Nooroo

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Type : Station
Distance from Sydney : 262.851km
Location : -32.364114, 151.889089
Opened : Opened 5 February 1913
Closed : 29 June 1975
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Aboriginal word meaning "dark"
Notes : Opened with a 76.2 metre long timber platform. 28/6/1944 central interlocked 438 metre loop added. 1945 PBK type cottage for railway staff added. 1954 5 ton gantry crane from Grafton transferred to site. 10/4/1963 closed as a crossing and train station. 13/9/66 platform truncated to 25.9 metres. 17/5/1984 residence demolished. Whether or not a signal box was placed here with the opening of the line from Dungog to Taree is
uncertain. It is known that an 8 lever interlocking machine was provided to operate signals and release keys for ground frames. The drawing does not indicate if the levers were covered but the opening of the line circular shows that they were. The interlocking machine and signals were removed in 1914 when Electric Staff was introduced and such protection methods, designed for staff and ticket working, became redundant. If a signal box had been provided it could have been removed at that time. In 1944 a Signal box was brought into use when Nooroo was opened as a fully interlocked wartime crossing loop and Electric Staff station. The signal box, Electric Staff and loop were closed on January 1949 and then reopened as a switch out type Electric Staff station on 15 December 1949. The use of switching out facilities at staff stations or individual shifts on a daily basis was rare in NSW. Nooroo was generally opened on the night shift for the crossing of passenger trains. On **10 April 1963** Nooroo was abolished as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station — all ETS equipment including special switching locks and the intermediate staff instrument removed; permanent section became **Monkerai–Stroud Road** (W.N. 14–1963). The platform was truncated to 25.9 metres on **13 September 1966**. Centrally-Operated Crossing Loop Opened — 1,430' -28 June 1944 — W.N. 26–1944
The signal box and loop were closed when signalling was being rationalised.

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Approval notice in 1912 for the construction of a platform at Nooroo. Dungog Chronicle 19/4/12

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Location of Nooroo station (Six Maps)

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23/06/1954 - Dungog Chronicle

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5377 on a goods from Taree to Broadmeadow in May 1969 at Nooroo. (copyright on image)

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Location of Nooroo (undated, uncredited)

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4473 Nooroo 14-02-1981 (Bob Richardson)

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Remnants of the past:
All that remains,
Nooroo, old gate keepers house or what's left.
June 2025
Greg Riddel

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Nooroo in 1954 (C Jones)

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# Nooroo (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1975

---

**Type:** Station (Closed); Crossing Loop (closed as crossing station 10 April 1963) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Monkerai–Stroud Road section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 262.851 km (Mileage 163m 5c approximately) 
**Location:** -32.364114, 151.889089 
**Between:** Monkerai and Stroud Road 
**Opened as station:** 5 February 1913 (with opening of Dungog–Taree line) 
**Closed as Crossing Station:** 10 April 1963 (W.N. 14–1963) 
**Closed as Station:** 29 June 1975 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Aboriginal word meaning "dark" 
**Station Brand:** NRO (allotted 1913) 
**Platform (original):** 76.2-metre timber platform 
**Platform (1966):** Truncated to 25.9 metres — 13 September 1966 
**PBK Cottage:** For railway staff — added 1945 
**Gantry Crane:** 5-ton crane transferred from Grafton — 1954 
**SM Residence demolished:** 17 May 1984 
**Circular:** No. 140–12 of 1944 (Nooroo crossing loop base diagram — referenced to 1963) 

