Craven

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Type : Station/Loop
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 290.517km
Location : -32.155241, 151.942005
Opened : 4 February 1913
Closed : Prior to 1983 (station)
Status : Closed (station), Open (loop)
Name meaning : After Craven's Flat, so called after an old shepherd known as "Old Craven Jack". He is said to be so-called due to his continual "craving for more wages" or "craving to leave the area"
Notes :  Craven opened on 4 February 1913 with sidings only — "there are sidings only at Craven and State Lime Works Siding, and passengers must not be booked thereto" (1913 WN). Opened as a siding 4/2/1913, platform and waiting shed added per Since **28th September, 1913**, the Passenger Platform at Craven (mileage **81.7 from Newcastle**), erected on the **Down side** of the line, has been in use. The Platform is unattended. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*. The Down side platform was 76.2 metres in length and had a building containing a ticket office and general waiting room. An interlocked loop of 422 metres was added on 30/10/1922 on the Up side. The 422-metre crossing loop opened 30 October 1922 on the Up side, splitting the section and establishing ETS working. During hours when no officer was on duty, State Working operated with Guards working Fixed Signals (1922 WN). The back siding opened 25/4/1914 and closed 14/8/1980 (Back Siding Abolished — W.N. 32–1980). The station building was demolished 20/11/1984. The location is now called South Craven Loop (after North Craven Loop opened 28/01/2009) and holds a 958 metre Up side passing loop which in turn has a short 229 metre dead end siding that terminates near to Woods Road.

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Craven (1982, Graeme Skeet)

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Craven (1982, Graeme Skeet)

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A view from the Driver's cab of NT-26, the Up "Grafton XPT" standing in the Loop at Craven as NT-3, the "Murwillumbah XPT" passes through, on 15-12-1993. (Graeme Kirkby)

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4492 on 272N at Craven 5-10-83 (Garry Holt)

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Craven (undated) (Marie Germon)

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4492 on 272 at Craven 5-10-83 (Garry Holt)

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XP2010 Craven 14/01/1984
(image by Brad Coulter)

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Photo of Craven on the North Coast when I was a SWSA there. Taken around 1980-81. Electric Train Staff Working was still in use but as can see CTC was under construction. There was another road we called the back road. It went around behind the CTC hut and used to serve a sawmill. (Garry Gibson)

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Location of Craven, the platform was opposite the CTC hut with a railway house behind the station (Six Maps)

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Pete Miller:

I worked there intermittently between 1979 and 1982. Two railway cottages at the back. A bloke named Clark in one and Ben Taylor in the other. ASM was named Pat Mcardle I think. Other staff there included a bloked named Boorer. The trike we used to service the kerosene signal lamps had no seat and no brakes. Lost a couple of staffs while I worked there. We always thought someone was taking them off the ground exchanger.

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Appears a covered 8 lever Frame A was provided on 4.2.1913 - see opening diagram. A platform was provided several months later on 28.09.1913 hence the opening in the platform face. The precast concrete box was opened on 14.10.1922 when Craven was opened as an electric staff station and crossing station with a loop provided between the main line and goods siding.

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There was an age difference between the Type K signal box and the station building. The latter obviously dated from nearer the opening of the line. RT Taaffe

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6KB8, NR44 & NR30, Craven Loop. 8/2/26. (Cale Seamer)

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# Craven (North Coast Line)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1984

---

**Type:** Station (Closed) / Crossing Loop (South Craven Loop — in use) 
**Line:** North Coast Line (Weismantels–Craven / Craven–Berrico sections) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 290.517 km (180m approximately; 81.7 miles from Newcastle per 1913) 
**Location:** -32.155241, 151.942005 
**Between:** Weismantels and Berrico 
**Opened as siding:** **4 February 1913** (sidings only at opening — no platform or passengers) 
**Platform opened:** **28 September 1913** — Down side platform; unattended (per 1913 WN; your notes give 15 November 1913) 
**Back Siding (Shedden's Private Siding):** Opened **25 April 1914** — off Taree end of Goods Siding; closed **14 August 1980** (W.N. 32–1980) 
**Crossing Loop:** Opened **30 October 1922** — 422-metre Up side central interlocked loop (from your notes; 1922 WN confirms loop and ETS working) 
**Station closed:** Prior to 1983 
**Station building demolished:** **20 November 1984** 
**Status:** Station closed; South Craven Loop (958-metre Up side passing loop) in use 
**Name meaning:** After Craven's Flat — named after "Old Craven Jack," a shepherd known either for his "craving for more wages" or his "craving to leave the area" 
**Station Brand:** CTN (allotted 1913) 
**Platform:** 76.2-metre Down side; ticket office and general waiting room 
**Circular:** No. 14–3 of 1944 (Craven base diagram — referenced to 1980) 

