Armstrong's Siding

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Type : Siding
Line : Murwillumbah Branch
Distance from Sydney : 813.454km
Location : -28.824646, 153.084475
Opened : 25/05/1909
Closed : 16/01/1940
Status : Closed
Name meaning : After the timber mill that owned the siding
Notes:
A private, short, dead end siding on the down side of the line. Served the timber industry. A request was made in 1914 to enlarge the siding and goods shed and convert it to a public siding as the area was experiencing a growth in industry at the time but this seems to have not been followed through with as the Railway Commissioner's requirement of the council putting in a road was not met.

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Notice of abolition

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Location of Armstrong's Siding (Google)

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# Armstrong's Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1903–1989

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> **Notes:** A private, short, dead-end siding on the Down side of the line, serving the local timber industry. In 1914 a request was made to enlarge the siding and goods shed and convert it to a public siding, as the area was experiencing growth in industry at the time, but this does not appear to have been followed through — the Railway Commissioner required the council to construct a road as a precondition, which was not met. The siding was taken over by the Department in 1930, at which point shunting charges were abolished. It was abolished entirely on 16 January 1940.

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## 1909 — Opening

> Siding opened as a **private siding** on **25 May 1909**.

*(No specific Weekly Notice entry found for the opening — the opening of private sidings of this type was not always recorded in the Weekly Notices. Date per external records.)*

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## 1915

### Interlocking Arrangements Altered
> **Armstrong's Siding (Grafton–Tweed Line)** — Since 22nd December, 1914, the Duplex and Bracket Lock arrangements have been removed, and the Facing Points in the Main Line, Facing Point Locks to same, and Catch-points in the Siding are worked from a Ground Frame fixed near the Main Line points, and must be operated in accordance with Regulation D on page 27 of the General Appendix.
>
> The lock on the Facing Point Lever Lock is unlocked by key on the Electric Train Staff for the section **Casino–Bungabee**.

*(Source: 1915 Weekly Notices)*

> **Note:** The notice refers to the line as the "Grafton–Tweed Line" — the contemporary name for what later became known as the Casino–Murwillumbah Branch. The change to interlocking was effective from 22nd December 1914, consistent with the 1914 request for conversion to a public siding — the removal of the duplex/bracket lock arrangement and replacement with a simpler ground frame may reflect the transitional work around that time.

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## 1930

### Siding Taken Over by the Department — Shunting Charges Abolished
> **Armstrong's Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Line)** — This Siding has been taken over by the Department, and shunting charges will not now be enforced.
>
> Pages 153, 168, and 217 of the Merchandise and Live-stock Rates Book to be amended accordingly. (30–28,474.)

*(W.N. 51–1930)*

> **Note:** This is a significant change in status — from a private siding (where the owning company paid shunting charges) to a Departmental siding. The timing, coming in the same week as the broader Casino/Old Casino reorganisation, suggests it may have been part of a general review of facilities in the area.

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## 1932

### Listed in Working Timetable Station Sequence
> Armstrong Siding listed in sequence: North Casino (P), **Armstrong Siding**, Naughton's Gap (P), Casino Council's Quarry Siding, Bentley, Bungabee, Fernside (P), Leycester (P), Tuncester, Lismore.

*(Source: 1932 Working Timetable listing)*

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## 1940 — Closure

### Armstrong's Siding Abolished — 16 January 1940
> **Armstrong's Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch)** — Since **16th January, 1940**, Armstrong's Siding has been abolished. Delete relative particulars.
>
> (39–34,709.) *(W.N. 4–1940)*

> Delete all relative particulars. *(W.N. 4–1940 — Local Appendix entry)*

*(W.N. 4–1940 — two separate entries, in Merchandise and Livestock Rates Book pages 202 and 253, and in the Local Appendix page 2)*

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## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| 25 May 1909 | Private siding opened (serving Armstrong's timber mill) |
| 22 December 1914 | Duplex/Bracket Lock arrangements removed; Ground Frame installed; worked by key on Casino–Bungabee Electric Train Staff |
| 1914 | Request made to convert to public siding — not proceeded with (road construction requirement not met by council) |
| W.N. 51–1930 | Siding taken over by the Department; shunting charges abolished |
| 1932 | Listed in working timetable sequence between North Casino and Naughton's Gap |
| 16 January 1940 | **Siding abolished** (W.N. 4–1940) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1903–1989 and other sources.*