---

> **Notes:** Nooroo opened on 5 February 1913 as one of the intermediate stations on the Dungog–Taree line. Whether a signal box was provided at opening is uncertain — it is known that an **8-lever interlocking machine** was provided to operate signals and release keys for ground frames, and the opening of the line circular shows that levers were covered. The interlocking machine and signals were removed in **1914** when Electric Staff was introduced; if a signal box had been provided, it was likely removed at that time.
>
> From 1913 Frame A (situated on the platform) worked the Fixed Signals; Frames B and C worked the Goods Siding facing points (Taree and Dungog ends respectively), unlocked by No. 5 Lever in Frame A. Two Guard's keys per section were provided for unlocking Frame A at unattended stations.
>
> On **20 January 1944** the Sydney-end Main line–Goods Siding connection (Frame B) was moved 420 feet nearer to Sydney to form the connection to the future Loop. On **28 June 1944** Nooroo was brought into use as a Centrally-operated Crossing Loop — Monkerai–Stroud Road section cancelled; new sections Monkerai–Nooroo (Type A, Nos. 1–50 ordinary) and Nooroo–Stroud Road (Type C, Nos. 1–50 ordinary); Circular No. 140–12 of 1944 issued; loop standing room 1,430 feet, goods siding 28 vehicles.
>
> On **10 January 1949** Nooroo was closed as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station — signals put out of use with cross boards; loop points spiked in normal positions (clips and XL locks); Monkerai–Nooroo and Nooroo–Stroud Road sections cancelled; section **Monkerai–Stroud Road** restored.
>
> On **15 December 1949** Nooroo was re-opened as a **switch-out type Electric Train Staff Station** (W.N. 52–1949 — referenced in W.N. 14–1950). This was a rare arrangement in NSW — switching out facilities at staff stations, or individual shifts on a daily basis. The 1950 accommodation table entry confirms: when open (Mondays 10.45 p.m.–midnight; Tuesdays to Saturdays 12.1 a.m.–6.1 a.m. and 10.45 p.m.–midnight), sections Monkerai–Nooroo and Nooroo–Stroud Road operated; when "closed," the section was **Monkerai–Stroud Road** (per W.N. 52–1949). Nooroo was generally opened on the **night shift** for the crossing of passenger trains.
>
> On **10 April 1963** Nooroo was abolished as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station — all ETS equipment including special switching locks and the intermediate staff instrument removed; permanent section became **Monkerai–Stroud Road** (W.N. 14–1963). The platform was truncated to 25.9 metres on **13 September 1966**. The station closed on **29 June 1975**. Level crossings at Nooroo M. (163.05) and Nooroo Yard (163.19) were deleted from the level crossing list in 1970 (W.N. 35–1970).

---

## 1913 — Opened 5 February 1913; Station Brand NRO; Frame A on Platform; Guard's Keys; 8-Lever Interlocking

### Station Brand — NRO — 1913
> **Nooroo — NRO** — station distinguishing brand allotted on opening of Dungog–Taree line. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Signal and Interlocking Arrangements — 1913
> **Nooroo** — Distant and Home Signals for the Main line are provided.
>
> **Frame "A"** — The Fixed Signals at each place will be worked from Frame "A," which is situated **on the platform** at Nooroo, Ward's River, Bulliac and Kolodong. Frame "A" is secured by Guard's lock on **No. 4 Lever**, and must be operated in accordance with Regulation M on page 28 of the General Appendix.
>
> **Two Guard's Keys** will be provided on each section concerned for unlocking Frame "A" at the places named; when not in use one key must be kept at the station at each end of the section to which it applies.
>
> **Frames "B" and "C"** — The Facing Points in the Main line leading to the Goods Siding, Facing Point Locks to same, and the Catch-points in the Goods Siding at the Taree and Dungog ends, are worked from Frames "B" and "C" respectively, fixed near the Facing Points.
>
> Frames "B" and "C" at each place will be unlocked by key from **No. 5 Lever in Frame "A"**, and whenever the key is used it must be promptly returned to the lock on [Frame A]. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** The 8-lever interlocking machine and covered levers at opening are not directly referenced in the OCR-recoverable text but are confirmed by your notes from the opening of the line circular. The 1913 Working Notice arrangements (Frame A on platform, Frames B and C for Goods Siding) are the post-opening arrangements that formalised the Frame system.

---

## 1914 — Eight-lever Signal Frames and Signals Removed; Two-lever Frames Retained; Electric Staff Introduced

### Eight-lever Frames and Signals Removed — W.N. 4–1914
> **The existing eight-lever Signal Frames and the Up and Down Home and Distant Signals at Dingadee and Nooroo will be removed and dispensed with.** The two-lever frames operating the Siding Points at Borrows Siding, Dingadee, and Nooroo will be worked by key on the **Electric Train Staff for the section Dungog–Stroud Road**, and must be operated in accordance with Regulation D on page 27 of the General Appendix.
>
> The instructions in Weekly Notice No. 34 of 1913, in regard to the "Interval between Trains following each other on the Taree Line" will be cancelled so far as they apply to the section Dungog–Stroud Road when the Electric Staff system is installed. *(W.N. 4–1914)*

> **Note:** This confirms both that the 8-lever frames (and signals) were removed in 1914, and that the two-lever Goods Siding frames were retained but now worked by key on the ETS rather than from Frame A. If a signal box had been provided at opening, this is the point at which it would have been removed.