---

> **Notes:** Craven opened on 4 February 1913 with sidings only — "there are sidings only at Craven and State Lime Works Siding, and passengers must not be booked thereto" (1913 WN). Frame "A" was positioned on the **Down side of the line opposite the Goods Siding** (unlike all other stations where Frame A was on the platform) — confirming no platform existed at opening. A passenger platform was provided on 28 September 1913 (per 1913 WN — your notes give 15 November 1913, possibly a transcription date vs operational date).
>
> Shedden's Private Siding (back siding) opened 25 April 1914 — extending beyond the railway fence to Mr J.H. Shedden's mill; 28 four-wheeled vehicles standing room beyond the gate; catch-points 140 yards from Goods Siding points and 13 yards on platform side of gate (W.N. — 1914). The 422-metre crossing loop opened 30 October 1922 on the Up side, splitting the section and establishing ETS working. During hours when no officer was on duty, State Working operated with Guards working Fixed Signals (1922 WN).
>
> Berrico was under control of Craven from at least 1935. The Craven Signal-box was listed in the selector telephone circuit from 1935. Staff exchanger positions (1946): Down Line — 56 feet from Sydney end of Platform; Up Line — Opposite Signal-box. Asterisk before Craven deleted in 1970 (W.N. — 1970 page 65), indicating a change in attendance status.
>
> Back Siding (Shedden's) abolished on **14 August 1980** — Frame B, throwover points and associated equipment removed; Circular No. 14–3 of 1944 amended (W.N. 32–1980). Motor-operated points and colour light signals installed on **3 May 1982** as CTC preliminary — route control relay interlocking panel in signal-box; low speed indications on Down and Up Home signals; telephone call indicators; ETS Weismantels–Craven and Craven–Berrico retained; automatic staff exchangers remain (W.N. — 1982). Section lengths (1984): Weismantels–Craven 18 km; Craven–Berrico 12 km. The station is now known as **South Craven Loop** after North Craven Loop opened 28 January 2009.

---

## 1913 — Siding Only at Opening; No Platform; No Passengers; Frame A on Down Side Opposite Goods Siding

### Sidings Only at Opening — February 1913
> All consignments for Dingadee, Nooroo, Ward's River, **Craven**, Stratford, Bulliac, Bundook, Somerset, Charity Creek, Karaak Flat, Killawarra, Kolodong and State Lime Works Siding must be prepaid and consigned under platform conditions.
>
> **There are sidings only at Craven and State Lime Works Siding, and passengers must not be booked thereto.** Passengers wishing to proceed by trains authorised to stop at Dingadee, Nooroo, Ward's River, Stratford, Bulliac, Bundook, Somerset, Charity Creek, Karaak Flat, Killawarra and Kolodong must exhibit to the Driver of the train a **green disc by day, and light the lamp at night**. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Frame A Opposite Goods Siding — Not on Platform — 1913
> At Craven a Goods Siding only is provided on the **Up side** of the line. Down and Up 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 Stratford, Bundook, Somerset, Charity Creek, Karaak Flat, and Killawarra, and on the **Down side of the line, opposite the Goods Siding at Craven**.
>
> Frame "A" is secured by Guard's lock on **No. 4 Lever**. Two Guard's Keys provided on each section. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Station Brand — CTN — 1913
> **Craven — CTN** — station distinguishing brand allotted. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

### Passenger Platform Opened — 28 September 1913
> **Craven (North Coast Line)** — Since **28th September, 1913**, the Passenger Platform at Craven (mileage **81.7 from Newcastle**), erected on the **Down side** of the line, has been in use. The Platform is unattended. *(Source: 1913 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** Your notes give 15 November 1913 for the platform opening. The Weekly Notice states **28 September 1913** at mileage 81.7 from Newcastle. This may reflect the difference between when the platform structure was erected and when it was formally gazetted in the Weekly Notice.

