Bloomfield Colliery Branch (Thornton)

drwaddles · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:02 pm

I've got a couple of questions about this branch off the Main North at Thornton.

1. Some old (1960s) DMR correspondance I have seen regarding the New England Highway refers to the Bloomfield Colliery branch as not in use for some time and also unlikely to be reopened. Does anyone know when/why the branch closed and when it re-opened?

2. Google Maps shows a balloon loop off the branch north of New England Highway (see here). When was this removed? All that's visible on the aerials now is the faint outline of the loop in building shapes and alignments.

3. I assume the bridge carrying the haul road and rail branch over New England Highway was built when the highway was widened in this area during the 1970s - is this correct?

4. There was once a level crossing of the New England Highway (referred to in 1.) on this branch - was it located where the bridge is now?

People who talk out their asre usually have bad breath.

drwaddles · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:08 pm

drwaddles · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:06 pm

Riccardo · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:25 pm

The owner was a friend of my grandparents, from memory.

If you need to get in touch, drop a comment at the Transport Textbook or on my blog.

jumboman44211 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:33 pm

The old branch line from Bloomfield crossed the old New England Hwy at Four Mile Creek, approx where the Heritage Gardens plant nursery is now located. An exchange siding complex with the NSWGR was at the Waterloo Brickworks, near Thornton Station. "B Class" loco 2409 was the motive power.....Jack Lacey was the driver. The branch was out of use by 1960. For a time, Bloomfield coal was trucked to East Maitland yard, and loaded into non-air hoppers near the Pitnacree Overbridge. The "new" bridge over the highway was commenced in '86/'87, I think.

9015 on an unusual single load on Oct 20..1994.

I'm all in favour of progress; it's change I don't like.

drwaddles · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:51 pm

Thanks heaps jumboman!

After I typed the first post I couldn't help but think the bridge actually looked like a 1980s effort - similar to the ones up near the power stations between Singleton and Muswellbrook.

Hopefully someone else can fill in the few missing details.

People who talk out their asre usually have bad breath.

Shed_Rat · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:30 pm

The ARHS track plan CD has 2 diagrams dated, 1984 & 1988 which show the baloon loop near Thornton. the same cd also has a daigram that was part of Weekly notice 40 of 1991 which shows the line crossing the New England Highway & running to a new baloon loop. The bridge was used as a haul road bridge for a period of time prior to this before being placed into service as rail bridge.

"Human nature denies the past in order to justify the present. But do you believe that there is anything in the present worth justifying" - Poom Poom, Boogiepop Phantom.

jumboman44211 · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:15 am

Just as an aside , here is a shot (poor quality, I apologise) of the said non-air hoppers, awaiting loading at East Maitland.

I'm all in favour of progress; it's change I don't like.

BrianB · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:43 am

If you want a bit more info about the Ashtonfields Branch line, go to the 'Coals to Newcastle' website:

http://coalstonewcastle.railpage.org.au/history/operationalinformation

Scroll down till you see the document - 'Newcastle Coal Traffic Coal Appendix - 1951', and download the file.

The info re this branch is on pages 99 to 102 - bear in mind this is as of 1951 - however, it may give a better insight on the workings of this branch

Regards, Brian

NotebookMan · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:43 pm

Was there ever a triangular connection joining the Bloomfield branch with the crossover ladder at the Metford end of Thornton yard? The aerial photographs appear to show a formation here.

crypticone · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:05 pm

The Northern connection was never connected despite a turnout in the branch and the earthworks , the one for the main line at the Northern end was installed and later removed, the catch point was in the grass for a while as coal was to be brought from another colliery at the time to Bloomfield via the Nth Fork and dumped and washed and then railed to Port Waratah.
I have some photos of when we constructed the new balloon loop, but will have to scan and show off.

The Colliery was owned by a man I think named Paul Cant and he had an old country house that was put back together after being transported to the Colliery as the mine managers office and residence.

Cheers

a6et · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:42 am

From my memories of the Bloomfield branch, in the 60's till 71, then from 82-89 there were periods of non use.

During the earlier period, you could see a loading bin on a hill probably about 600 or so metres inside the treeline, probably at around the point where Rockliegh st is shown, (on the industrial side of the line). I saw several standard goods hauled trains in there being loaded & waiting to go in for loading.

At that period of time the trains pulled in & the van cut off & then pushed to the back & dropped down on the what would be the rear, althouth I did see some with a van each end.

Inside the treeline, probably aroun 50metres was a brakes board, where the loaded train would stand until the guard opened up the road to depart. I would suspect that the van was used as a brake assist on the train at that point, certainly not standing on the air but the guard would apply the hand brake.

From what I heard & could actually see the grade was steep, & the Bloomfield trains were all of the standard load as every other colliery & as such had to light enough whereby the engines hand brake could hold them on the grade.

I do not know if there was any shunter in the yard, whom the guard assisted, & whether he would get the road, & apply the hand brake in the leading van, with the guard doing likewise in the rear. To me that would have made more sense for flow of traffic.

During the 80's I cannot say that I ever saw any trains go in there, but the track always seem overgrown.

jumboman44211 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:52 am

Loco 2411 also worked at the exchange sidings at Thornton, as well as 2409, and "M" (13)class 4-4-2 No.87 (from 1922). See pages 44/45/76 of the late Ron Preston's book....'The Great Northern Railway'. As well as Page 27 of his 'NSWGR in Steam'.
Two photos of the M Class are on page 87 of his 'Tender into Tank' (1984 edition).

I'm all in favour of progress; it's change I don't like.

Junction box · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:10 am

A few years ago another balloon loop was opened on the Bloomfield branch called Donaldson, there was 'push pull' coalies coming down from Maquarie generation near Newdell jct for coal.

steam3801 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:46 am