Cougal

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Type : Station
Distance from Sydney : 870.071km (1st site), 870.124 (2nd site)
Opened : 28 September 1930
Closed : 22 December 1971
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Named after Mount Cougal - which is 48km away to the north-east. 1934 - 5 ton gantry crane provided (withdrawn in 1957). The 9.14 metre Up side platform had a timber waiting room. The site moved (slightly - roughly 50 metres) in July 1949 (WN31/1949) and the new platform was 30' in length. Platform demolished 19 February 1972 (WN 7/1972). The location was a major staging ground for the line construction being the location of the Tunnel Camp and a school opened here in February 1927 for employees children. The site had a dead end Up side siding.

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Log yard at Cougal station, Lismore Star, 8/12/1931

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Loading timber at Cougal siding from Seccombe's sawmill. Mount Hutley is in the distance.


Lismore Star 03/03/1933

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Location of Cougal station (Six Maps)

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Cougal Station 15/8/62. Photo from Peter Leonard.

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John Shields :

Overlooking Cougal from the hill above the spiral, 1968. The station crane can be seen as well as the impressive bridge over Grady's Creek.

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Cougal 1962, State Archives

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# Cougal Spiral and Cougal Station (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1930–1972

---

## A. Cougal Spiral

**Type:** Spiral 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kyogle–Border Loop section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 871.071 km (start, Up side) 
**Spiral Tunnel No. 1:** 871.948 km 
**Spiral Tunnel No. 2:** 872.661 km 
**Underbridge:** 873.217 km 
**Opened:** 28 September 1930 
**Status:** In use 
**Name meaning:** Same as Cougal station 

---

> **Notes:** The Cougal Spiral is a unique piece of railway engineering on the North Coast Line, allowing the line to gain height through the Tweed Range via two spiral tunnels. Train lighting instructions (1947) required Down trains to be lit at Mileage **541m 64c** (entering the spiral area from the Down direction) and lights extinguished at **547m 07c** (Glenapp direction), with the reverse for Up trains.

### 1947 — Train Lighting Instructions — Spiral Tunnels Between Cougal and Glenapp

> **Page 122 — Lights in Passenger Vehicles — North Coast Line** — Add:
>
> **Tunnels between Cougal and Glenapp** — Down trains to be lighted at Mileage **541m 64c** and lights extinguished at Mileage **547m 07c** by Corridor Attendant. Up trains to be lighted at Mileage **547m 07c** and lights extinguished at Mileage **541m 64c** by Corridor Attendant. (47.) *(W.N. 36–1947.)*

---

## B. Cougal Station

**Type:** Station (later Platform) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kyogle–Border Loop section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 870.071 km (1st site); 870.124 km (2nd site) 
**Mileage (Working TT):** 540m 49c (1st site per 1934); **540m 51c** (2nd site per W.N. 31–1949) 
**Between:** Loadstone and Border Loop 
**Opened:** 28 September 1930 
**Platform Moved:** July 1949 (W.N. 31–1949) — platform moved to new position at 540m 51c; length altered to **30 feet** 
**Station Closed:** 22 December 1971 (W.N. 7–1972) 
**Platform Demolished:** 19 February 1972 (W.N. 7–1972) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after Mount Cougal — 48 km to the north-east 
**Station Code:** 3480–11 and 3490–5 (from 1968) 
**Under control of:** Kyogle (from W.N. 21–1970) 

---

> **Notes:** The location was a major staging ground for the North Coast Line construction, being the site of the Tunnel Camp. A school opened here in February 1927 for employees' children. The 9.14-metre Up side platform had a timber waiting room. The site had a dead-end Up side siding. A 5-ton gantry crane was provided by 1934 (withdrawn 1957). The platform was moved in July 1949 and the length altered to 30 feet. The McPherson Range Timber Company was a consignee at Cougal from 1946. Cream traffic was also handled — Goods No. 23 called at Mileage 542m 28c between Cougal and Border Loop from November 1934 to pick up cream. Platform demolished 19 February 1972.

---

### 1927 — Construction Tunnel Camp and School

> Cougal was a major staging ground for construction of the North Coast Line extension through the Tweed Range. The Tunnel Camp was established at this location, and a **school for employees' children opened in February 1927**.

*(Per external records — no specific Weekly Notice entry found.)*

---

### 1930 — Opening; Rail Motor Service; Listed in Publications

#### Opening — 28 September 1930
> Cougal opened on **28 September 1930** with the North Coast Line extension.

#### Rail Motor Service Extended to Cougal
> **No. 24 Rail Motor** (8.5 a.m. ex Cougal), Weekdays, starts from Cougal.
>
> **No. 29 Rail Motor** (3.53 p.m., Casino to Mt. Lion) — extended to Cougal — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
>
> **No. 31 Rail Motor** (4.5 p.m., Casino to Mt. Lion) — extended to Cougal — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

*(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

#### Listed as Unattended
> **\*Cougal** — listed with asterisk (unattended) in 1930 station sequence.

---

### 1931 — Brisbane Limited Express Calls; Rail Motor Times

#### Brisbane Limited Express Calls at Cougal
> **No. 2 Limited Express** (9.45 a.m. Brisbane to Sydney) will call at **Cougal, The Risk**, and Kyogle.

