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Open Grain Silos, no active railway

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      beanzs27 Assistant Commissioner

    I know in Victoria there are a few silos still in operation but with no rail access anymore, like at East Natimuk and west of Mildura.

    I'm wondering in South Australia where there is not many branch lines left open at all, are there any silos still open with no rail access anymore?

    Apart from Eyrie Peninsula the only open branch line I can thing of is the Penrice (sic) train to the mine in the Barossa valley and the line to Pinaroo and South of Loxton. Are there anymore?

    Thank you Joel from Victoria
    Posted: 25 Nov 2014 17:28

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      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    The Penrice line is "out of use", the only loading was limestone to Penrice Soda Products at Osborne, which has ceased with the closure of PSP's plant at Osborne.

    There is a major Grain storage complex at Roseworthy (North of Gawler), it lays at the junction of two closed lines. Grain has been trucked out for a number of years (it's only about 60mins by road to Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor Export Grain Terminals)
    Posted: 25 Nov 2014 17:53
      beanzs27 Assistant Commissioner

    So no trains now go passed Gawler central at all now?
    Posted: 25 Nov 2014 21:48
      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    So no trains now go passed Gawler central at all now?
    "beanzs27"


    Gawler Central is on the line to the Barossa. No freight beyond there and no freight beyond Gawler to Roseworthy for a number of years
    Posted: 25 Nov 2014 21:56
      kipioneer Chief Commissioner

    Location: Aberfoyle Park
    There are a number of silos never served by rail: Tumby Bay, Kingscote and Giles Point come to mind.

    No longer served by rail include Bute, Paskeville, Burra, Roseworthy, Kapunda, Eudunda in the north, Kappinie on Eyre Peninsula, Wunkar in the mallee.
    Posted: 26 Nov 2014 21:13
      duttonbay Minister for Railways

    Are the Ardrossan silos still open?
    Posted: 26 Nov 2014 21:50
      steam4ian Chief Commissioner

    Adding to the list

    Andrews, Hallett, Farrell Flat, Saddleworth, Tarlee, Hamley Bridge, Roberts Town, Cambrai, Stockwell, Appamurra, Balaclava, Owen, Hoyleton, Blyth, Yacka, Brinkworth, Gulnare, Wirrabara, Boolaroo Centre, Melrose, Wilmington, Quorn, Orroroo, Waikerie, Taldra, Meribah, Copeville, Kulkanni, Peebinga, Bute, Paskeville, Kingston SE.

    And those I miss you'll surely pardon.
    Posted: 26 Nov 2014 23:18

    Last edited by steam4ian on 26 Nov 2014 23:46; edited 1 time in total
      AN830 Locomotive Driver

    Location: Adelaide, South Australia
    Are the Ardrossan silos still open?
    duttonbay


    Yes and Road Trains are permitted to operate between Ardrossan and Port Giles.
    Posted: 27 Nov 2014 14:17
      bingley hall Minister for Railways

    Location: Last train to Skaville
    Adding to the list

    Andrews, Hallett, Farrell Flat, Saddleworth, Tarlee, Hamley Bridge, Roberts Town, Cambrai, Stockwell, Appamurra, Balaclava, Owen, Hoyleton, Blyth, Yacka, Brinkworth, Gulnare, Wirrabara, Boolaroo Centre, Melrose, Wilmington, Quorn, Orroroo, Waikerie, Taldra, Meribah, Copeville, Kulkanni, Peebinga, Bute, Paskeville, Kingston SE.

    And those I miss you'll surely pardon.
    steam4ian

    I think you'll find quite a few of those are no longer open.
    Posted: 27 Nov 2014 18:31
      pjknife Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Port Lincoln
    On Eyre Peninsula, Kapinnie, Buckleboo and Penong silos are on closed (or 'service suspended') lines. Yaninee, Minnipa, Poochera, Cungena, Wirrulla and Nunjikompita still see irregular light engine movements, but are no longer rail-served. Depending on seasonal conditions, some silos don't open every year.

