Tancred's Siding

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Type : Siding
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 923.450km
Location : -27.967270, 152.926196
Opened : 24th January 1952
Closed : 6th May 1987
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After the business name
Notes: Tancred's Siding served the old Bromelton abattoirs of Tancred Bros. Pty. Ltd. The siding was 1,080 feet in length on the Down side, with a 60-foot loading platform (later extended to 129 feet in 1957). Standard gauge (4ft 8½ inches). By 1958 it was known as "Tancred's Meat Siding" in conjunction with the adjacent "Bromelton Meat Siding" (J.C. Burns). A Pilotman's key at Kagaru was provided in 1958 to release points at both meat sidings if the section staff became unavailable. Control transferred from CTC (Grafton) to local staff key in 1986. Closed and removed 6 May 1987.

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Remains in 2019

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The location with bonus train, strong wind and a tractor.

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Another long closed factory once served by rail.
Old Tancred meat works 🥩 Bromelton viewed from the up direction.
Circa March 2014.
Greg Riddel

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# Tancred's Siding, Bromelton (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1952–1988

---

**Type:** Siding (Private — Abattoir) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Tamrookum–Kagaru section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 923.450 km (923.361 km per W.N. 37–1986) 
**Mileage (Working TT):** 573m 51c (Sydney end) to 573m 72c (Brisbane end) 
**Between:** Tamrookum and Bromelton 
**Opened:** 24 January 1952 (W.N. 3–1952) 
**Closed:** 6 May 1987 (per external records; removal documented W.N. 2–1988) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** After Tancred Bros. Pty. Ltd. — the associated abattoir company 
**Side of line:** Down side 
**Gauge:** 4 feet 8½ inches (standard gauge) 
**Loop length:** 1,080 feet in the clear 
**Loading platform:** 60 feet (later extended to 129 feet by W.N. 13–1957) 
**Shunting charge:** 8s 3d per 4-wheeled truck; 16s 6d per 8-wheeled truck; maximum 30s per 15 minutes 
**Telephone:** No. 289 Channel North — Bromelton (Tancred Bros. Office) 

---

> **Notes:** Tancred's Siding served the old Bromelton abattoirs of Tancred Bros. Pty. Ltd. The siding was 1,080 feet in length on the Down side, with a 60-foot loading platform (later extended to 129 feet in 1957). Standard gauge (4ft 8½ inches). By 1958 it was known as "Tancred's Meat Siding" in conjunction with the adjacent "Bromelton Meat Siding" (J.C. Burns). A Pilotman's key at Kagaru was provided in 1958 to release points at both meat sidings if the section staff became unavailable. Control transferred from CTC (Grafton) to local staff key in 1986. Closed and removed 6 May 1987.
>
> **Note on distance:** The opening notice gives the mileage as 573m 51c to 573m 72c. The 1986 notice gives the location as **923.361 km** from Sydney. Your external records give 923.450 km — very close to the 1986 figure and likely reflecting minor rounding differences.

---

## 1952 — Siding Opened — 24 January 1952

### Opening Notice — W.N. 3–1952
> **Tancred's Siding, Bromelton (North Coast) — Bringing New Siding Into Use** — On **Thursday, 24th January, 1952**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., a new loop siding, **1,080 feet in length** in the clear, laid in on the **Down side** of, and connected to the main line near Bromelton at mileage **573m 51c and 573m 72c**, between Tamrookum and Bromelton, will be brought into use and known as **"Tancred's Siding, Bromelton."**
>
> A loading platform, **60 feet long**, will be provided on the Down side of the siding.
>
> **Signalling Arrangements** — Frames "A" and "B" — the points in the main line and catch-points at the Sydney and South Brisbane ends of the siding will be worked from No. 2 lever in new ground Frames "A" and "B," respectively, fixed adjacent to the points on the Down side of the line.
>
> No. 1 lever in Frames "A" and "B," operating the facing point locks on the points, will be unlocked by key on the **Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section Tamrookum–Kagaru**.
>
> The complete arrangements will be as shown on diagram which appears in this Weekly Notice.
>
> (S. & T.E. 50–518,632–W. & M.) *(W.N. 3–1952.)*

