Weston NSW Railway Station

The Weston NSW Railway Station page is a visual tribute to a once-vibrant hub of travel and community in the heart of the Hunter Valley.  This charming station had timeless architecture, and long served as a vital link for locals and visitors alike, connecting our coal mines and rural communities to bustling cities. Beyond its functional role, the Weston station offered a window into the essence of travel, where the rhythmic clatter of trains intertwined with the stories of countless journeys, reflecting the spirit of exploration and the beauty of the landscapes they traversed. 

Though the Weston station house was demolished long ago, this collection of photographs and newspaper transcripts captures its history, charm, and significance to the local area. With hopes of a railway service revival in the future, we invite you to explore Weston’s railway legacy and imagine the possibility of trains once again bringing life to these tracks.

1904:  The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate reported on Weston Station's progress. The  edition dated 24 May 1904  stated:

…The railway station is a weatherboard structure, with station master's office, a general waiting room, and a ladies' room. The goods-shed is galvanised iron and timber. The platform is about 150 feet long and 60 feet wide, and is built up of earth with gravel surface to a height of about three feet, the face on the railway being In concrete. Mr. Donald Campbell is stationmaster. The railway business at the station is very extensive, as it includes the passenger and goods traffic and the coal trains from Hebburn and Abermain. 

By 1926, there were complaints from the Weston Progress Association  that the platform was 'much too short'. The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954) / Thu 1 Apr 1926 gave this account:

WESTON RAILWAY STATION

The local progress association considers that the platform at the Weston railway station is much too short to suit the convenience of the travelling public and has sought the co-operation of the Cessnock Shire Council in endeavouring to get the platform lengthened, and also an overhead bridge constructed. The Shire Administrator has agreed to the request.

The Weston island platform was eventually extended from the original 150 feet in 1904 to 160 metres.  By 1938, as seen in the  photographs above and following,  Weston's station house became a brick structure.

Following is an extract from:

 THE HISTORY OF RAIL SERVICES IN THE HUNTER VALLEY 

Stephen Miller explains our early private rail system:

'Private Railways

 Although most railways in Australia were generally built by the respective state governments, some railways, such as some colliery lines in the Hunter Valley, were developed by private enterprise. One of the most significant was what became commonly known as the Richmond Vale Railway. The first section of this system opened between Hexham and Minmi in 1859 . The line became incorporated into an enterprise owned by mining baron, John Brown, who extended the network westward towards Kurri Kurri and Weston, where it linked up with the neighbouring South Maitland Railway. To provide transportation of coal on their network, Brown acquired several steam locomotives that previously operated in Europe during World War One by the British Railway Operating Division . An example of these locomotives is now on display at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum. In addition to the railway, he purchased a fleet of ships to transport the coal to power stations in Sydney, which were known as Sixty-Milers. The emergence of coal mining in the Maitland area, led to the construction of the first leg of the South Maitland Railways from West Maitland to Stanford Merthyr (near Kurri Kurri). This system later spanned out to provide transportation to mines near Kurri Kurri and Cessnock. To move the tonnages over their network, fourteen mineral tank locomotives were purchased from Beyer Peacock in England. During its heyday, there was up to 100 pits on the South Maitland Railway network. During the 1960s, the SMR operated diesel rail motors between Maitland and Cessnock. These vehicles operated until 1967 before they were withdrawn. Passenger services were completely withdrawn in 1972.' 

We are immensley grateful to E.A. Downs, Lindsay Bridge, Janet and Brenda (nee Richardson) and Peter Neve for preserving the memory of the Weston Railway Station building in their photographs. The Weston station house and the overhead footbridge have now been demolished. The 160m island platform and the water tower still remain and are listed in NSW State Heritage Inventory.  Special thanks also to the train enthusiasts for their many photographs appearing on this page. 

From South Maitland Railways Wikipedia page

'Passenger Services

In June 1902 a passenger service commenced between East Greta Junction and Stanford Merthyr.  Intermediate stations were at East Greta and Heddon Greta, and, with the construction of the Aberdare Railway to Cessnock, a station named Aberdare Junction was opened at the junction of the Aberdare & Stanford Railways. Stations were also initially opened at Weston, Abermain, Caledonia & Cessnock, with further stations later opening at B Siding, North Kurri Kurri and Neath. Passengers had to make their own way between East Greta Junction and West Maitland stations and this was the source of many complaints. During 1903 the service was extended to West Maitland. The connection to the government passenger service was further improved in 1905 when a platform was constructed at West Maitland for the use of East Greta trains. These trains were operated by the East Greta Coal Mining Co, initially using a number of second hand ex New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) 4 and 6 wheel passenger carriages. In the following years additional similar carriages were obtained with the total of these ex NSWGR railway carriages reaching 20.   From 1908 to 1925, 16 new bogie end platform carriages similar to the carriages running on the NSWGR were also obtained. A carriage shed was constructed at East Greta Junction to house the passenger carriages when not in use. With the opening of the line to Cessnock passenger services were also operated from Cessnock to Maitland. Stations on this line were located at Aberdare Junction, Bee Siding, North Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain, Neath, Caledonia and Cessnock.