---

## 1924 — Goods Shunting Times; Milk Loading

### Goods Shunting Times — 1924
> - No. 142 Goods: Stratford, 15 minutes; Ward's River, 18 minutes; **Nooroo, 15 minutes**
> - No. [—] Goods: Stratford, 20 minutes; Ward's River, 19 minutes; **Nooroo, 15 minutes**; Dingadee, 30 minutes
> - **Nooroo, 3 minutes** — to load milk for Dungog; also 13 minutes at Butter Co.'s Sidings to detach milk vans
>
> **Nooroo\*** — listed with asterisk (unattended) in station sequence.

*(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1930 — Section Oakhampton–Nooroo Transferred; Nooroo Points under Monkerai–Stroud Road Staff

### Section Transfer — 1 September 1930
> From **Monday, 1st September, 1930**, the section of the line **Oakhampton to Nooroo, inclusive**, will be transferred [to a different administrative district]. *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

### Nooroo Points — Transferred to Monkerai–Stroud Road Staff — W.N. 35–1930
> Consequent on the opening of Monkerai as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station: **Nooroo** — The points at either end of the Loop, at present unlocked by key on the Electric Train Staff for the section **Dungog–Stroud Road**, will be unlocked by key on the Electric Train Staff for the section **Monkerai–Stroud Road**. *(W.N. 35–1930)*

---

## 1935 — Trains Call at Nooroo; Workmen's Stops

### Trains Call at Nooroo; Workmen's Stops — 1935
> Trains between West Maitland and Taree will call at Mindaribba, Dingadee, **Nooroo** and [other stations].
>
> Trains call at Nooroo and Tugrabakh to **set down workmen**. *(Source: 1935 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1944 — Goods Siding Connection Altered — 20 January 1944; Centrally-Operated Crossing Loop Opened — 28 June 1944

### Goods Siding Connection Altered — W.N. 4–1944
> **Nooroo (North Coast) — Alteration to Goods Siding** — On **20th January, 1944**, the connection between the Main line and Goods Siding at the Sydney end (Frame B) was removed and replaced by the connection to the future Loop, situated **420 feet nearer to Sydney**.
>
> Interlocking Arrangements — Frame B and connections were refixed in corresponding positions adjacent to the new points. A **derail** was provided in the siding, in lieu of Catch-points. *(W.N. 4–1944)*

### Centrally-Operated Crossing Loop Opened — 28 June 1944 — W.N. 26–1944
> **Nooroo (North Coast) — Bringing Into Use as a Centrally-operated Crossing Loop** — On **Wednesday, 28th June, 1944**, between 8.0 a.m. and 5.0 p.m., Nooroo will be brought into use as a Centrally-operated Crossing Loop.
>
> The existing Electric Train Staff section **Monkerai–Stroud Road** will be cancelled, and the new sections to be brought into use will be as follows:
> - **Monkerai–Nooroo**: Electric Train Staff, Type **A**; Staffs Nos. 1–50 ordinary
> - **Nooroo–Stroud Road**: Electric Train Staff, Type **C**; Staffs Nos. 1–50 ordinary
>
> The complete arrangements will be in accordance with **Circular No. 140–12 of 1944** and diagram attached thereto. *(W.N. 26–1944)*

### Accommodation Table — Loop and Goods Siding — W.N. 28–1944
> **Nooroo — Opening as Centrally-operated Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station:**
>
> Add **1,430** in column headed "Standing Room — Crossing Loop"; also substitute **28** for **29** in column "Standing Room — Other Sidings." *(W.N. 28–1944)*

### Diagram Correction — W.N. 27–1944
> **Nooroo (North Coast) — Opening as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station** — The reference to No. 5 signal on the diagram attached to Circular No. 14–12 of 1944 is to be amended to read **"No. 5, Up Starting, Loop to Main."** *(W.N. 27–1944)*

