Bexhill

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Bexhill, 1973

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Bexhill, 1958

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Bexhill - station building

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# Bexhill (Murwillumbah Branch)
## Entries from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1894–1975

---

**Type:** Station (Closed); Crossing Loop (Closed); Goods Siding (subsequently abolished) 
**Line:** Murwillumbah Branch (Casino–Murwillumbah; ETS sections: Lismore–Bexhill / Bexhill–Booyong) 
**Distance from Sydney:** 846.673 km (Mileage approximately **527m–528m** from Sydney; approximately **526m 10c** per 1974 intermediate siding entry) 
**Location:** -28.762154, 153.346415 
**Between:** Woodlawn Quarry Siding (south/west) and Eltham (north/east) 
**Opened:** **15 May 1894** — with the Lismore-Tweed Line; Circular No. 95 of 1894 
**Crossing loop and siding opened:** **23 May 1913** (per your notes); full signal and interlocking arrangements: **Monday, 21 July 1913** — Circular No. 188 of 1913 
**Brick Siding abolished:** **22 January 1935** — W.N. 4–1935 (ref. S.&T.E., G.33–30A) 
**Closed as OTS and Crossing Station:** **Monday, 5 March 1973** — W.N. 8 and 9–1973 (ref. S.&T.E.–72–508,603) 
**Station closed:** **20 June 1974** (per your notes; W.N. 29 and 30–1974) 
**Goods Siding abolished:** **Since 25 August 1975** — W.N. 39–1975 (ref. S&C 72 508603) 
**Station demolished:** **1977** (per your notes) 
**Status:** Closed 
**Name meaning:** Named after the Parish of Bexhill, originally based on Bexhill, a town in Sussex, England (originally "Boxhill") 

### Platform
**75.4 metres (247 feet)** — Down side 

### Crossing Loop (23 May 1913 – 5 March 1973)
**918 feet** in length (per your notes) 
Loop and siding opened 23 May 1913; full signalling/interlocking from 21 July 1913 (Circular No. 188 of 1913) 

### Brick Siding (1913 – 22 January 1935)
Brick Siding provided as part of 1913 yard works; abolished 22 January 1935 — points and catch-points at each end removed; Circular No. 188 of 1913 amended (W.N. 4–1935; ref. S.&T.E., G.33–30A); rates books deleted W.N. 5–1935

### "Automatic Crossing Loop" Designation Deleted (1965)
**W.N. 43–1965:** Working Timetable Casino–Murwillumbah — delete all reference to "automatic crossing loop" at Bexhill — confirming the description had persisted in timetable publications since the 1913 commissioning

### Cattle/Sheep Accommodation Deleted (1965)
**W.N. 9–1965:** Bexhill — delete **7-7** from cattle/sheep column in Accommodation Provided table (ref. W.K.5–63–155–49)

### Eltham Controlled by Bexhill (1943)
**W.N. 35–1943 (from 16 August 1943):** Eltham unattended and under control of Bexhill — all coaching traffic under siding and platform conditions; insert (P) alongside Eltham station name (supersedes W.N. 34–1943; ref. 43–45,606)

### ETS Sections History
| Period | Sections | Staff |
|--------|---------|-------|
| 1894–1913 | Lismore–[Bexhill area]–Booyong; Booyong–Bangalow | — |
| 1913 onwards | **Lismore–Bexhill** and **Bexhill–Booyong** (Type A Miniature ETS) | — |
| 1930 | Bexhill–Booyong: Miniature ETS Type A; Booyong Junction Intermediate Staff Instrument (Booyong as Controlling Station) | — |
| **5 March 1973** | Both sections cancelled; **Lismore–Bangalow** created (20m 75c; Heart-shaped, Green; one loose key) | — |

### Goods Siding — Post-Closure Career (1974–1975)
**W.N. 5–1974:** Bexhill Goods Siding restored as **intermediate siding** — Nos. 2B and 2D points (Casino and Murwillumbah ends) unlocked by key on OTS or loose key for Lismore–Bangalow section; **Circular No. 499–49, Bexhill, of 1936** amended (ref. S.&C. 72–508,603) 
**W.N. 6–1974:** Added to intermediate sidings table at **526m 10c** — Up–Loop — No.–Staff — Lismore; after North Lismore (520m 69c) 
**W.N. 21–1974:** Working Timetable pages 234–235 — Bexhill: delete "†d" and insert "**"; Bexhill Goods siding control changed to Lismore 
**W.N. 39–1975:** Goods Siding abolished — since **25 August 1975**; Nos. 2B and 2D points placed out of use and removed (ref. S&C 72 508603)