*(Source: 1931 Weekly Notices)*

#### Rail Motor Times
> Casino–Cougal rail motor service timetable:
> - 9.0 a.m. ex Cougal, arr. Casino
> - Cougal dep. 3.5 p.m.
>
> Services Mon/Wed/Fri and Tue/Thu/Sat as alternate days.

*(Source: 1931 Working Timetable)*

---

### 1934 — 5-Ton Gantry Crane Provided; Mileage Corrected

#### 5-Ton Crane — W.N. 8 and 21–1934
> **Cougal (North Coast Line)** — Insert under heading "Crane" — **1 (one) 5-ton capacity**. Page 181 of the Merchandise and Livestock Rates Book to be posted accordingly. (V. 32–581.) *(W.N. 8–1934.)*
>
> **List of Stations, etc. — Cougal** — Insert **19 feet** under heading "Cranes" (maximum hook lift above rail level). (V. 32–581.) *(W.N. 21–1934.)*

#### Mileage Altered — W.N. 31 and 32–1934
> **List of Stations and Platforms — Cougal — (West Maitland–Queensland Border)** — Commencing at once, the Mileage for Cougal is to be altered to **540m 49c** from Sydney and **440m 11c** from Newcastle. (34–72,328.) *(W.N. 31–1934.)*
>
> The instructions in Weekly Notice No. 31 of 1934 are amended and superseded — the Mileage for Cougal is to be altered to **540m 49c** from Sydney and **340m 11c** from Newcastle. (34–72,328.) *(W.N. 32–1934.)*

#### Accommodation Table — Milepost Mileage Altered — W.N. 31–1934
> **Cougal (North Coast Line) — Accommodation Provided** — Alter figures in column headed "Mile post mileage" to read **540m 49c**. *(W.N. 31–1934.)*

#### Cream Traffic — Goods No. 23 Calls at 542m 28c
> Since Friday, **November 16** [1934] — No. 23 Goods (3.45 a.m., Kyogle to Border Loop) calls at **Mileage 542m 28c**, between Cougal and Border Loop, when required, to pick up cream traffic.

*(Source: 1934 Weekly Notices)*

---

### 1942 — Cougal Referenced in Divisible Staff Working

#### Intermediate Block Post — Cougal Area
> **Block Posts** are provided at Loadstone on the section The Risk–Border Loop, and at Lantana (543m 10c) on the section Border Loop–Glenapp.

*(W.N. 23–1942 — Cougal referenced as a location between the two block posts)*

---

### 1944 — Station Garden Competition; Staff Listed

#### Station Garden Competition — A.R. Fuller, Cougal
> **Cougal** — **A.R. Fuller** listed as station resident. *(Source: 1944 Weekly Notices — Station Garden Competition)*

---

### 1946 — McPherson Range Timber Company Listed at Cougal

#### McPherson Range Timber Company — W.N. — 1946
> **Insert — Cougal** — McPherson Range Timber Co. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices — business/consignee listing)*

> **Note:** McPherson Range Timber Company remained listed at Cougal through at least 1949, confirming active timber traffic at this location into the postwar period.

---

### 1947 — Train Lighting — Spiral Tunnels Between Cougal and Glenapp

> Down trains to be lighted at **541m 64c**; Up trains to be lighted at **547m 07c** — by Corridor Attendant. *(W.N. 36–1947.) — See Cougal Spiral entry above.*

---

### 1948 — Drawer Lock Key Release Dispensed With

#### Frame A — Key Release Updated — W.N. 20–1948
> **Cougal (North Coast) — Alteration to Releasing of Ground Frame** — Since **3rd May, 1948**, Drawer Lock Key Release "A" has been dispensed with.
>
> No. 1 lever in Frame [A] is unlocked by key on the **Electric Train Staff for the section Loadstone–Border Loop**.
>
> Circular No. 390–19 of 1930, Kyogle to Brisbane, and diagram attached to be amended accordingly. (S. & T.E. 48.) *(W.N. 20–1948.)*

---

### 1949 — Platform Moved; Length Altered to 30 Feet

#### Platform Moved — W.N. 31–1949
> **Cougal — Alteration to Platform** — The platform has been moved to a new position, and the following particulars supersede those previously issued:
>
> **Mile Post Mileage** — Alter to **540m 51c**. 
> **Length of Passenger Platform** — Alter to **30 feet**. (49–61–224.) *(W.N. 31–1949.)*

> **Note:** The move from 540m 49c (1st site per 1934) to 540m 51c (2nd site) represents a very short relocation of approximately 30 metres — consistent with your noted distances of 870.071 km (1st site) and 870.124 km (2nd site), approximately 50 metres apart.

