Mysterious CAR railway siding

ARG706 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:18 pm

Can anyone identify this closed narrow gauge siding in this Google Earth snapshot? It is just over 6 kilometres south of Puttapa on the standard gauge line to Leigh Creek (wher the two lines converge temporarily), and a few miles north of Beltana. There appear to be ruins of railway barracks or cottages visible yet it does not appear to be listed in any of my information sources about this line. Lat -30.7223 long 138.4120

Thanks in advance

dawesybj · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:38 pm

might be the Old Ghan Narrow Gauge Line from Alice to Pt Augusta as it went near here. I think?

Dawesy
Alice Springs

http://dawesy.fotopic.net

David Peters · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:47 pm

It might be either Copley or Telford if it is North of Beltana, these two where the next stations going north from Beltana, on the old Narrow gauge line to Alice Springs!! Cool

National Railway Museum member.
The opinions expressed by my me in these posts is not the opinion of the N.R.M. and should not be construed as such.
Ferroequinologist and Microferroequinologist.
Photosite http://davidpeters950.fotopic.net

KEG · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:50 pm

It is the original Ghan NG line. ARG706's post implied a siding - which I can't see.. was there actually a siding there, or just the remnants of the main NG line?

allanl · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:08 am

Hi
I believe it to be Puttapa - there is nothing else between Beltana and Leigh Creek that fits to the creeks and the roads in the vicinity in the maps I have.
Cheers
allanl

emdrules · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:59 pm

According to the Commonwealth Railways General Appendix dated 1st. March 1950 the narrow gauge ran in sequence heading north: Parachilna, Nilpena, Beltana, Puttapa, 366mile siding, Copley. According to the good book it is most probably Siding 366 Mile which had a siding with total standing room of 603 feet. Also reading the location of fettling gangs it is probable there was a gang located her hence the small loop and lack of other facilities.

ARG706 · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:15 pm

Thanks very much for that info emdrules. Were there other sidings similar to this which were not listed in the working timetable? I seem to have come across some ruins in Google Earth about 6 miles south of Beltana which could possibly suggest there was a siding here. Yet it does not appear in any of my research material. See -30.89748 138.38880.

If you get a few minutes please, I would be most interested to learn of the official order of sidings between Quorn and Marree.

Cheers

emdrules · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:22 am

We Have:
QUORN
Willochra
Gordon
Wilson
HAWKER
Hookina
Mernmerna
Edeowie
Brachina
Commodore
Parachilna
Nilpena
Beltana
Puttapa
Siding 366M
Copley
Telford
Lyndhurst
Farina
Wirrawilla
Mundowdna
MARREE
Looking back in the General Appendix the siding in question is listed as 366 mile. BUT reading the list of gangs under the control of the Roadmaster Quorn there was a gang at the 360 mile and the 383 and a half mile.

ARG706 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:06 pm

Ah that sounds about right. I'm presuming Nilpena was the siding originally known as Black Fellows Creek? Apparently Puttapa didn't open until about the mid 1940s according to official CR documents. Hence not appearing in earlier material.

I've heard some loops such as at Willochra were extended for wartime traffic. According to a general appendix I came across today, these were the pre-WWll loop lengths (standing room)on the CAR (in feet). Some are horrifyingly short!

QUORN 930
Willochra 520
Gordon 455
Wilson 590
HAWKER 620
Hookina 540
Mernmerna 625
Edeowie 485
Brachina 932
Commodore 540
Parachilna 990
Nilpena 990
Beltana 1036
Copley 600
Telford 705
Lyndhurst 993
Farina 850
Wirrawilla 1021
Mundowdna 1006
MARREE 870

I would be most interested to learn whether any of these loops differ in length in your copy of the 1950 general appendix

YM-Mundrabilla · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:21 pm

Commodore was apparently known as Meadows in the 1930s.

Puttapa was an attended station during WW2 (it certainly was at the time of the Puttapa smash) but what living accommodation was provided I don't know.

YM Mundrabilla

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Reality has been omitted for clarity.
Why is it that there are so many in high places who prefer activity to achievement?

emdrules · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:51 pm

Reading down and deleting 366mile siding, starting at Quorn and finishing at Marree siding lengths in feet were:
2381 Quorn
1047
1064
1108
1125 Hawker
1136
1122
683
1137
1133
1121
990
1036
1110
1190
1101
1127
811
1028
1008
868 Marree

ARG706 · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:16 pm

Thanks very much for that. This info is a big help to me Smile

harry1601 · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:37 am

There was a spur siding at windy creek on the SG opposite the leigh creek south township it had some buildings and was used for canp trains- I am not sure if that helps