Woodlawn Quarry Siding

[admin]

Type : Siding
Line : Murwillumbah Branch
Distance from Sydney : 845.144km
Location : -28.769922, 153.337763
Opened : 13th August 1924 as Bexhill Quarry, renamed August 1925.
Closed : 29th September 1942
Status : closed
Name meaning : Named after the business it served
Notes : A siding situated on the down side of the line, facilities included a crusher and a loading chute, part of the formation still exists. In 1926 the siding was extended to 1,115 feet in length. There is evidence that tickets for quarry staff were available. Originally a loop siding, it was converted to a dead end siding on the 17th September 1942 prior to the abolition of the siding a few days later.

[admin]

December 2015

[admin]

The siding ran from the Rankin Rd intersection to near to the quarry lake

[admin]

# Woodlawn Quarry Siding (Murwillumbah Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1924–1942

---

**Type:** Siding (Closed) 
**Line:** Murwillumbah Branch (Casino–Murwillumbah; within Lismore–Byron Bay section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 845.144 km (Mileage **90.65–90.66 from Grafton** — per 1925/1926 WN notices; level crossing at Mileage 90.65/90.66, Lismore end of siding) 
**Location:** -28.769922, 153.337763 
**Between:** Woodlawn / Woodlawn College (south/west) and Bexhill (north/east) 
**Opened as BEXHILL QUARRY:** **13 August 1924** (per your notes; no WN opening notice found in OCR) 
**Renamed WOODLAWN QUARRY SIDING:** **August 1925** — W.N. 35–1925 (ref. GW/1/25/86.979) 
**Extended to 1,115 feet:** **1926** — W.N. 17–1926 (advance) and W.N. 19–1926 (confirmed; ref. 26–22,711) 
**Murwillumbah end removed; converted to dead-end:** **Thursday, 17 September 1942** (W.N. 39–1942) 
**Siding abolished — Sydney end removed:** **Shortly after 17 September 1942** (W.N. 39–1942; your notes give 29 September 1942) 
**Closed:** **29 September 1942** (per your notes) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after the Woodlawn Quarry business it served (formerly Bexhill Quarry) 

### Siding Characteristics
**Down side** of Main line; facilities included a **crusher** and a **loading chute** 
**Originally:** Loop siding 
**After 17 September 1942:** Dead-end siding (Murwillumbah end removed) 
**Standing room (from 1926):** **1,115 feet** in the clear between the catch-points 
**Level crossing at Mileage 90.65 (Lismore end):** Gates fitted with spring catch (October 1925); Guard/Shunter must close and secure gates against road traffic before shunting; train must stand until employee protecting road gives hand-signal; Red Flag (daylight) or Red Light (dark) toward road traffic until train drawn clear 

### Power's Codes (from 1925)
**Ordinary: 2882; Local: 2883** (ref. GW/1/25/86.979 — W.N. 35–1925) 
Control: **Lismore** 

### Westinghouse Air Brake (1926)
**W.N. 33–1926:** Loads for trains worked by specific engine classes from Lismore to Woodlawn Quarry applicable; Westinghouse Air Brake regulations apply on both Down and Up journeys (ref. M.1–26–41,180)

### Engine Load (1935)
**W.N. 7–1935:** Load for trains worked by "19," "20," "24," "25," "27" or "30TY" class engines from Lismore to **Bexhill Quarry** (OCR reads "Bexhill Quarry" — the old name still used in load tables) — increased to **435 tons** (ref. M.2–35–755)

---

> **Notes:** Woodlawn Quarry Siding opened as Bexhill Quarry on 13 August 1924. Renamed Woodlawn Quarry Siding August 1925 (W.N. 35–1925) — invoices previously incorrectly forwarded to Bexhill; renamed with Ordinary code 2882 and Local code 2883; control Lismore. Level crossing at Mileage 90.66 equipped with spring-catch gates (W.N. 46–1925). Extended in 1926 to 1,115 feet with additional crusher (W.N. 17 and 19–1926; ref. 26–22,711); W.N. 19 confirmed extension and cancelled the earlier W.N. 17 notice. Level crossing gate procedures published simultaneously. Still listed as "Bexhill Quarry" in 1930 telephone circuit tables. Engine loads increased to 435 tons Lismore–Bexhill Quarry in 1935. Murwillumbah end connection removed 17 September 1942 (Frame B removed; converted to dead-end); Sydney end connection removed and siding abolished shortly after (Frame A removed); Circular Lismore–Byron Bay No. 576 of 1936 amended; pages 33, 63 and 75 deleted (W.N. 39–1942; ref. S.&T.E. 40–731,203). Deleted from Lismore–Byron Bay section table (page 81) W.N. — 1942.