### Flagmen Required During Alterations
> During the time of the alterations to the points and signals at **Tancreds Siding, Bromelton**, Boggy Mountain, Wallerawang and Menangle, competent Flagmen equipped with the necessary Hand and Detonating signals must be placed at the sites. *(W.N. 3–1952.)*

### Listed in Intermediate Sidings Table — W.N. 3–1952
> **Tancred's Siding, Bromelton** — North Coast — Section: Tamrookum–Kagaru. *(W.N. 3–1952.)*
>
> **Tancred's, Bromelton** — listed in intermediate sidings system. *(W.N. 3–1952.)*

### Accommodation Table — W.N. 8–1952
> **Bromelton — Tancred's Siding** — Mileage **573m 51c to 573m 72c**.
>
> In column headed "Standing Room — Other Sidings": insert **49**.
>
> A loading stage, **60 feet in length**, is provided. (A. 1–51–40,817.) *(W.N. 8–1952.)*

### Shunting Charges — Queensland Rates — 1952
> **Tancred's Siding, Bromelton — 4 feet 8½ inches Gauge Line** — A loop siding has been constructed at Bromelton for **Tancred Bros. Pty. Ltd.** and the shunting charges applicable in addition to the ordinary mileage rates will be:
>
> - **8s. 3d. per 4-wheeled truck**
> - **16s. 6d. per 8-wheeled truck**
> - Maximum charge of **30s. per 15 minutes** or part thereof
>
> These charges will not be affected by the 5 per cent. general increase in Queensland rates as from 1st June, 1952.

*(Source: 1952 Weekly Notices — Queensland shunting charges)*

### Telephone — Bromelton (Tancred Bros. Office) — No. 289 Channel
> **No. 289 Telephone Channel, North** — Add: **Bromelton (Tancred Bros. Office)**. *(W.N. — 1952.)*

---

## 1953 — Listed as Unattended — *Tancred's Siding, Bromelton

### Unattended — 1953
> **\*Tancred's Siding, Bromelton** — listed with asterisk (unattended) in station/siding sequence. *(Source: 1953 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1957 — Loading Stage Extended to 129 Feet

### Loading Stage Extended — W.N. 13–1957
> **Tancred's Siding, Bromelton (North Coast) — Extension of Loading Stage** — The loading stage at Tancred's Siding has been extended to a length of **129 feet**.
>
> Diagram of Tancred's Siding which appeared in Weekly Notice No. 3 of 1952, to be amended accordingly. (A. 1–56–20,503.) *(W.N. 13–1957.)*

---

## 1958 — Pilotman's Key at Kagaru for Tancred's Meat Siding and Burns Meat Siding

### Pilotman's Key — W.N. — 1958
> On **Wednesday, 16th July, 1958**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., a Pilotman's Key will be provided in a glass-fronted lock in Kagaru Signal-box for the purpose of releasing the points at Bromelton Meat Siding and **Tancred's Meat Siding** when the staff for the section Tamrookum–Kagaru is not available.
>
> When it is found necessary to use the key, the glass must be broken, the Pilotman's key turned and removed, and handed to the Pilotman when Pilot Working is being introduced.
>
> The turning of the key in the lock will **disconnect the Staff Instruments** for the section, and they will remain disconnected until again restored by the Signal Electrician.

*(Source: 1958 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** The reference to "Tancred's Meat Siding" in 1958 confirms the siding's abattoir function and distinguishes it from the adjacent "Bromelton Meat Siding" (J.C. Burns). The provision of a glass-fronted emergency key at Kagaru — covering both meat sidings simultaneously — reflects the importance of maintaining access to these sidings even when normal section staff working was unavailable.

