Weston Railway Station

WESTON RAILWAY STATION

See also: Weston Station Sensation

A GREAT LOSS FOR WESTON NSW

How the older generations miss the sight and sound of the old steam trains chugging into Weston Station!  Weston's modern-era passenger train service also ceased operations in 1972. People jumping on or off the train going to, or coming from, work or school or visits to the city were once everyday events.   Unfortunately, our train service, like our Fire Brigade, our Bank, our Post Office, our Police Station and our Fire Brigade - all basic services in most communities in the past - are merely memories today.  The comings and goings in the private enterprise system are more or less expected, but basic services such as transport, postal, banking, fire brigade, police, hospital etc., should never close when the population continues to grow.  

We are grateful to Lindsay Bridge for preserving the memory of Weston Railway Station in the photograph above. The Weston station house and the overhead footbridge have now been demolished. The 160m island platform and the water tower still remain.

As history told us, Weston began its life as a private town.  (See Weston to 1910 )  

PRIVATE RAIL SYSTEM

Following is an extract from:

 THE HISTORY OF RAIL SERVICES IN THE HUNTER VALLEY 

by Stephen Miller that 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.' 

STEAM TRAINS & WATER TANK 

THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACROSS THE LINES AT WESTON NSW

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 latter 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 SIGNAL BOX AT WESTON NSW

STEAMFEST

 During Maitland Steamfest, some of the old steam trains once made a welcome appearance at Weston.

THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, '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 and restored.   Marjorie, in all her magnificence, enjoyed her first day back in service for Richmond Vale Railway  23 Jan 1986.