---

## 1924 — Opened as Bexhill Quarry Siding — 13 August 1924

### Opening — 1924
> **Bexhill Quarry Siding opened: 13 August 1924** (per your notes; no WN opening notice found in OCR)

*The siding appears in the 1925 telephone circuit listings as "Bexhill Quarry" between North Lismore and Bexhill Station, confirming it was operational by 1924–1925.*

---

## 1925 — Renamed Woodlawn Quarry Siding; Level Crossing Gates — W.N. 35 and 46–1925

### Renamed Woodlawn Quarry Siding — W.N. 35–1925
> **Woodlawn Quarry Siding (Grafton-Tweed Line)** — There have been cases of irregular labelling and invoicing of trucks for this Siding to **Bexhill**. This Siding is under the control of **Lismore**, to which point invoices must be forwarded and trucks ticketed **Woodlawn Quarry Siding**, by which name the Siding shall be known.
>
> **Code numbers for this Siding are:** 
> Ordinary — **2882** 
> Local — **2883**
>
> (GW/1/25/86.979.) *(W.N. 35–1925)*

### Level Crossing Gates — W.N. 46–1925
> **Page 307 — Woodlawn Quarry (Grafton-Tweed Line)** — Since **26th October, 1925**, Gates, fitted with **spring catch**, have been provided across the Quarry Siding at the Level Crossing at Mileage **90.66** from Grafton.
>
> When proceeding to or from the Quarry, Drivers must bring their trains to a stand to enable the gates to be secured in the open position for the safe passage of the train, which must not cross or foul the public road until the employee protecting the roadway gives a hand-signal for the train to proceed. The employee must exhibit a **Red Flag** during daylight and a **Red Light** during dark towards approaching road traffic until the train has been drawn clear. The Guard or Shunter in charge will be held responsible for seeing that the gates are closed and secured when the train has drawn clear.
>
> The Driver and Fireman must keep a sharp look-out, and be prepared to stop immediately, if necessary. *(W.N. 46–1925)*

---

## 1926 — Siding Extended to 1,115 Feet; Additional Crusher — W.N. 17 and 19–1926

### Extension Announced — W.N. 17–1926 (advance — superseded)
> **Bexhill Quarry Siding (Grafton-Tweed Line) — Extension of Siding and Provision of Additional Crusher** — The Bexhill Quarry Siding has been extended, and there is now **1,115 feet** standing room in the clear between the Catch-points. An additional Crusher has also been provided.
>
> **Level Crossing** — The Siding passes over a Level Crossing at Mileage **90.65** at the Lismore end; and, prior to carrying out shunting operations at the Quarry Siding, the Guard in charge of the train must close and secure the Level Crossing Gates against road traffic. (26–22,711.) *(W.N. 17–1926)*

### Extension Confirmed — W.N. 19–1926 (supersedes W.N. 17)
> **Pages 51, 63, 103 and 307 — Woodlawn Quarry (Grafton-Tweed Line) — Extension of Siding and Provision of Additional Crusher** — The Quarry Siding has been extended, and there is now **1,115 feet** standing room in the clear between the Catch-points. An additional Crusher has also been provided.
>
> **Level Crossing** — The Siding passes over a Level Crossing at Mileage **90.65** at the Lismore end; prior to shunting, the Guard must close and secure the Level Crossing Gates against road traffic.
>
> This instruction cancels that contained in **Weekly Notice No. 17 of 1926** relating to Bexhill Quarry. (26–22,711.) *(W.N. 19–1926)*

### Westinghouse Air Brake — W.N. 33–1926
> **Westinghouse Air-brake Regulations (North Coast Line)** — The loads published in Weekly Notice No. 30 of 1926 are to apply between Lismore and **Woodlawn Quarry**, on both Down and Up journey. Instructions to be amended accordingly. (M.1–26–41,180.) *(W.N. 33–1926)*

