Mundaring Weir branch railway

Mundaring Weir branch
Mundaring Weir branch
	A WAGR Ms class Garratt locomotive with a passenger train at Mundaring Weir, 1930s.
Overview
Status	Closed
Owner	PWD - then WAGR
Termini	Mundaring; Mundaring Weir;
Service
Type	Heavy rail
System	WAGR
Operator(s)	PWD - then WAGR
History
Opened	1 June 1898
Closed	14 November 1952
Technical
Number of tracks	Single
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	† Diagram not to scale

The Mundaring Weir branch railway was constructed from Mundaring, Western Australia to the site of the Mundaring Weir, and opened on 1 June 1898.^[1]

Overview

One of the rail lines constructed by the Public Works Department in the early 20th century, the line was specifically built for the construction of the weir,^[2] and incorporated a zig zag.^[3]

The line taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways some years after its construction. It was improved with ballasting and work on the line to accommodate heavier rolling stock on excursion trains.^[4] The branch was popular for picnics and excursions to the weir between the 1910s^[5] and 1940s.^[6] The current route of Mundaring Weir Road crosses the formation of the railway at two locations before the site of former No 2 Power station, and is parallel from the Weir road junction to the Mundaring Weir Hotel.

Difficulties

Due to the steep grades down to Mundaring Weir, a limited range of locomotives were permitted to be run on the line.

In the 1940s the declining availability of Msa Garratt steam locomotives affected the number excursion trains that could run to the weir. This was a particular problem during times when the weir overflowed, because the Msa Garratt seemed to be the only engine in service capable of negotiating the steep gradients.

The line was last used for passenger traffic in July 1950, freight traffic in September 1950 and it was closed on 14 November 1952.^[7]^[8] A bill to officially close the line passed state parliament in December 1952, with the Railway (Mundaring-Mundaring Weir) Discontinuance Act 1952 allowing for the closure and sale or disposal of the materials the line.^[9]

Services on the connecting line, Mundaring branch railway, ceased traffic on 23 January 1954. The line was closed by parliament in 1966.^[10]

Different proposals since 1966 to resurrect the railway line as a tourist attraction have not materialised.

Stopping places

The branch commenced to the east of the Mundaring railway station yard.

Mundaring Weir
Kardo Mordo, adjacent to the Mundaring Weir Hotel and Mundaring Weir Mechanics' Institute^[11]
Portagabra (near the current roundabout intersection turnoff to the Kookaburra Outdoor Cinema). Portagabra was the transfer station for cement railed from the Rivervale cement plant for the works to increase the height of Mundaring Weir in 1948.^[12]
O'Connor, opened as No. 2 Pumping Station in 1922. Renamed O'Connor c.1930.
Wonyil, west along the track where the line formation separates from the Mundaring Weir Road)

References

^ Mundaring Primary School (W.A.) (2007), Down memory line : a history of the Mundaring to Mundaring Weir spurline, 1898–1952, Mundaring Primary School, retrieved 23 December 2013
^ Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff; Rail Heritage WA; Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff (2008), Rails through the bush : timber and firewood tramways and railway contractors of Western Australia (2nd ed.), Rail Heritage WA, ISBN 978-0-9803922-2-7
^ "Mundaring Weir Railway". The Swan Express. Vol. IV, no. 7. Western Australia. 16 January 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Mundaring Weir Railway". The Swan Express. Vol. IX, no. 50. Western Australia. 22 October 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Mundaring Weir Overflow". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1926. p. 6 Edition: Home (Final) Edition. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
^ Gunzburg, Adrian; Woodland, E. W. Port Honey & Company's timber tramway; Australian Railway Historical Society. Western Australian Division (1968), The Mundaring Weir railway, Australian Railway Historical Society, W.A. Division (Inc.), retrieved 23 December 2013
^ "Bill To Close Mundaring Weir Railway". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 15 October 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
^ "Parliament Debates Eighty-Two Bills". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 13 December 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
^ "Railway (Mundaring-Mundaring Weir) Discontinuance Act 1952". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 14 November 1952. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
^ "Mundaring". The Swan Express. Midland Junction, WA. 28 January 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
^ "Mundaring Weir". The Swan Express. Midland Junction, WA. 25 June 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
^ "Cement For Weir Wall Bulk-Handled By Rail". The Daily News (Perth, WA. Perth, WA. 13 April 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

External links

Route map

[1] Mundaring Primary School (W.A.) (2007), Down memory line : a history of the Mundaring to Mundaring Weir spurline, 1898–1952, Mundaring Primary School, retrieved 23 December 2013

[2] Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff; Rail Heritage WA; Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff (2008), Rails through the bush : timber and firewood tramways and railway contractors of Western Australia (2nd ed.), Rail Heritage WA, ISBN 978-0-9803922-2-7

[3] "Mundaring Weir Railway". The Swan Express. Vol. IV, no. 7. Western Australia. 16 January 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.

