Kempsey Stock Siding

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Type : Siding
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 506.541km
Opened : 29th April 1969
Closed : January 1990
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Same as Kempsey
Notes : The 1 in 150 falling both ways is an unusual symmetry on the line. Kempsey Stock Siding opened 29 April 1969. A works notice (W.N. 37–1969, issued 11 September 1969) refers to "alteration of points and signals at Kempsey Stock Siding, Kundabung and Cement Siding". A loading platform still exists at the site.

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Location of the siding, now an electricity substation.

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Train consist form 20-5-88 6124 F stock special from Kempsey sale yards with 8012 consist 26 wagons including 3 x NSSF sheep vans which would have been loaded with calves/weiners (one deck only) this would have been in the period were the SRA would only except block loads of stock minimum of 25 wagons.
The stock siding was closed in January 1990. (Lenore Reinhard - Riddel)

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Lenore Reinhard - Riddel:


Footnote re: Kempsey stock siding closed, although this siding was closed in January 1990 10 NSCF cattle wagons remained stranded for several years requiring a temporary reopening so the wagons could be retrieved, they where taken south for scrapping by 44210 which also picked up 10 loaded sleeper wagons @ Wauchope for Boradze. Unfortunately I don't have the date for this.

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Lenore Reinhard - Riddel:


8011 on 6AB6 (between NR71 & NR88) Sunday 14/12/2023 the locomotive is pictured approximately where the City end points for Kempsey stock yards where once situated there was another set on the Country end (with a cross over in the middle) so trains could shunt in the up or down direction.This locomotive was involved in a level crossing smash approximately 100m south of this photo @ North Street level crossing on Tuesday 14-07-1981 whilst heading (along with 48104) no.288 🍌 up fruit express, it collided with a fully loaded cattle truck which had just loaded @ Kempsey sale yards (73 head) & was heading to Macksville.

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2 locomotives for 2 wagons (DN) 8217 & 8047 D/A @ Kempsey stock yards Anzac Day 25-04-2001.
Greg Riddel

Jeremy Williams
This happened everywhere at times - locos were still needed for a Roster or timed Maintenance/Trip inspections even if there was no return load. At this stage, locos had an hourly rate value and sitting idle was considered to be wasting money. I'd also suggest being Anzac Day on a Wednesday, staff at the siding did not work that day and another train was on the way for the Thursday/Friday.

Lenore Reinhard - Riddel
Jeremy Williams
I remember the steel train one public holiday Monday in the early 90's had 3 locomotives all running & 5 loaded steel wagons.
Greg Riddel

Jeremy Williams
Lenore Reinhard - Riddel back in those days there often was fear of shuting-down locos being hauled long distance for other services having flat batteries upon arrival and that could cause significant delays, so it was an unofficial thing to keep HD locos running.

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Trailing view of 6M31 taken from the old city end buffer stop (earth mound with timber surround) of Kempsey stock siding the rails & turnouts having been removed.
12/09/1998 (Greg Riddel)

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 Disused stock load in platform, 02/08/2017 (Ray Wells)

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# Kempsey Stock Siding (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1969–1985

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**Type:** Siding — Stock and Cattle (Closed) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Kempsey–Tamban section) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 506.541 km 
**Between:** Kempsey station and Colombatti (Grafton side of Kempsey) 
**Opened:** **29 April 1969** (per your notes; works notice W.N. 37–1969 dated 11 September 1969 — see note) 
**Closed:** January 1990 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after Kempsey 
**Grade:** **1 in 150 falling** on both Down and Up journeys (W.N. 9–1970; ref. A. 1–69–51,614) 
**Frame H and Frame J:** Main line to Stock Sidings crossovers H and J respectively 
**Highway signals:** Automatically activated during shunting trips in both directions when stock siding is shunted by a loco shunting trip from Kempsey (W.N. 16–1975; ref. S.&C. 73–606234) 
**CTC release:** Releasing button No. 87 — controls Releasing Switches H and J; from 1982 consequent on CTC introduction (W.N. 51–1982); buttons located adjacent to point levers; heads coloured **blue** (W.N. 48–1985) 
**Shunting procedure (post-1982):** Signalman Kempsey depresses No. 87 release button for one second when shunting portion clear of 2H or 2J points, upon telephone request by guard/shunter; yellow "release normal" light extinguished when release taken; restored when levers returned to normal 

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> **Notes:** Kempsey Stock Siding opened 29 April 1969 (per your notes). A works notice (W.N. 37–1969, issued 11 September 1969) refers to "alteration of points and signals at Kempsey Stock Siding, Kundabung and Cement Siding" — flagmen required. This is the commissioning/alteration notice rather than an opening notice, suggesting the formal opening of the siding infrastructure occurred on 29 April 1969 but signalling alterations continued into September 1969. Grade 1 in 150 falling on both journeys (W.N. 9–1970). Highway signals automatically operate during shunting trips in both directions when stock siding is shunted by a loco shunting trip from Kempsey (W.N. 16–1975; Duplex Lock procedure for staff key).
>
> Following CTC introduction in 1982 (W.N. 51–1982), releasing button No. 87 was brought into use at Kempsey Stockyards — controlling Releasing Switches H and J at Frames H and J (Main line to Stock Sidings crossovers). Heads coloured blue; steady yellow light on control panel when switch normal. Shunting procedure: signalman releases upon telephone request; yellow "release normal" light extinguishes when release taken. Full instructions published W.N. 48–1985.