    Cowell, Arno Bay, Tumby Bay, Mangalo, Elliston, Witera, Streaky Bay and Pintumba silos have never been rail-served.

    Cheers,
    Peter
    Posted: 28 Nov 2014 08:19
      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    Adding to the list

    Andrews, Hallett, Farrell Flat, Saddleworth, Tarlee, Hamley Bridge, Roberts Town, Cambrai, Stockwell, Appamurra, Balaclava, Owen, Hoyleton, Blyth, Yacka, Brinkworth, Gulnare, Wirrabara, Boolaroo Centre, Melrose, Wilmington, Quorn, Orroroo, Waikerie, Taldra, Meribah, Copeville, Kulkanni, Peebinga, Bute, Paskeville, Kingston SE.

    And those I miss you'll surely pardon.
    "steam4ian"


    A few more in the "once rail served" category (unsure if still open)
    Naracoorte, Frances in the upper South East
    Also Padthaway but this was never rail served
    Posted: 28 Nov 2014 18:43
      witsend Chief Commissioner

    Location: Front RH Seat of a School Bus
    Don't forget Wallaroo, and Wallaroo is an export port.
    Posted: 29 Nov 2014 12:39
      rhino Chief Commissioner

    Location: Oakbonk SA
    As I recall, there is a major grain transfer facility at Frances, but as we all know there has been no rail service there since the standard gauge went through on the mainline.
    Posted: 05 Dec 2014 16:23
      bingley hall Minister for Railways

    Location: Last train to Skaville
    Don't forget Wallaroo, and Wallaroo is an export port.
    witsend

    ...that today serves only a small area that previously had rail access.

    If SACBH had it way in the day there wouldn't even be grain exported from Wallaroo now, similar to Port Pirie.
    Posted: 05 Dec 2014 17:06

    Last edited by bingley hall on 05 Dec 2014 17:18; edited 1 time in total
      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    ...that today serves only a small area that previously had rail access.

    If SACBH had it way in the day there wouldn't even be grain exported from Wallaroo now, similar to Port Pirie.
    "bingley hall"

    Wallaroo is not classified as a deep water Port and can't handle the larger style bulk carriers
    Posted: 05 Dec 2014 17:58
      JimYarin Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide, South Australia
    Wallaroo is not classified as a deep water Port and can't handle the larger style bulk carriers
    Pressman


    what was the reason wallaroo rail was disconnected?  are any goods exported through that port including grain?
    Posted: 06 Dec 2014 17:38
      bingley hall Minister for Railways

    Location: Last train to Skaville
    what was the reason wallaroo rail was disconnected? are any goods exported through that port including grain?
    JimYarin

    The only other major user of the port was the fertiliser plant which is now closed.

    The strategy of the bulk handling authority was to direct grain exports away from Wallaroo to Port Adelaide. The railway saw less and less use and became uneconomic (although short line style operation could possibly have saved it). As said before grain into Wallaroo mainly comes from previously non rail served areas.

    The expanded facilities at Snowtown also drew some volume away from the only silo on the line at Bute.

    That's the simple answer - lot more to it than that.
    Posted: 07 Dec 2014 12:24
      witsend Chief Commissioner

    Location: Front RH Seat of a School Bus
    Lastly, Standard Gauge never made it down to the Silos, so they were only serviced by the BG.
    Posted: 09 Dec 2014 19:47
      kipioneer Chief Commissioner

    Location: Aberfoyle Park
    Back in the early 1970s the deep water ports as far as the Department for Marine and Harbors was concerned were, from west to east, Thevenard, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Wallaroo, Edithburg,  Farquar, Ardrossan, and Port Adelaide.

    Edithburg was a bit of a long shot and where the hell was Farquar?      

    Since then Farquar (Wool Bay) has been replaced by Klein Point, and Port Giles has been built.

    Increasing ship size has made ports like Wallaroo marginal.
    Posted: 11 Dec 2014 08:20

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