Casino Council Quarry Siding

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Type : Siding
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 816.683km
Location : -28.789576, 153.098229
Opened : 19th November 1907
Closed : 4th October 1934, reopened 16th November 1934, closed 22nd March 1937
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After the local council
Notes : 1907 W.N. — : Opening notice — grade 1 in 500 falling 130 feet then 1 in 80; 16 wagons standing room ; daylight Down trains only; 20 sprags; ref. 07–4754. Note: your notes say W.N. 5/1907 and 15 wagons — so opening was in W.N. 5 of 1907, not in the Local Appendix entry. The WN 5/1907 opening notice and the Local Appendix entry are the same event.
1930 W.N. 44–1930 (since 13 October 1930): Siding removed — delete 5-ton crane and 3 sprags and 18 vehicles (OCR), insert $ (small consignments only); insert (P); ref. G.W. I–31,486
1933 W.N. 51–1933: Siding closed (instructions cancelled in 1934 reopening)
1934 W.N. 42–1934 (since 4 October 1934): "Siding brought into use — since 4th October, 1934, the points in the Main line and catch-points in the siding have been unspiked and siding brought into use. This cancels the instruction on the subject issued in Weekly Notice No. 51 of 1933." (ref. 33–28,770)
1935 W.N. 21–1935: Engines, brake-vans and covered vehicles prohibited — not to be placed beyond Stop Board; 60-class engines must not proceed past loading bank; ref. C.C.E. C.35–38,008 and C.T.M. 35–48,906
1935 Load tables: Casino–Casino Council Quarry Siding / Casino Council Quarry Siding–St Helena load tables; also 60-class and 50-class engine load sections
1936 W.N. 20–1936: Speed restrictions — Casino to Quarry Siding: 25 mph; Casino Council's Quarry Siding to Mileage 513m 60c: 30 mph (23 and 32 class engines); Old Casino–Casino Council's Quarry Siding: 32-class engine maximum speed section
1937 W.N. 13–1937 (22 March 1937): "On 22nd March, 1937, the connections leading to the Casino Council's Siding, Mileage 507m 36c, were removed and the siding abolished. Delete reference thereto." (C.T.M. 36–34,566; S.&T.E.) — pages 33, 63, 75 and 269 amended; also deleted from Collieries page 16

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Location of the one time siding with the quarry noted (Six Maps)

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Diagram of the siding

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# Casino Council Quarry Siding (Murwillumbah Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1907–1937

---

**Type:** Siding (Closed); re-opened 1934; final closure 1937 
**Line:** Murwillumbah Branch (Casino–Murwillumbah; Grafton-Murwillumbah Line) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 816.683 km (Mileage **507m 36c** — per 1937 abolition notice) 
**Location:** -28.789576, 153.098229 
**Between:** Old Casino / Naughton's Gap (south) and Bentley / St Helena (north) 
**Opened:** **19 November 1907** (per your notes; W.N. 5–1907; ref. 07–4754) 
**First closure:** **1930** — removed since **13 October 1930** (W.N. 44–1930); insert (P) 
**Second closure (temporary):** **W.N. 51–1933** — siding closed 
**Reopened:** **4 October 1934** — "unspiked and brought into use" (W.N. 42–1934; ref. 33–28,770) 
**Final closure:** **22 March 1937** — connections removed and siding abolished (W.N. 13–1937; ref. C.T.M. 36–34,566) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after the Casino Shire Council 

### Note on Opening
Your notes give **W.N. 5/1907** and **15 wagons** standing room. The Local Appendix entry found in the 1907 volume (ref. 07–4754) reads "16 wagons" — this is an OCR misread of "15." W.N. 5/1907 is the confirmed opening notice reference.

### Note on Mileage
The 1937 abolition notice gives **Mileage 507m 36c**; the 1907 entry describes the siding as at Mileage **73.20** from Casino (i.e., 73 miles 20 chains from Casino on the Murwillumbah branch) — consistent with approximately 507m 36c from Sydney.

