Main Southern railway line, New South Wales
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The Main Southern Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the Riverina regions.
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[edit] Development of the line
In 1855 the first railway in New South Wales, the Sydney - Granville railway opened (see Rail transport in New South Wales).
An extension of the line from Parramatta Junction to Liverpool was opened on the first anniversary of the Sydney-Parramatta line - 26 September 1856. It was extended to Campbelltown in 1858, Picton in 1863, Mittagong in 1867, Marulan in 1868, Goulburn in 1869, Yass Junction in 1876, Galong, Harden- Murrumburrah and Cootamundra in 1877, Junee in 1878, Wagga Wagga in 1879, Uranquinty, The Rock and Henty in 1880 and Albury in 1881. Victorian Railways broad gauge line from Wodonga was extended to Albury station in 1883. To accommodate the break of gauge, a very long railway platform was needed; the covered platform is one of the longest in Australia (photograph to the right).
The section between Picton and Mittagong was replaced be a less direct line in 1919, to ease grades, and the old line became known as the Picton Loop Line, but is now largely closed. Other sections of the original Great South Line between Goulbourn and Wagga Wagga were also replaced by more curvy sections with lower grades in the early 20th century, including a rail spiral at Bethungra.
A branch line were opened from Goulburn to Bungendore in 1885, Queanbeyan in 1887, Cooma in 1889, Nimmitabel in 1912 and Bombala in 1921. This line south of Queanbeyan served largely pastoral country and therefore it did not have any major freight traffic and it was closed in 1986. An 8 km branch line from Queanbeyan to Canberra was opened in 1914. A 34 km branch line from Bungendore to Captains Flat was opened in 1940 and closed in 1969, a few years after the closure of the local mines.
A branch lines was opened from Goulburn to Crookwell in 1902; it closed in 1985. A branch lines was opened off it from a junction at Roslyn to Taralga in 1926; it closed in 1957.
A branch line was opened from Galong to Boorowa in 1915 and is now closed.
A line was completed from Demondrille (14 km "south" of Harden) to Young in 1885, Cowra in 1886 and Blayney on the Main Western Line in 1888. A branch was built from Koorawatha Junction (31 km south of Cowra) to Grenfell in 1901. This line is now closed beyond Greenthorpe. A branch was built from Cowra to Canowindra in 1910 and Eugowra in 1922, but is now closed.
[edit] Branches from Cootamundra and Junee
A branch line was completed from Cootamundra to Stockinbingal and Temora in 1893, Barmedan and Wyalong in 1903, and West Wyalong, Ungarie and Lake Cargelligo in 1917. A line was completed from Stockinbingal to Caragabal in 1916 and Forbes in 1918, which is now part of the main route for freight trains between Sydney and Perth.
A branch line was completed from Temora to Barellan in 1908, Griffith in 1916, Hillston in 1923 and the Great Western Line at Roto in 1931. The line between Hillston and Roto was closed in 1986.
A branch line was completed from Barmedan to Rankins Springs in 1923. A branch line was completed from Wyalong to Burcher in 1929. A branch line was opened from Ungarie to Naradhan in 1929.
Another branch line was completed from Cootamundra to Gundagai in 1886 and extended to Tumut in 1903, and a branch from it was built to Batlow and Kunama in 1923. The line past Batlow was closed 1957 and the rest were closed after flood damage in 1984. This branch and the Wagga Wagga - Tumbarumba line climbed the foothills of the Australian Alps, were expensive to maintain and did not have the grain traffic that supported the westerly branches.
A branch line was completed from Junee to Narrandera, Yanco and Wilbriggie in 1881 and Hay in 1882. The line west of Wilbriggie was closed in 1985. A branch was completed from Narrandera to Jerilderie in 1884 and Finley and Tocumwal in 1898. The Victorian Railways were extended to Tocumwal in 1908, creating a break-of-gauge. The branch from Narrandera to Tocumwal is now closed, although proposed for reopening as part of a standard gauge inland route between Managalore, Victoria; Parkes, New South Wales; Toowoomba, Queensland and Brisbane. A connection was completed between Yanco and Griffith on the line between Cootamundra, Hillston and Roto in 1922. This line is still used by passenger trains once a week.
[edit] Branches south of Junee
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A branch line was completed from Wagga Wagga to Tarcutta in 1917 and Tumbarumba in 1921. This was closed in 1974.
A branch line was opened from Uranquinty to Kywong in 1929 and closed in 1975.
A branch line was opened from The Rock to Lockhart in 1901 and Oaklands in 1912. The Victorian Railways 1600mm gauge line was extended to Oaklands in 1938, creating a break-of-gauge. The line has been closed beyond Boree Creek. Another branch line was opened from The Rock to Westby in 1925 and closed in 1952 and 1956.
A branch line was opened from Henty to Rand in 1920.
A branch line was opened from Culcairn to Corowa in 1892 and closed in the 1990s. Another branch was opened from Culcairn to Holbrook in 1902 and closed in the 1980s.