---

## 1945 — Re-opened as Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station (1945); PBK Cottage Added

### Re-opened After Brief Closure — 1945
> **Nooroo (North Coast) — Re-opened as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station** — Nooroo was re-opened as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station (vide Circular No. 177 of 1945). The Electric Train Staff section Monkerai–Stroud Road was cancelled and new sections brought into use. *(Source: 1945 Weekly Notices)*

### PBK Cottage for Railway Staff — 1945
> **PBK type cottage for railway staff** added at Nooroo, 1945. *(Source: your notes)*

---

## 1946 — Staff Exchanger Position

### Staff Exchanger Positions — 1946
> **Down Line — Nooroo**: **Opposite Signal-box**. 
> **Up Line — Nooroo**: [position in table — 36 feet from Grafton end of Platform per context lines]. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1949 — Closed as Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station — 10 January 1949

### Closed as ETS and Crossing Station — W.N. 1–1949 (published twice)
> **Nooroo (North Coast) — Closing as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station** — On **Monday, 10th January, 1949**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., Nooroo will be closed as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station.
>
> The existing Electric Train Staff sections **Monkerai–Nooroo** and **Nooroo–Stroud Road** will be cancelled, and the new section to be brought into use will be:
>
> - **Monkerai–Stroud Road** (restored)
>
> **Signalling Arrangements:**
> - All signals worked from Nooroo Signal-box will be **put out of use and fitted with cross boards**
> - Nos. 9 and 12 points leading from the Main line to the Loop will be **spiked over in the normal positions** and secured with standard clips and XL locks
>
> **Goods Siding** — During the time Nooroo is closed as an Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station, the Goods Siding will be **out of use**.
>
> **General** — The last train to travel over the existing sections and the first train to travel over and open the new section will be as arranged by the Traffic Inspector deputed by District Superintendent, Newcastle.
>
> **Drivers' Notices** — Station-master at Dungog on the Down journey and [Stroud Road on the Up journey] must furnish the Driver of each train with a printed notice for three days. *(W.N. 1–1949)*

---

## 1950 — Re-opened as Switch-Out Type ETS Station — 15 December 1949; Hours of Attendance

### Switch-Out Type ETS Station — W.N. 14–1950
> **Nooroo — Officers will be on duty during the following hours (insert):**
>
> - **Mondays**: 10.45 p.m. to midnight
> - **Tuesdays to Saturdays**: 12.1 a.m. to 6.1 a.m.; 10.45 p.m. to midnight
>
> **\*When Nooroo is "Closed" the section will be Monkerai–Stroud Road**, vide instructions contained in **Weekly Notice No. 52–1949**. *(W.N. 14–1950)*

> **Note:** The asterisk and the reference to W.N. 52–1949 confirm that Nooroo was re-opened as a switch-out type ETS station on **15 December 1949** (per W.N. 52–1949, which is not in our OCR collection). This is the rare arrangement described in your notes — one of very few instances of switch-out ETS working on a daily basis in NSW. The hours confirm Nooroo operated on the night shift only, primarily for crossing passenger trains.

---

## 1954 — 5-Ton Gantry Crane from Grafton

### Gantry Crane — 1954
> **5-ton gantry crane transferred from Grafton to Nooroo** — 1954. *(Source: your notes)*

---

## 1963 — Abolished as Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station — 10 April 1963

### Abolished as ETS and Crossing Station — W.N. 14–1963 (published four times)
> **Nooroo (North Coast) — Abolition as Train Staff and Crossing Station** — On **Wednesday, 10th April, 1963**, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Nooroo will be abolished as an electric train staff and crossing station.
>
> All electric train staff equipment associated with the short sections **Monkerai–Nooroo** and **Nooroo–Stroud Road**, together with the **special switching locks** and the **intermediate staff instrument** at Nooroo, will be removed.
>
> The permanent electric train staff section will be **Monkerai–Stroud Road**, particulars of which will be as follows [section details in tabular form]. *(W.N. 14–1963)*

> **Note:** The reference to "special switching locks" confirms the switch-out ETS arrangement that had been in place since 15 December 1949. These locks physically prevented section staffs from being in use at Nooroo when the station was "switched out" to the Monkerai–Stroud Road through section.