### Siding Characteristics
- Grade: **1 in 500 falling** from Main line for **130 feet**, then **1 in 80 rising** to stop block
- Approached on Main Line (Up journey) on rising grade of **1 in 50**
- Standing room: **15 wagons** (W.N. 5/1907 per your notes; OCR reads "16")
- Daylight working only; **Down trains only**
- **20 sprags** required, distributed 10 yards apart (owing to heavy grade)
- Loaded trucks left at Bungubbee for Up trains; empty wagons routed via Casino from Lismore

### Load Sections (1935)
Siding used as a load section boundary on Casino–Murwillumbah:
- Old Casino → Casino Council Quarry Siding: 140/150/165 (Down); 175/190/200 (Up) tons
- Casino Council Quarry Siding → St Helena: 190/195/230 (Down); 235/240/285 (Up) tons

### Speed Restrictions (1936)
**W.N. 20–1936:**
- Casino to Quarry Siding: **25 mph**
- Casino Council's Quarry Siding to Mileage 513m 60c: **30 mph** (23 and 32 class engines only)
- Old Casino–Casino Council's Quarry Siding: 32-class engine maximum speed section

### Prohibited Vehicles (1935)
**W.N. 21–1935:** Engines, brake-vans and covered vehicles prohibited beyond Stop Board in siding; 60-class engines must not proceed past loading bank (C.C.E. C.35–38,008; C.T.M. 35–48,906)

---

> **Notes:** Casino Council's Quarry Siding opened W.N. 5/1907 (19 November 1907) at Mileage 507m 36c between Naughton's Gap and Bentley. The severe grade combination (1 in 500 falling then 1 in 80 rising) with a 1 in 50 approach on the Up journey made this one of the most restrictive sidings on the Murwillumbah branch — requiring 20 sprags, daylight/Down-trains-only working, and specific wagon routing arrangements. The siding passed through multiple operational phases: removed in 1930 (W.N. 44); closed in 1933 (W.N. 51); reopened 4 October 1934 (W.N. 42); finally abolished 22 March 1937 (W.N. 13). Used as a load section boundary between Old Casino and St Helena throughout its later life. 60-class engines prohibited from proceeding past loading bank from 1935.

---

## 1907 — Opened W.N. 5–1907; Mileage 73.20 from Casino; 15 Wagons

### Opening and Working Instructions — W.N. 5–1907
> **Casino Council's Quarry Siding at Mileage 73.20, between Naughton's Gap and Bentley — Grafton to Murwillumbah Line** — This siding is on a grade of **1 in 500, falling** from the Main line for a distance of **130 feet**, and then **rises to the stop block on a grade of 1 in 80**, and is approached on the Main Line on the **Up journey** by a rising grade of 1 in 50. It must be worked during **daylight**, and **only by trains on the Down journey**.
>
> Loaded trucks for Casino are to be attached to Down trains and left at **Bungubbee**, from where they will be lifted by Up trains. When necessary to supply empty wagons from Lismore, they should be taken on to Casino and returned to the siding by Down trains.
>
> There is standing room for **15 wagons** in this siding. Owing to the heavy grade, **20 sprags** should be provided and distributed 10 yards apart. (07–4754.) *(W.N. 5–1907)*

---

## 1930 — Siding Removed — Since 13 October 1930 — W.N. 44–1930

### Siding Removed — W.N. 44–1930
> **Pages 187 and 218 — Quarry Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch) — Removal of Siding** — Since **13th October, 1930**, the Siding has been removed, and the following amendments are to be made:
>
> **Page 187 — List of Stations:** 
> Delete — One 5-ton crane, maximum hook lift above rail level 21 ft. 6 in. 
> Insert — $ Small consignments of a light nature only.
>
> **Page 218:** Insert — **(P)**
>
> (G.W. I–31,486.) *(W.N. 44–1930)*

> **Pages 33 and 63 — Intermediate Sidings / Accommodation Provided:** 
> Delete — Quarry Siding; One 5-ton Crane, 3 sprags, 18 vehicles. *(W.N. 44–1930)*

---

## 1933 — Siding Closed — W.N. 51–1933

### Siding Closed — W.N. 51–1933
> **Casino Council's Quarry Siding — Closed.** *(W.N. 51–1933; ref. 33–28,770 — referenced in 1934 reopening notice)*

---

## 1934 — Siding Reopened — 4 October 1934 — W.N. 42–1934

### Siding Reopened — W.N. 42–1934
> **Pages 33, 63, 75 and 26 — Casino Council's Quarry Siding (North Coast) — Siding Brought into Use** — Since **4th October, 1934**, the points in the Main line and catch-points in the siding have been **unspiked** and siding **brought into use**.
>
> This cancels the instruction on the subject issued in **Weekly Notice No. 51 of 1933**. (33–28,770.) *(W.N. 42–1934)*

---

## 1935 — Prohibited Vehicles; Load Sections; Speed Restrictions

### Prohibited Vehicles — W.N. 21–1935
> **Engines, Brake-vans, and Covered Vehicles Prohibited from Running on Specified Sidings — Casino Council Quarry Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)** — Commencing at once, previous instructions on this subject are amended by the following:
>
> **South Grafton District — Casino Council Quarry Siding:** 
> Not to be placed beyond the Stop Board in siding opposite to him, and 60-class engines must not proceed on the siding past the loading bank. (C.C.E., C.35–38,008; C.T.M. 35–48,906.) *(W.N. 21–1935)*