---

## 1894 — Opened 15 May 1894 — Circular No. 95

### Opening — W.N. — 1894
> **Opening of Lismore-Tweed Line** — On **Tuesday, May 15th, 1894**, the last station of this line will be opened for traffic from Lismore to Mullumbimby, as per **Circular No. 95**. *(W.N. — 1894)*

---

## 1913 — Crossing Loop and Brick Siding; Full Signalling — 21 July 1913; Circular No. 188 of 1913

### Signalling Commissioned — W.N. — 1913
> **Bexhill and Brick Siding (Grafton-Tweed)** — On **Monday, 21st July, 1913**, the complete signal and interlocking arrangements will be brought into use in accordance with **Circular No. 188, of 1913**. *(W.N. — 1913)*

*Crossing loop (918 feet) and siding opened 23 May 1913 per your notes; full signalling from 21 July 1913.*

---

## 1924 — ETS Section Lismore–Bexhill; Quarry Siding Between Lismore and Bexhill

### Bexhill Quarry Siding (Woodlawn Quarry) — W.N. 33–1924
> **Page 307 — Provision of New Loop Quarry Siding at Mileage 91.11 — between Lismore and Bexhill (North Coast)** — On Wednesday, **13th August, 1924**, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., a new Loop Siding, **623 feet** in length, laid in on the **Down side** of the Main line at Mileage 91.11, between Lismore and Bexhill, will be brought into use, and will be known as the **Quarry Siding**.
>
> The points in the Main line and the Catch-points at each end of the Loop Siding will be worked from Frames "A" and "B," fixed close to the points in the Main line on the Up side. No. 1 Lever in Frames "A" and "B" will be unlocked by key on the **Miniature Electric Train Staff for the section Lismore–Bexhill**, and must be operated in accordance with Regulation B, on page 55 of the General Appendix. *(W.N. 33–1924; ref. W.N.–33–1924)*

*This is the Bexhill Quarry / Woodlawn Quarry Siding — separate from Bexhill station itself.*

---

## 1924 — ETS Working Arrangements

### Bexhill Section — W.N. — 1924
> **Bexhill** — Staff for section **Lismore–Bexhill** and **Bexhill–Booyong**; Miniature ETS; Booyong Junction equipped as Intermediate Electric Train Staff Station under Booyong as Controlling Station. *(Source: 1924 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1930 — ETS Working; Bexhill–Booyong Type A

### System of Working — W.N. — 1930
> **Bexhill–Booyong:** Miniature Electric Train Staff, **Type "A."** (Intermediate Electric Train Staff Instrument at Booyong Junction, with Booyong as Controlling Station.) *(Source: 1930 Weekly Notices)*

---

## 1935 — Brick Siding Abolished — W.N. 4 and 5–1935

### Brick Siding Abolished — W.N. 4–1935 (22 January 1935)
> **Bexhill Brick Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch) — Abolition of Brick Siding** — On **Tuesday, 22nd January, 1935**, between 8.0 a.m. and 4.0 p.m., the points and catch-points at each end of the Brick Siding will be removed, and the siding abolished. **Circular No. 188 of 1913** and diagram attached thereto are to be amended accordingly. (S.&T.E., G.33–30A.) *(W.N. 4–1935)*

### Rates Books Deleted — W.N. 5–1935
> **Pages 163, 186 and 235 — Bexhill Brick Siding (Casino–Murwillumbah Branch) — Abolition of Siding** — Delete particulars relating to Bexhill Brick Siding. (35.) *(W.N. 5–1935)*

---

## 1943 — Eltham Unattended Under Control of Bexhill — W.N. 35–1943

### Eltham Control — W.N. 35–1943 (since 16 August 1943)
> **Page 155 — Eltham (Casino–Murwillumbah)** — Since **16th August, 1943**, Eltham is unattended under control of **Bexhill**. All coaching traffic must be dealt with under siding and platform conditions. Insert (P) alongside station name. This supersedes previous instruction in Weekly Notice No. 34 of 1943. (43–45,606.) *(W.N. 35–1943)*

