex Locks A and B will be provided on posts adjacent to Frames A and B at the **Sydney** and **Brisbane** ends respectively of the Clarence River County Council siding.
>
> The top lock of the duplex lock in each case will be unlocked by key on the Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section **Grafton–Kyarran**. No. 1 lever in Frame A or B will be unlocked by key from the bottom lock of the corresponding duplex lock. *(W.N. 44–1965)*

### Full Local Appendix Entry — W.N. 45–1965
> **Page 314 — Stations and Sidings — Add after Grafton: KOOLKHAN**
>
> **Type 'F' Flashing Light Highway Signals at Copmanhurst Road Level Crossing:** [As above — automatically controlled by track circuit; Frames A and B duplex locks released by Grafton–Kyarran Miniature ETS staff.]
>
> **Shunting of Clarence River County Council Siding** — When it is required to operate Frame A or Frame B, the guard will proceed as follows:
> - (i) Insert and turn staff key in the **top lock** of the duplex lock adjacent to the frame.
> - (ii) Obtain key from the **bottom lock** of the duplex lock and with it unlock No. 1 lever. No. 2 points lever may then be operated as required.
>
> Upon completion of shunting, both levers in the frame must be restored to normal, the key from No. 1 lever returned to the bottom lock of the duplex lock and the staff key obtained from the top lock.
>
> **Note** — During shunting of the siding by a **Down train** (i.e. via Frame B points), provision is made for automatic operation and suppression of the Type 'F' highway signals and warning bell at Copmanhurst Road level crossing.
>
> **Testing of Highway Signals** — A switch for testing is provided in a locked box inscribed "Test" attached to the wall of the adjacent signalling hut. The box is secured by special key kept by the local **Fettling Ganger**, who will arrange for the highway signals and warning bell to be tested each day.
>
> Testing procedure:
> - (i) Operate the switch — warning lights flash, bell rings. Inspect all warning lights.
> - (ii) Restore switch. Check warning lights extinguished.
> - (iii) Check power supply lights.
> - (iv) Close and lock "Test" box and remove key.
> - (v) **Advise the Signalman, Grafton**, the result of the test and whether power supply lights are "in" or "out."
>
> A daily record of the employee's report must be kept by the Signalman in the train register book.
>
> **Power Supply Indicator:** Two white lights in the "Test" box. If one or both extinguished — advise District Engineer, S.&T. Branch, South Grafton; arrange Signal Electrician to attend.
>
> **Telephone:** Connected to **No. 283 channel** on wall of signalling hut.
>
> **Control of Highway Signals in Event of Emergency:** Emergency switches — "Down Light," "Up Light" and "Bell" — in locked box inscribed "Emergency" on wall of signalling hut. Key kept by **Station-master, Grafton**. On failure, Station-master advises Signal Electrician and arranges employee to protect road traffic. *(W.N. 45–1965)*

> **Page 140 — Level Crossings — North Coast Line — Copmanhurst Road, Koolkhan (438m 71c):** Delete "GB" and insert **"AF"** in column headed "For notes see page 123." (S.&T.E. 64–607,001.) *(W.N. 45–1965)*

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## 1975 — Station Closed; Koolkhan Siding Listed in Power's Code Table

### Closure — 1975
> **Koolkhan station closed — 1975; tank and station demolished 16 July 1975.** *(Source: your notes)*

### Power's Code Table — W.N. 42–1975
> **Koolkhan Siding** — listed in Power's Freight Accounting code table between Clearfield and Piercey-Nott and P.D.S. Holdings; **Koolkhan Goods Siding code 3410–21**. *(Source: 1975 Weekly Notices — W.N. 42–1975)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **6 November 1905** | **Opened** as Koolkhan (construction name Sulferino Road) — Grafton to Casino line; Circular No. A.182 of 1 November 1905; 30.48-metre Up platform |
| **30 July 1945** | Telephone transferred from Warragai Creek to **Koolkhan Tool House (439m 30c)**; code call (m) unchanged; No. 83 Circuit North (W.N. 35–1945) |
| W.N. — 1950 | County Council Siding power's code inserted — **3410–8** (Ordinary) / **3415–58** (Local) |
| **2 November 1965** | Type F flashing light highway signals and warning bell at Copmanhurst Road level crossing (438m 71c); Frames A and B Duplex Locks — released by Grafton–Kyarran Miniature ETS; shunting instructions; testing procedures; emergency switches (W.N. 44 and 45–1965) |
| **1975** | **Station closed** |
| **16 July 1975** | **Tank and station demolished** |
| W.N. 42–1975 | Koolkhan Siding (Goods Siding code 3410–21) listed in Power's table |
| **1990s** | **Rocla Siding removed** (300-metre loop siding; not in WN collection) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1905–1989.* 
*Note: Koolkhan's significance as a district boundary ("North of Koolkhan to South Brisbane") meant it was a frequently cited reference point even after station closure — it remained the four-wheeled wagon prohibition boundary and the No. 6 District North administrative boundary throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The 1965 Copmanhurst Road highway signal entry is one of the most detailed automatic level crossing/siding interaction descriptions in the North Coast collection — the interlocking between Down train shunting movements via Frame B and automatic suppression of the Type F highway signals reflects a sophisticated design that avoided false activation of road warning signals during siding shunting.*