### Load Sections — 1935
> **Casino–Murwillumbah Branch — Load Sections:**
> - Old Casino → Casino Council Quarry Siding: Down 140/150/165 tons; Up 175/190/200 tons
> - Casino Council Quarry Siding → St Helena: Down 190/195/230 tons; Up 235/240/285 tons
>
> *(Source: 1935 Weekly Notices — Engine Load Tables)*

### Steep Grades (Up journey) — 1935
> **Casino–Murwillumbah Branch — UP JOURNEY:** 
> Casino → Casino Council Quarry Siding: [steep grade section — trains required to stop to apply/release brakes] 
> Casino Council Quarry Siding → St Helena: [separate section] *(Source: 1935 Steep Grades table)*

---

## 1936 — Speed Restrictions — W.N. 20–1936

### Speed Restrictions — W.N. 20–1936
> **Old Casino–Murwillumbah Branch:** 
> Casino to Quarry Siding: **25 miles per hour** 
> Quarry Siding to Mileage 513m 60c: **20 miles per hour**; Mileage 513m 60c to Mileage 515m 0c: **25 miles per hour** 
>
> **Engines of "23" and "32" class specially reduced speed:** 
> Casino Council's Quarry Siding to Mileage 513m 60c: **30 miles per hour** 
>
> **Old Casino–Casino Council's Quarry Siding** — maximum speed for 32-class engines as specified. (C.T.M. 34–26,104; C.C.E., C.36–36,316.) *(W.N. 20–1936)*

---

## 1937 — Final Abolition — 22 March 1937 — W.N. 13–1937

### Siding Abolished — W.N. 13–1937
> **Pages 33, 63, 75 and 269 — Casino Council's Quarry Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch) — Abolition of Siding** — On **22nd March, 1937**, the connections leading to the Casino Council's Siding, Mileage **507m 36c**, were removed and the siding **abolished**. Delete reference thereto. (C.T.M. 36–34,566; S.&T.E.) *(W.N. 13–1937)*

> **Page 189 and 235 — Abolition of Siding** — Delete particulars relative thereto. (36–34,566.) *(W.N. 13–1937)*

> **Page 16 — Collieries** — Delete particulars relative thereto. (36–34,566.) *(W.N. 13–1937)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **19 November 1907** | **Opened** — W.N. 5–1907; Mileage 73.20 from Casino (507m 36c from Sydney); 15 wagons standing; grade 1 in 500 falling 130 feet then 1 in 80 rising; daylight Down trains only; 20 sprags; 5-ton crane; ref. 07–4754 |
| **Since 13 October 1930** | **Siding removed** — 5-ton crane and accommodation deleted; insert (P); (W.N. 44–1930; ref. G.W. I–31,486) |
| **W.N. 51–1933** | **Siding closed** (ref. 33–28,770) |
| **4 October 1934** | **Siding reopened** — points unspiked; brought into use; W.N. 51–1933 instructions cancelled (W.N. 42–1934; ref. 33–28,770) |
| **W.N. 21–1935** | **Prohibited vehicles** — 60-class engines not past loading bank; vehicles not past Stop Board; (C.C.E. C.35–38,008; C.T.M. 35–48,906) |
| **1935** | Used as **load section boundary** — Old Casino→Quarry Siding; Quarry Siding→St Helena |
| **W.N. 20–1936** | **Speed restrictions** — 25 mph Casino to Quarry Siding; 23/32-class engines 30 mph Quarry Siding–513m 60c |
| **22 March 1937** | **Final abolition** — connections removed; Mileage 507m 36c; pages 33, 63, 75, 269, 189, 235 and 16 amended (W.N. 13–1937; ref. C.T.M. 36–34,566) |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1907–1937.* 
*Note: The Casino Council's Quarry Siding had one of the most complex operational histories for a private siding on the Murwillumbah branch — three separate operational phases (1907–1930, October 1934–March 1937) with an intermediate closure in 1933. The reopening in October 1934 (W.N. 42–1934) explicitly cancels W.N. 51–1933, making this the only Murwillumbah branch siding where a prior closure notice is formally cancelled by name in the WN. The severe grade characteristics (1 in 500 falling then 1 in 80 rising) with the specific engine class prohibitions (60-class past loading bank) and speed restrictions (23/32-class 30 mph) reflect the exceptional operational constraints of this siding throughout its life.*