---

## 1965 — Cattle/Sheep Deleted; "Automatic Crossing Loop" Deleted

### Accommodation Amended — W.N. 9–1965
> **Page 88 — Stations, Platforms and Sidings — Accommodation Provided — Bexhill** — In column headed "cattle, sheep" delete **7-7**. (W.K.5–63–155–49.) *(W.N. 9–1965)*

### Crossing Loop Description Deleted — W.N. 43–1965
> **Working Timetable — Northern Division — Page 308 — Casino–Murwillumbah — Bexhill** — Delete all reference to **"automatic crossing loop."** *(W.N. 43–1965)*

---

## 1973 — Closed as OTS and Crossing Station — 5 March 1973; Lismore–Bangalow Created

### Closure — W.N. 8 and 9–1973
> **Bexhill (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Closing as an Ordinary Train Staff and Crossing Station** — On **Monday, 5th March, 1973**, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Bexhill will be closed as an ordinary train staff and crossing station. The ordinary train staff and ticket sections **Lismore–Bexhill** and **Bexhill–Bangalow** will be cancelled and the ordinary train staff and ticket section **Lismore–Bangalow** will be brought into use.
>
> **Section Lismore–Bangalow:**
> - Length: **20m 75c**
> - Method: Ordinary Train Staff and Ticket
> - Staff: Heart-shaped; Green
> - **One loose key** provided for use on the section
>
> **Track and Signalling Alterations:** 
> Nos. **2B** and **2D** points (Main to Loop line, Sydney and Murwillumbah ends, respectively) will be **spiked** in the normal position and secured by standard clips and X.L. locks until further notice. 
> **Frame A** on the platform will be placed out of use. 
> The Down and Up **Distant and Home signals** will be removed.
>
> **Driver's Notices:** Station Masters at Casino (Down) and Murwillumbah (Up) must issue printed notices to each Driver for **three (3) days** including the day of alterations.
>
> (S.&T.E.–72–508,603–W.&M.) *(W.N. 8 and 9–1973)*

---

## 1974 — Goods Siding Restored as Intermediate; Station Deleted

### Goods Siding Restored — W.N. 5–1974
> **Bexhill (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Restoration of Goods Siding as Intermediate Siding** — The Nos. 2B and 2D points, Main line to Goods siding, Casino and Murwillumbah ends, respectively, are unlocked by key on the ordinary train staff or loose key for the section **Lismore–Bangalow**. **Circular No. 499–49, Bexhill, of 1936**, and diagram attached, to be amended accordingly. (S.&C. 72–508,603–W.&M.) *(W.N. 5–1974)*

### Intermediate Siding Table — W.N. 6–1974
> **Page 41 — Intermediate Sidings — Casino–Murwillumbah Branch** — Add after 520m 69c North Lismore: **Key — Lismore–Bangalow–52; (b) 526m 10c — Bexhill — Up–Loop — No.–Staff — Lismore.** (S.&C.–72–508,603–W.&M.) *(W.N. 6–1974)*

### Working Timetable Amended — W.N. 21–1974
> **Working Timetable — Northern — Pages 234 to 235 inclusive — Bexhill** — In station name column delete **"†d"** and insert **"**"**. (A.1–72–40,422.) *(W.N. 21–1974)*

### Station Tables Deleted — W.N. 29–1974
> **Page 186 — Casino–Murwillumbah Line** — Delete Old Casino, Bentley, Bungabbee, Tuncester, North Lismore, **Bexhill**, Eltham, Booyong and Stockers. (C.1–74.) *(W.N. 29–1974)*

> **Page 260 — Casino–Murwillumbah Branch Line** — Delete **Bexhill** and relevant particulars. (B.2–74–71,071.) *(W.N. 29–1974)*

### Further Deletions — W.N. 30–1974
> **Page 185 — List of Stations** — Delete **Bexhill** and relevant particulars. (B.2–74–71,071.) *(W.N. 30–1974)*

> **Page 225 — Alphabetical List** — Delete **Bexhill** and relevant particulars. (B.2–74–71,071.) *(W.N. 30–1974)*