---

## 1935 — Engine Load Increased — W.N. 7–1935

### Engine Load — W.N. 7–1935
> **Lismore to Bexhill Quarry** [Woodlawn Quarry Siding] — Load for trains worked by "19," "20," "24," "25," "27" or "30TY" class engines from Lismore to Bexhill Quarry increased to **435 tons**. (M.2–35–755.) *(W.N. 7–1935)*

---

## 1942 — Murwillumbah End Removed; Siding Abolished — W.N. 39–1942

### Siding Abolished — W.N. 39–1942
> **Page 269 — Woodlawn Quarry Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Removal of Connections and Abolition of Siding** — On **Thursday, 17th September, 1942**, the connection leading from the Main line at the **Murwillumbah end** of Woodlawn Quarry Siding was removed, and [the siding became] a **Dead-end siding**. **Frame "B"** and connection were removed.
>
> [Subsequently,] the connection at the **Sydney end** will be removed and the siding **abolished**. **Frame "A"** and connections also to be removed.
>
> The diagram of Woodlawn Quarry Siding to be removed from **Circular — Lismore–Byron Bay, No. 576 of 1936**.
>
> Particulars shown on pages **33, 63 and 75** are to be deleted.
>
> (S.&T.E. 40–731,203–W.&M.) *(W.N. 39–1942)*

### Section Table Deleted — W.N. — 1942
> **Page 81** — Delete ***Woodlawn Quarry Siding** ... Casino–Murwillumbah ... Lismore–Byron Bay. *(W.N. — 1942)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **13 August 1924** | **Opened as Bexhill Quarry Siding** — Down side; loop siding; crusher; loading chute (per your notes; no WN opening notice in OCR) |
| **W.N. 35–1925** | **Renamed WOODLAWN QUARRY SIDING** — control Lismore (not Bexhill); Ordinary code **2882**; Local code **2883** (ref. GW/1/25/86.979) |
| **26 October 1925** | Level crossing at Mileage 90.66 equipped with **spring-catch gates**; Red Flag/Light; train must stand; Guard responsible (W.N. 46–1925) |
| **W.N. 17–1926** | Extension advance notice — 1,115 feet standing room; additional crusher; level crossing 90.65 |
| **W.N. 19–1926** | Extension confirmed — **1,115 feet** standing room; additional crusher; W.N. 17 cancelled (ref. 26–22,711) |
| **W.N. 33–1926** | Westinghouse Air Brake loads — Lismore to Woodlawn Quarry; both directions (ref. M.1–26–41,180) |
| **W.N. 7–1935** | Engine load increased to **435 tons** — Lismore to Bexhill Quarry (19/20/24/25/27/30TY class engines) |
| **17 September 1942** | **Murwillumbah end connection removed** — Frame B removed; siding converted to dead-end |
| **29 September 1942** | **Sydney end connection removed** — Frame A removed; siding abolished; Circular Lismore–Byron Bay No. 576 of 1936 amended; pages 33, 63 and 75 deleted (W.N. 39–1942; ref. S.&T.E. 40–731,203) |
| **W.N. — 1942** | \*Woodlawn Quarry Siding deleted from Lismore–Byron Bay section table (page 81) |

---

*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1924–1942.* 
*Note: The 1925 renaming notice (W.N. 35–1925) is one of the few documented cases in the collection where a siding was formally renamed because goods were being misdirected — invoices had been going to Bexhill rather than Lismore, and the Department used the renaming to clarify the controlling station. The two-stage 1926 extension (W.N. 17 advance, W.N. 19 confirmed with cancellation of W.N. 17) is unusual — the cancellation suggests the advance notice contained errors that were corrected in the confirmed version (notably the level crossing mileage changed from 90.65 to 90.66 then back to 90.65). The two-stage 1942 abolition (Murwillumbah end 17 September; Sydney end shortly after) is consistent with the siding being temporarily used as a dead-end storage facility between the two removal dates. The reference to Circular No. 576 of 1936 (Lismore–Byron Bay) confirms the siding was governed by the same base circular as North Lismore Cement Siding — covering the entire Lismore–Byron Bay intermediate infrastructure.*