---

## 1914 — Back Siding (Shedden's Private Siding) Opened — 25 April 1914

### Shedden's Private Siding — W.N. — 1914
> **Craven, Mr. J.H. Shedden's Private Siding (North Coast)** — Since **25th April, 1914**, a Private Siding, laid in off the Taree end of the Goods Siding for Mr. J.H. Shedden, has been in use.
>
> The siding extends to the **mill outside the Railway fence** and Catch-points are provided in the Siding **140 yards from the Points in the Goods Siding** and **13 yards on the Platform side of the gate in the Railway fence**. Vehicles for Mr. Shedden must be placed on the mill side of the gate, and Guards will be responsible for **opening and closing the gate** when using the Siding. There is standing room for **28 four-wheeled vehicles** between the gate and end of Siding. *(W.N. — 1914)*

---

## 1922 — Crossing Loop Opened 30 October 1922; ETS Working; Fixed Signals during Unattended Hours

### Crossing Loop — ETS Established — 1922
> **Craven (North Coast) — Working of Fixed Signals** — During the hours that no Officer is on duty at **Craven** (and Kendall) respectively, State Working will be in operation, and the Electric Train Staff Instruments and Fixed Signals must be worked by Guards of trains and Light Engines accompanied by Traffic employees.
>
> The Officers at Craven and Kendall, before going off duty, must leave written instructions. *(Source: 1922 Weekly Notices)*

### Loop Standing Room — 1922
> **Craven** — loop standing room: **81** vehicles; section Craven–Gloucester confirmed. *(Source: 1922 Weekly Notices — accommodation table entries; "Craven ... 81 17")*

> **Note:** The 1922 entries confirm the loop was in operation and ETS working established by this date (loop opened 30 October 1922 per your notes). The "State Working" for unattended hours — Guards working Fixed Signals — is the same arrangement as at other partially attended loops on the North Coast Line in this period.

---

## 1924 — Hours of Attendance; Listed as Unattended at Certain Times

### Hours of Attendance — 1924
> **Craven** — **12 midnight to 6.0 a.m.**, week-days *(and related entries)*. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices — listed four times with associated designations)*

---

## 1934 — Section Changed; Craven–Berrico Listed; Berrico Berrico Under Craven Control

### Craven Signal-box Listed; Berrico Under Craven — 1934
> The Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section **"Craven–Berrico"** referenced. *(Source: 1934 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1935 — Craven Signal-box in Selector Telephone Circuit; Berrico Under Craven Control

### Selector Telephones — 1935
> **Craven Signal-box** — listed in selector telephone circuit alongside Stroud Signal-box, Weismantels Signal-box, Berrico Signal-box, Gloucester Station Master.
>
> **"Berrico is under control of Craven."** *(Source: 1935 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1942 — Night Officers Listed; ETS Weismantels–Craven Confirmed

### Night Officer at Craven — 1942
> **Craven — P.G. Coulthart — Night Officer** — listed alongside Wallarobba Night Officer and Dungog Guard. *(Source: 1942 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1946 — Automatic Staff Exchanger Positions

### Staff Exchanger Positions — 1946
> **Down Line — Craven**: **56 feet from Sydney end of Platform**. 
> **Up Line — Craven**: **Opposite Signal-box**. *(Source: 1946 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1970 — Asterisk Removed from Before Craven (Hours of Attendance Status Change)

### Asterisk Deleted — W.N. — 1970
> **Page 65 — Delete \* before: Craven.** *(Source: 1970 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** The deletion of the asterisk before Craven in 1970 indicates a change in the attendance/unattended designation — Craven moved from asterisked (partially attended/unattended) to full-time attended status, or a change in how its attendance was classified.

---

## 1980 — Back Siding Abolished — 14 August 1980; Circular No. 14–3 of 1944 Amended

### Back Siding Abolished — W.N. 32–1980
> **Craven (North Coast) — Removal of Back Siding** — On **Thursday, 14th August, 1980**, between 7.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m., the points and derail operated by **Frame B**, together with Frame B and the throwover points in the Goods Siding leading to the Back Siding, will be removed and the **Back Siding abolished**.
>
> **Circular No. 14–3, Craven, of 1944** and diagram attached, to be amended accordingly. *(W.N. 32–1980)*

### Flagmen During Alterations — W.N. 32–1980
> During the time of alteration of the points and signals at Ward's River, Port Kembla Inner Harbour Branch, **Craven North**, Eubalong West and Uranquinty, flagmen must be placed. *(W.N. 32–1980)*