---

## 1966 — Platform Truncated to 25.9 Metres — 13 September 1966

### Platform Truncated — 1966
> **Nooroo** — platform truncated to **25.9 metres** — 13 September 1966. *(Source: your notes; 1966 WN references Nooroo in administrative district boundary — not found in OCR as structural entry)*

---

## 1970 — Level Crossings at Nooroo Deleted

### Level Crossings Deleted — W.N. — 1970
> **Level Crossings, Maitland–South Brisbane:**
>
> Delete: **Nooroo M. 163.05** 
> Delete: **Nooroo Yard M. 163.19**. *(Source: 1970 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1975 — Station Closed 29 June 1975

### Station Closed — 1975
> **Nooroo** — closed **29 June 1975**. Listed in 1975 Weekly Notices at distances 205 km and 232 km (accommodation/station lists) — deleted from publications at closure. *(Source: 1975 Weekly Notices; your notes)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **5 February 1913** | **Opened** — 76.2-metre timber platform; station brand NRO; 8-lever interlocking machine with signals (possibly in signal box); Frame A on platform (No. 4 lever, Guard's lock); Frames B and C (Goods Siding, Taree and Dungog ends, unlocked by No. 5 Frame A); two Guard's keys per section |
| **1914** | **Eight-lever signal frames and signals removed** — ETS introduced on Dungog–Stroud Road; two-lever Frames B and C retained, now worked by ETS key; signal box (if provided) likely removed at this time (W.N. 4–1914) |
| 1924 | 15 minutes goods shunting; 3 minutes to load milk for Dungog; listed as unattended |
| 1 September 1930 | Section Oakhampton–Nooroo transferred to new administrative area |
| W.N. 35–1930 | Nooroo points transferred from Dungog–Stroud Road to Monkerai–Stroud Road staff |
| 1935 | Trains call for workmen's stops at Nooroo and Tugrabakh |
| **20 January 1944** | Goods Siding Sydney-end connection (Frame B) relocated 420 feet nearer Sydney — future loop connection; derail in lieu of catch-points (W.N. 4–1944) |
| **28 June 1944** | **Centrally-operated Crossing Loop opened** — Monkerai–Stroud Road cancelled; Monkerai–Nooroo (Type A) and Nooroo–Stroud Road (Type C) created; loop 1,430 feet standing room; Circular No. 140–12 of 1944 issued (W.N. 26–1944); loop = 438 metres (your notes) |
| 1945 | Re-opened after brief closure (Circular No. 177 of 1945); PBK cottage for railway staff added |
| 1946 | Staff exchanger: Down — Opposite Signal-box; Up — 36 feet from Grafton end of Platform |
| **10 January 1949** | **Closed as Electric Train Staff and Crossing Station** — signals cross-boarded; loop points spiked; Monkerai–Stroud Road section restored; Goods Siding out of use during closure (W.N. 1–1949) |
| **15 December 1949** | **Re-opened as switch-out type ETS Station** — rare NSW arrangement; night shift only; when "closed" section = Monkerai–Stroud Road (W.N. 52–1949; referenced W.N. 14–1950) |
| W.N. 14–1950 | Hours of attendance: Mon 10.45 p.m.–midnight; Tue–Sat 12.1 a.m.–6.1 a.m. and 10.45 p.m.–midnight |
| **1954** | 5-ton gantry crane transferred from Grafton |
| **10 April 1963** | **Abolished as ETS and Crossing Station** — all ETS equipment, special switching locks and intermediate staff instrument removed; Monkerai–Stroud Road permanent section restored (W.N. 14–1963 — published four times) |
| **13 September 1966** | Platform truncated to **25.9 metres** |
| 1970 | Level crossings Nooroo M. (163.05) and Nooroo Yard (163.19) deleted |
| **29 June 1975** | **Station closed** |
| **17 May 1984** | SM residence demolished |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1975.* 
*Note: The switch-out ETS arrangement (15 December 1949 to 10 April 1963) is one of the rarest operational arrangements documented in the collection — one of very few instances in NSW where a staff station operated on individual shifts on a daily basis, switching between two short sections and a single long through-section. The 1963 abolition notice (published four times) specifically mentions "special switching locks" — confirming the uniqueness of the arrangement required dedicated hardware not found at other crossing stations.*