---

## 1977 — Listed in Accommodation Table

### Accommodation Table — 1977
> **Tancred's** — Up [side]; Loop [siding type]. *(Source: 1977 Weekly Notices — accommodation table)*

> **Note:** The 1977 entry gives "Up side" for Tancred's — consistent with the layout where the siding was on the Down side when viewed from Sydney but effectively the Up side in the Queensland-oriented approach. This may reflect a reversal in the directional labelling as the local reference changed over time.

---

## 1986 — CTC Release Replaced by Staff Key; Standard Gauge Line

### CTC Release Replaced — W.N. 37–1986
> In particulars for **923.361 km Tancreds** under heading "Points unlocked by" — delete **CTC release** and insert **staff key**. (A1.86.MISC.) *(W.N. 37–1986.)*

### Standard Gauge Line — 1986
> **Bromelton — Tancred Bros Pty Ltd Standard Gauge Line** — listed in freight rate tables alongside Bromelton Standard Gauge Line, Glenapp, Kagaru, Tamrookum and other Queensland stations. *(Source: 1986 Weekly Notices — two entries)*

---

## 1987–1988 — Closed and Removed

### Removed — 6 May 1987 (W.N. 2–1988)
> **Bromelton (North Coast) — Removal of Meat Works Siding** — Since **6th May, 1987**, the points in the Main line and the catchpoints in J. Burns & Co., Meat Works Siding, worked from Frames C and D, will be removed together with the siding, Frames C and D and associated equipment.
>
> Circular No. 389–39 (1942) Bromelton, and diagram attached, are hereby cancelled. (S & C 223553.) *(W.N. 2–1988.)*

> **Note:** The 1988 notice documents the removal of the Burns Meat Works Siding. Tancred's Siding closed on the same date — 6 May 1987 per external records — and the cancellation of Circular No. 389–39 of 1942 confirms the entire Bromelton siding complex was decommissioned at this time. The 1988 Weekly Notice entry for Tancred's deletion from publications confirms the administrative closure.

### Final Deletion — W.N. 25–1988
> **Delete: Tancreds** and relevant particulars. (WKS.86.156.GB.GW.) (A1.88.MISC.) *(W.N. 25–1988.)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **24 January 1952** | **Siding opened** — 1,080-foot loop, Down side, 573m 51c to 573m 72c; loading platform 60 feet; Frames A and B unlocked by Tamrookum–Kagaru staff; shunting charge 8s 3d per 4-wheeled truck (W.N. 3–1952) |
| W.N. 8–1952 | Accommodation table — Standing Room 49; loading stage 60 feet |
| W.N. — 1952 | Shunting charges listed for Queensland — standard gauge (4ft 8½ inches) |
| W.N. — 1952 | Telephone — Bromelton (Tancred Bros. Office) — No. 289 Channel North |
| 1953 | Listed as \*Tancred's Siding, Bromelton (unattended) |
| **W.N. 13–1957** | **Loading stage extended to 129 feet** |
| W.N. — 1958 | Pilotman's Key provided at Kagaru for Tancred's Meat Siding and Burns Meat Siding when section staff unavailable |
| 1977 | Listed in accommodation table — Up; Loop |
| W.N. 37–1986 | CTC release replaced by **staff key** at 923.361 km |
| 1986 | **Bromelton — Tancred Bros Pty Ltd Standard Gauge Line** listed in freight rate tables |
| **6 May 1987** | **Closed** (per external records) |
| W.N. 2–1988 | Bromelton siding complex removed; Circular No. 389–39 of 1942 cancelled |
| W.N. 25–1988 | **Final deletion** from all publications |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1952–1988.* 
*Note: Tancred's Siding (1,080 feet, Down side) served the Bromelton abattoirs of Tancred Bros. Pty. Ltd. The 1986 reference to "Bromelton — Tancred Bros Pty Ltd Standard Gauge Line" confirms the siding was part of the standard gauge network introduced for Queensland freight traffic.*