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## 1969 — Works at Kempsey Stock Siding — W.N. 37–1969; Kempsey Stock and Cattle Saleyards Referenced

### Flagmen Notice — W.N. 37–1969
> During the time of alteration of the points and signals at **Kempsey Stock Siding**, Kundabung and Cement Siding, Flagmen, equipped with the necessary Hand and Detonating Signals, must be placed by the Traffic Officer in charge of the sites and signals affected in accordance with instructions in Regulation 25, Working of Points and Signals, etc., on page 52 of the General Appendix, Part II, and they must act under the direction of the signalmen at the places concerned. (S. & T.E. — W. & M.) *(W.N. 37–1969; Chief Traffic Manager's Office, Sydney, 11 September 1969)*

### Rates Entry — 1969
> **Kempsey Stock and Cattle Saleyards** — inserted in Local Traffic rates table; Power's code 2675–56. *(Source: 1969 Weekly Notices)*

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## 1970 — Grade 1 in 150 Falling Both Directions — W.N. 9–1970

### Grade Entry — W.N. 9–1970
> **Kempsey Stock Siding** — Grade:
> - **On Down Journey: 1 in 150 Falling**
> - **On Up Journey: 1 in 150 Falling**
>
> (A. 1–69–51,614.) *(W.N. 9–1970)*

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## 1975 — Highway Signals Automatic During Shunting; Duplex Lock Procedure — W.N. 16–1975

### Highway Signals — W.N. 16–1975
> When the stock siding is shunted by a **loco shunting trip from Kempsey**, the highway signals will operate **automatically** for the shunting trip in both directions. The guard or shunter should insert and turn the key staff in the Duplex Lock as early as possible after the train has been brought to a stand, in order to avoid undue delay to road traffic. (S.&C. 73–606234–W.&M.) *(W.N. 16–1975)*

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## 1982 — CTC Release Button No. 87; Releasing Switches H and J — W.N. 51–1982

### CTC Release Brought Into Use — W.N. 51–1982
> Since **1982**, consequent on the introduction of Centralised Traffic Control working (vide Weekly Notice No. 51–1982), **releasing button No. 87** for the Stockyard Siding was brought into use.
>
> Releasing button No. 87 is located adjacent to the point levers and controls the operation of **Releasing Switch H or J**. Frames and Releasing Switches H and J are located adjacent to the **crossovers H and J respectively, Main line to Stock Sidings, Kempsey Stockyards**. *(W.N. 51–1982)*

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## 1985 — Full CTC Release Instructions Published — W.N. 48–1985

### Stockyards Release Procedure — W.N. 48–1985
> **Kempsey (North Coast) Stockyards Release** — Since 1982, consequent on the introduction of Centralised Traffic Control working, vide Weekly Notice No. 51–1982, releasing button No. 87 for the Stockyard Siding was brought into use.
>
> The **heads of the releasing buttons are coloured blue**.
>
> A **steady yellow light** is displayed on the control panel adjacent to the ground frame points when the releasing switch is normal.
>
> To release H or J releasing switch the following procedure is to be adopted:
>
> **(i) Normalise all conflicting functions.**
>
> **(ii) Shunting the Stock Siding** — When the shunting portion of the train has been positioned clear of **2H or 2J points**, the signalman Kempsey, upon being requested to do so by the guard or shunter, will give the electric release by **depressing No. 87 release button for one second**. The points may then be unlocked and operated as required.
>
> When the electric release is taken, the yellow "release normal" light will be **extinguished**.
>
> When shunting is completed, all levers in the ground frame must be **returned to the normal position** and the releasing switch restored to normal. *(W.N. 48–1985; S&C 249388)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **29 April 1969** | **Siding opened** (per your notes) |
| W.N. 37–1969 | Flagmen required during alteration of points and signals at Kempsey Stock Siding, Kundabung and Cement Siding (11 September 1969) |
| 1969 | Kempsey Stock and Cattle Saleyards inserted in Local Traffic rates; Power's code 2675–56 |
| **W.N. 9–1970** | **Grade confirmed** — 1 in 150 falling on both Down and Up journeys (ref. A. 1–69–51,614) |
| **W.N. 16–1975** | Highway signals automatic during loco shunting trips in both directions; Duplex Lock procedure (ref. S.&C. 73–606234) |
| **W.N. 51–1982** | **CTC release button No. 87** for Releasing Switches H and J (Frames H and J, Main line to Stock Sidings crossovers) — consequent on CTC introduction |
| **W.N. 48–1985** | Full release procedure published — blue button heads; yellow "release normal" light; depressing No. 87 for one second; normalise all conflicting functions first |
| **January 1990** | **Siding closed** |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1969–1985.* 
*Note: The 1 in 150 falling grade on both the Down and Up journeys at Kempsey Stock Siding (same grade in each direction) indicates the siding is on a consistent falling grade from both ends — consistent with a dead-end siding on a slope with a single connecting point. The opening date discrepancy (your notes give 29 April 1969; flagmen notice is W.N. 37–1969, dated 11 September 1969) suggests the physical siding opened in April but signalling alterations were completed later in September. The "blue heads" on the No. 87 release buttons is a standard CTC convention distinguishing stockyard releases from the more common yellow-headed siding release buttons.*