---

## 1975 — Goods Siding Abolished — W.N. 39–1975

### Goods Siding Abolished — W.N. 39–1975
> **Bexhill (Casino–Murwillumbah) — Abolition of Goods Siding** — Since **25th August, 1975**, Nos. 2B and 2D points, Main line to Goods siding, Sydney and Murwillumbah ends, have been **placed out of use pending removal** and the siding abolished. (S&C 72 508603 W&M.) *(W.N. 39–1975)*

---

## Summary of Key Events

| Date | Event |
|------|-------|
| **15 May 1894** | **Opened** — Lismore-Tweed Line; Circular No. 95; 75.4-metre Down platform |
| **23 May 1913** | **Crossing loop (918 feet) and Brick Siding opened** (per your notes) |
| **21 July 1913** | Full signal and interlocking arrangements commissioned — **Circular No. 188 of 1913** |
| By 1924 | ETS sections **Lismore–Bexhill** and **Bexhill–Booyong** (Type A Miniature ETS); Booyong Junction Intermediate Staff Instrument |
| **13 August 1924** | Quarry Siding (Bexhill/Woodlawn Quarry) — 623-foot loop siding at Mileage 91.11 between Lismore and Bexhill; Frames A and B; Lismore–Bexhill ETS key; Regulation B |
| **22 January 1935** | **Brick Siding abolished** — Circular No. 188 of 1913 amended (W.N. 4–1935; ref. S.&T.E., G.33–30A); rates books deleted W.N. 5–1935 |
| **16 August 1943** | **Eltham placed under control of Bexhill** — unattended (P); coaching under siding/platform conditions (W.N. 35–1943; ref. 43–45,606) |
| **W.N. 9–1965** | Cattle/sheep accommodation (7-7) deleted |
| **W.N. 43–1965** | "Automatic crossing loop" description deleted from Working Timetable |
| **5 March 1973** | **Closed as OTS and Crossing Station** — Lismore–Bexhill and Bexhill–Bangalow cancelled; **Lismore–Bangalow** (20m 75c; Heart/Green; 1 loose key) created; Nos. 2B and 2D spiked; Frame A out of use; Home and Distant signals removed; Driver notices 3 days (W.N. 8 and 9–1973; ref. S.&T.E.–72–508,603) |
| **W.N. 5–1974** | Goods Siding restored as intermediate siding — Lismore–Bangalow OTS key; **Circular No. 499–49, Bexhill, of 1936** amended (ref. S.&C. 72–508,603) |
| **W.N. 6–1974** | Added to Intermediate Sidings table — **526m 10c**; Up–Loop; Lismore control |
| **20 June 1974** | **Station closed** |
| **W.N. 21–1974** | Working Timetable — Bexhill: "†d" deleted, "**" inserted |
| **W.N. 29–1974** | Deleted from Casino–Murwillumbah distances and List of Stations (refs C.1–74 and B.2–74–71,071) |
| **W.N. 30–1974** | Deleted from List of Stations (page 185) and Alphabetical List (ref. B.2–74–71,071) |
| **25 August 1975** | **Goods Siding abolished** — Nos. 2B and 2D placed out of use and removed (W.N. 39–1975; ref. S&C 72 508603) |
| **1977** | **Station demolished** (per your notes) |

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*Extracted from NSW Government Railways Weekly Notices, 1894–1975.* 
*Note: Bexhill has one of the more complex post-closure operational histories in the Murwillumbah branch collection — closed as an OTS and crossing station in March 1973, with the goods siding then restored as an intermediate siding in February 1974 (W.N. 5–1974; Circular No. 499–49 of 1936 amended) and finally abolished in August 1975 under the same file reference as the 1973 crossing station closure (S.&C. 72–508,603). The use of a heart-shaped, green staff for the new Lismore–Bangalow section (replacing the round/square Lismore–Bexhill and Bexhill–Bangalow staffs) is a distinctive staff type rarely documented in the North Coast collection. The "automatic crossing loop" designation that persisted in Working Timetable publications until W.N. 43–1965 reflects an early use of the term "automatic" for a staffed crossing loop — presumably indicating the loop could be used without a signalman when train movements permitted.*