[4] "Mundaring Weir Railway". The Swan Express. Vol. IX, no. 50. Western Australia. 22 October 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

[5] "Mundaring Weir Overflow". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1926. p. 6 Edition: Home (Final) Edition. Retrieved 23 December 2013.

[6] Gunzburg, Adrian; Woodland, E. W. Port Honey & Company's timber tramway; Australian Railway Historical Society. Western Australian Division (1968), The Mundaring Weir railway, Australian Railway Historical Society, W.A. Division (Inc.), retrieved 23 December 2013

[7] "Bill To Close Mundaring Weir Railway". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 15 October 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 23 December 2013.

[8] "Parliament Debates Eighty-Two Bills". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 13 December 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

[9] "Railway (Mundaring-Mundaring Weir) Discontinuance Act 1952". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 14 November 1952. Retrieved 12 August 2024.

[10] "Mundaring". The Swan Express. Midland Junction, WA. 28 January 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

[11] "Mundaring Weir". The Swan Express. Midland Junction, WA. 25 June 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

[12] "Cement For Weir Wall Bulk-Handled By Rail". The Daily News (Perth, WA. Perth, WA. 13 April 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2017.

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v t e Railway lines in Western Australia
Main lines	Eastern Goldfields Eastern Railway Great Southern Railway South Western Railway Trans-Australian Railway
Goldfields–Esperance	Hopetoun–Ravensthorpe^† Kalgoorlie–Esperance Kalgoorlie–Gnumballa Lake^† Kalgoorlie–Kanowna^† Kalgoorlie–Leonora Malcolm–Laverton^† Kambalda–Redmine
Great Southern	Donnybrook–Katanning^† Elleker–Nornalup^† Katanning–Pingrup^† Tambellup–Ongerup^†
Mid West	Avon Yard–Mullewa^† Cue–Big Bell^† Dongara–Eneabba^† Geraldton–Ajana^† Geraldton–Mullewa Karara Meekatharra-Horseshoe^† Meekatharra–Wiluna^† Millendon Junction–Narngulu Mullewa–Meekatharra^† Mount Magnet–Sandstone^† Upper Chapman Valley^†
Peel	Waroona–Lake Clifton Pinjarra–Narrogin^†
Pilbara	Fortescue Goldsworthy Hamersley & Robe River Marble Bar^† Mount Newman Roy Hill
Perth	Airport Armadale Belmont^† Ellenbrook Fremantle Kalamunda Kwinana freight Mandurah Midland (country) Midland (suburban) Mundaring Mundaring Weir Spearwood–Armadale^† Thornlie Upper Darling Range Yanchep
South West	Boyanup–Flinders Bay^† Brunswick Junction–Narrogin^† Donnybrook–Katanning^† Picton–Northcliffe^† Pinjarra–Narrogin^† Wonnerup–Nannup^†
Wheatbelt	Amery–Kalannie Avon Yard–Mullewa^† Brookton–Corrigin^† Brunswick Junction–Narrogin^† Burakin–Bonnie Rock^† Goomalling–West Merredin^† Lake Grace–Hyden Merredin–Narrogin^† Merredin–Yilliminning^† Pinjarra–Narrogin^† Toodyay West–Miling Wagin–Bowelling^† Wagin–Newdegate Wyalkatchem–Southern Cross^† York–Bruce Rock^†
Tourist and heritage railways	Bennett Brook Hotham Valley Oliver Hill
Timber railway lines	Ballaarat tramline Jarrahdale–Rockingham
Trams and tramways	Baldivis tramway Broome Tramway Carnarvon tram Trams in Fremantle Trams in Kalgoorlie Trams in Perth
Approved by Parliament but not constructed	Boyup Brook–Cranbrook Brookton–Dale River Manjimup–Mount Barker Southern Cross southwards Yarramony eastward Yuna-Dartmoor
^† Denotes railway is closed, partially closed or has been removed See also: Agricultural railways ♦ Wheatbelt railways

Overview

Difficulties

Stopping places

See also

References

Further reading

External links