---

## 1982 — Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — 3 May 1982

### Motor-Operated Points and Colour Light Signals — W.N. — 1982
> **Craven (North Coast) — Conversion to Power Operation of Points and Signals** — On **Monday, 3rd May, 1982**, between 7.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m., as a preliminary to the introduction of CTC signalling on the North Coast line, the Main line to loop points at each end of Craven crossing loop will be converted to motor operation and the mechanical Main line and loop signals replaced by **colour light signals**.
>
> **Route control relay interlocking control panel** in signal-box; mechanical interlocking machine placed out of use; local ground frames renamed; electrical releasing switches provided.
>
> **Colour light signals** — single light type; **low speed indication** (small green light) and **shunting signal** (yellow light) with route indicator applicable to both — cleared by approaching train — beneath Down Home and Up Home signals.
>
> Entry to Loop on authority of low speed signal. Entry to Main line crossing on authority of green light when Starting signal clear (subject to ETS).
>
> **Route Control Relay Interlocking Unit** — combined control panel and indicator diagram; track indicator lights for track sections throughout Craven area.
>
> Electric Train Staff working remains in use on sections **Weismantels–Craven** and **Craven–Berrico**; automatic staff exchanging equipment at Craven remains available.
>
> **Telephone Call Indicators** — near Starting signals at each end; flashing blue light and sounding of a hooter. *(W.N. — 1982)*

---

## 1984 — Section Lengths Listed; Station Building Demolished 20 November 1984

### Section Lengths — 1984
> - Weismantels–Craven: **18 km**
> - Craven–Berrico: **12 km**

*(Source: 1984 Weekly Notices)*

### Station Building Demolished — 20 November 1984
> **Station building at Craven demolished — 20 November 1984.** *(Source: your notes)*

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## Associated Timber Sidings — Shedden's Private Siding / Back Siding

| Feature | Detail |
|---------|--------|
| **Location** | Off Taree end of Goods Siding at Craven |
| **Opened** | 25 April 1914 |
| **Purpose** | J.H. Shedden's timber mill — Private Siding |
| **Standing room** | 28 four-wheeled vehicles between gate and end of siding |
| **Catch-points** | 140 yards from Goods Siding points; 13 yards platform side of gate |
| **Gate** | Guards responsible for opening and closing; siding extended beyond railway fence to mill |
| **Frame** | Frame B (at closure 1980) with throwover points in Goods Siding |
| **Abolished** | 14 August 1980 — Frame B, derail and throwover points removed; Circular No. 14–3 of 1944 amended (W.N. 32–1980) |

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **4 February 1913** | **Opened as siding only** — Goods Siding on Up side; no platform; passengers not permitted; Frame A on Down side opposite Goods Siding (not on platform as at all other stations); station brand CTN |
| **28 September 1913** | **Passenger platform opened** — Down side, 76.2m, unattended, at 81.7 miles from Newcastle (your notes give 15 November 1913 — discrepancy noted) |
| **25 April 1914** | **Shedden's Private Siding (Back Siding) opened** — 28 four-wheeled vehicles standing room; Guards open/close gate; siding to J.H. Shedden's mill outside railway fence (W.N. — 1914) |
| **30 October 1922** | **Crossing Loop opened** — 422-metre Up side central interlocked loop; ETS working; State Working for unattended hours; Guards work Fixed Signals |
| 1924 | Hours: 12 midnight to 6.0 a.m. week-days |
| 1935 | Craven Signal-box in selector telephone circuit; Berrico under control of Craven |
| 1942 | Night Officer at Craven — P.G. Coulthart |
| 1946 | Staff exchanger positions: Down — 56 feet from Sydney end of Platform; Up — Opposite Signal-box |
| W.N. — 1970 | Asterisk removed before Craven (attendance status change) |
| **14 August 1980** | **Back Siding (Shedden's) abolished** — Frame B, throwover points, derail removed; Circular No. 14–3 of 1944 amended (W.N. 32–1980) |
| **3 May 1982** | **Motor-operated points and colour light signals** — route control relay interlocking panel; low speed indications; telephone call indicators; ETS Weismantels–Craven and Craven–Berrico retained; automatic staff exchangers remain |
| **20 November 1984** | **Station building demolished** |
| 2009 (after) | Location renamed **South Craven Loop** after North Craven Loop opened 28 January 2009; current loop 958 metres, Up side, with 229-metre dead-end siding near Woods Road |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1913–1984.* 
*Note: Craven is the only station on the Dungog–Taree line where Frame "A" was positioned opposite the Goods Siding rather than on the platform at opening — because there was no platform in February 1913. This unique arrangement reflects the station's origins as a pure siding, with the passenger platform added eight months after opening. Circular No. 14–3 of 1944 was the base diagram from 1944 to 1980 — 36 years.*