In 1929-30 a lengthy industrial dispute known as the 'Lockout' occurred which effectively shut all of the collieries on the South Maitland Coalfield. The railway was soon involved in this dispute with both coal and passenger services being stopped during the dispute. During the dispute the majority of SMR's passenger carriages were destroyed on 1 March 1930 when the carriage shed at East Greta Junction was burnt down. Negotiations were then entered into with the Department of Railways, New South Wales, for the government railways to take over the passenger service, which occurred on 13 April 1930. During 1940 a direct Sydney to Cessnock express service was introduced. The government operated services lasted until 1961 when SMR took over the majority of the services when they introduced three railcars built by Tulloch Limited. The services run by SMR lasted until 1967, when the SMR railcar services were withdrawn, with only the few through services run by the government railways remaining. These ceased in May 1972 when all passenger services ended. '

The Maitland Weekly Mercury (NSW: 1894 - 1931) / Sat 12 Jan 1924 

WESTON LEVEL CROSSING.

A barrier has been erected on each side of the level crossing over the West Maitland-Cessnock railway line at Weston. The barriers are long beams on each of which is a large red disc, as a warning by day and a red lamp on the disc to apprise travellers by night that the barrier is down, as a train is approaching, or is on the crossing. The barriers are wound up by a wheel, the Edwaine points being tilted into the air. The signalman's box has been removed adjacent to the crossing, so that he can attend after both departments.

Marjorie

Marjorie was built by Clyde Engineering at Granville NSW in 1938 and worked at Lysaghts in Newcastle at one time.  Marjorie was retired from Lysaghts in 1972 and spent some time on a plinth in a park at Edgeworth.  Luckily she was rescued by Richmond Vale Railway Museum and restored.   Marjorie, in all her magnificence, enjoyed her first day back in service for Richmond Vale Railway  23 Jan 1986.  

The Cessnock Express

'The 2002 Maitland Steamfest held on 27 and 28 April 2002 saw the return of the Cessnock Express, led by 30 class 3112.' 

Above:  Three screen captures of the Cessnock Express approaching the Weston NSW Railway Platform  from the west during Steamfest 2002.  These were from the YouTube video 'The Return of the Cessnock Express' which was uploaded to "From the Vault' on YouTube by   ~ pndvd.  

Bottom right:  The A.A.Co. WaterTower was photographed by 'Shed Rat' in the same location but from the oposite side of the footbridge and looking east -  late 1990s.

Above: All blue 48161,159,156, 155 lead a loaded Pelton train through Weston on 31 October 1992.

~  Ed Tonks

'This short lived method of working by Silverton, combining 2x38 wagon trains commenced about 26 March 2003. It ceased following a derailment at East Greta Junction about 6 July 2003.'  (Ed Tonks)

The weatherboard Signal Box  was located on the station then replaced by the brick one we see today, prior to October 1962.  The new location provided better view and work arrangements when trains needed to access over the Hebburn Exchange yard, the down Loop or the link line that connect the SMR network to the J&A Brown (RVR) network.  

[Thomas Robert Gordon Barnes]

PROPOSED REOPENING

'Due to the increase in population growth since the beginning of the 21st century, multiple groups have campaigned for the reopening of the line between Maitland and Cessnock.[8][9]

In 2024, a joint proposal by PalazziRail and Lycopodium Infrastructure, 'The Case for the Train to Cessnock' was brought to the NSW government.[10] This proposal would see passenger services reinstated along the line between Maitland and Cessnock by 2028, with the reopening of Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain and Neath stations as well as new stations at Gillieston Heights and Kearsley. Under this proposal, the railway line would extend past Cessnock to a new terminus station at Bellbird.[11] The second stage of this proposal would include additional stations provided at Loxford, Aberdare and West Cessnock. '   [Wikipedia]

BIG NEWS 2025!

THE MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT

While it's not reinstated passenger services as yet, Daniel Watton - Mayor of Cessnock, made an announcement on 11 Jul 2025 that will be a boost for tourism and have an impact on Weston Station.  He announced that after sitting derelict for a long period of time, the Richmond Vale Colliery site will be restored and revitalised into a landmark destination.

The preferred proposal will see the creation of the Australian International Motor Museum (AIMM) - incorporating the Richmond Vale Railway Museum and a dedicated Mining & Coal Museum. It would be a unique blend of local heritage, history, and innovation that will breathe life back into the area.

The proposal includes:

• Restoration and preservation of our rich power, mining, rail and coal history

• A rare vintage motor museum featuring cars, motorcycles & horse-drawn vehicles

• Community green spaces with walking and bike trails

• A new award-winning café by H&H Catering

• Open public events and a direct link to the Hunter Economic Zone and Weston Station

Importantly, this proposal received the full backing of the Richmond Vale Museum volunteer committee.