---

### 1950 — Northern Limit of NSW Railway Electrical System

#### Electrical System — Cougal as Northern Limit
> North Coast line: **Billinudgel and Cougal** — listed as northern extent of NSW Government Railway interconnected electrical system.

*(Source: 1950 and 1949 Weekly Notices)*

---

### 1957 — 5-Ton Crane Withdrawn

#### 5-Ton Crane Withdrawn — W.N. 51–1957
> **List of Stations, etc. — Cougal (North Coast Line)** — **5-ton crane withdrawn**. Delete relative particulars under heading "Cranes." (G.W. 57–R.G.H.–B.M.) *(W.N. 51–1957.)*

> **Note:** The 5-ton gantry crane was installed by early 1934 and withdrawn in 1957 — 23 years of service, consistent with the active timber and general goods traffic at Cougal during this period.

---

### 1962 — Frame A Unlocked by The Risk–Border Loop Staff

#### Following Loadstone Closure — W.N. 38–1962
> **Cougal** — No. 1 lever (facing point lock lever) in Frame A will be unlocked by key on the miniature electric train staff for the section **The Risk–Border Loop**.

*(W.N. 38–1962 — as part of Loadstone closure notice)*

---

### 1970 — Confirmed Under Control of Kyogle

#### Kyogle as Controlling Station — W.N. 21–1970
> **Kyogle is the Controlling Station for the undermentioned platforms:** **Cougal**, Loadstone, Mount Lion, Treberth. *(W.N. 21–1970.)*

---

### 1972 — Platform Demolished; Station Closed; Deleted from All Publications

#### Platform Demolished — W.N. 7–1972
> **The Platform at Cougal** (situated North Coast Line, between South Grafton and South Brisbane) **has been demolished** and reference to this location should be deleted from the Public Timetable. (A. 1–72–40,605.) *(W.N. 7–1972.)*

#### Deleted from All Publications — W.N. 7 and 8–1972
> **Working Timetable — Northern** — Pages 208–220 inclusive — Delete **Cougal** and relevant particulars. (A. 1–72–40,605.) *(W.N. 7–1972.)*
>
> **Page 65** — Delete **Cougal**. *(W.N. 7–1972.)*
>
> **Parcels Pamphlet** — Page 65 — Delete **Cougal**. (C. 1–72–29,810.) *(W.N. 7–1972.)*
>
> **Maitland–Queensland Border Line** — Delete **Cougal (P)** and relative mileages. (C. 1–72–29,810.) *(W.N. 7–1972.)*
>
> **Alphabetical List of Stations — Page 27** — Delete **Cougal** and relevant particulars. (A. 1–72–40,605.) *(W.N. 7–1972.)*
>
> **Railways of Australia Goods Rates Book — Page 45** — Delete **Cougal** station name and relative particulars. (B. 2–72–22,011.) *(W.N. 8–1972.)*
>
> **Page 223 — North Coast Line** — Delete **Cougal** and relative particulars. (B. 2–72–22,011.) *(W.N. 8–1972.)*
>
> **Station Code 3480–11** — deleted. *(W.N. 8–1972.)*

*(W.N. 7 and 8–1972)*

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## Summary of Key Events

### Cougal Spiral

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| 28 September 1930 | **Spiral opened** with North Coast Line extension |
| February 1927 | Tunnel Camp school opened for construction workers' children |
| W.N. 36–1947 | Train lighting instructions issued — lit at 541m 64c (Down) and 547m 07c (Up) |
| 24 July 2009 | Loadstone loop extended — Cougal Spiral continues in use (outside WN scope) |

### Cougal Station

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| February 1927 | Tunnel Camp and school established at Cougal for line construction |
| 28 September 1930 | **Opened** — unattended station; 9.14-metre Up side platform; dead-end Up side siding |
| 1931 | Brisbane Limited Express calls at Cougal; Casino–Cougal rail motor service operating |
| W.N. 8 and 21–1934 | **5-ton gantry crane** provided — 19 feet hook lift |
| W.N. 31 and 32–1934 | Mileage altered to **540m 49c** from Sydney |
| November 1934 | No. 23 Goods calls at 542m 28c between Cougal and Border Loop for cream |
| 1946 | McPherson Range Timber Co. listed as consignee at Cougal |
| W.N. 20–1948 | Drawer Lock Key Release A dispensed with — Frame A unlocked by Loadstone–Border Loop staff key |
| **July 1949** | **Platform moved** to 540m 51c (2nd site, 870.124 km); length altered to 30 feet (W.N. 31–1949) |
| W.N. 51–1957 | **5-ton crane withdrawn** after 23 years of service |
| W.N. 38–1962 | Frame A unlocked by The Risk–Border Loop staff (following Loadstone closure) |
| W.N. 21–1970 | Confirmed under control of Kyogle |
| **22 December 1971** | **Station closed** |
| **19 February 1972** | **Platform demolished** — deleted from all publications (W.N. 7 and 8–1972) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1930–1972.*