HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT IND 174 November 2024 | Page 10

HAWKESBURY HISTORY

with Michelle Nichols & Jonathan Auld

Celebrating 160 years of rail service in the Hawkesbury

With the new metro services now extending from Tallawong through the city ’ s north west , under Sydney Harbour to the CBD and terminating in Sydenham , it heralds a new era of rail services in NSW . It is also a time to celebrate the commencement of the rail service to the Hawkesbury district , which was established 160 years ago this month .

During the 1840s bureaucrats considered a railway service to combat the vast distances in NSW . Several public meetings were held during this time , with various reports commissioned and a number of strategies examined but the idea was eventually shelved .

A keen interest was shown in the Hawkesbury with a meeting in Windsor in 1846 . Most of the locals supported this mode of transport and could foresee the prosperity of the district and were disappointed when nothing happened .

Following more discussion , a rail service eventually emerged between Sydney to Parramatta , officially opening in 1855 , the first public rail line to open in NSW . The proposal of a rail service to the Hawkesbury was campaigned and gained momentum , from the mid-19th century , however , in 1856 a public meeting was held at the Fitzroy Hotel in Windsor . A petition was circulated and presented with 1,600 signatures to the Government .

At this time , the Hawkesbury region was one of the main suppliers of agricultural products to the Sydney markets with about 14,000 acres under cultivation producing 13,000 tons annually . To travel to Sydney , commuters had to catch a horse-drawn carriage to Parramatta then a train to the city . Farmers , businessmen and passengers alike , could see the potential of the rail service extending to this district .

In due course , the line was extended to Blacktown in 1860 . The Main Western Line continued to Penrith in 1863 , and later over the Blue Mountains . Ultimately £ 60,000 worth of funding became available by 1862 to extend the line from Blacktown to Richmond . It was decided the service would implement horse-drawn carriages . Fortunately the government altered their decision and additional funding was approved to complete the line to Richmond . Three 17-ton saddle steam locomotives arrived from the English firm , Manning Wardle . These engines were named Sydney , Windsor and Richmond .

A number of properties were resumed along the route with additional land acquired from Ham Common , a total of 55 hectares . The disastrous flood in 1864 brought construction to a standstill for a short period but the work continued .

Eventually the line was completed and celebrations were held on 29 November 1864 , with the Governor of NSW , Sir John Young , officiating . It was an important affair and dignitaries arrived from Sydney on a special train . The event was held in the newly finished goods shed at Richmond followed by feasting , drinking and revelries . Residents were allowed complimentary rides between Windsor and Richmond . Festivities continued to Windsor , with a dinner for officials at the

29 class box saddle tank engine , named ‘ Windsor ’ and carriages , late 1860s or early 1870s . Courtesy : Australian Railway Historical Society , Railway Resource Centre : 11709 ]

Windsor School of Arts . A roasted bullock near St Matthew ’ s Church fed the remainder of the crowd . A ball at Cadell ’ s Brewery completed the evening ’ s revelries .

The line opened to the general public on 1 December with four stations , Riverstone , Mulgrave , Windsor and Richmond , with five gatehouses and only several trains operating per day . Services provided at Richmond included a large goods shed , cattle and sheep races , locomotion shed and an engine turntable .

The Engineer in Chief , John Whitton , found many faults with the line when he inspected it a month after the opening . Whitton was an experienced engineer who migrated from England in 1856 . He was responsible for most of the railway construction in NSW . Following the inspection , Whitton pronounced the line treacherous and instigated a pilot engine go before all passenger trains until the line was strengthened . The rapid mode of transport appealed to the locals and they took to train travel with enthusiasm .

Initially passengers were required to change trains at Blacktown to travel into the city but this changed when the line was enhanced . The original track laid was 55lb , however , between 1876 and 1886 , it was totally replaced with 70lb which allowed larger engines to operate on the line . Bridges were also strengthened and stone ballast replaced the original sandy material .

The viaduct at South Creek was rebuilt in 1867 and the station buildings at Windsor and Richmond replaced . In 1870 , a station was opened between Windsor and Richmond called the Racecourse , but was renamed Clarendon in 1876 . The present station building at Richmond was constructed in 1882 and Windsor the following year . Windsor ’ s original building was moved to Mileham Street where it still stands as a residence .

The railway aided the Hawkesbury during a number

Opening Day Ticket , 1864 . Courtesy State Records NSW .

of disasters . In the 1867 flood , the highest on record , additional flood boats were sent from Sydney on a special train . When the massive fire burnt most of the business area of Windsor in 1874 , fire-fighting equipment arrived on a train from Sydney to assist combating the blaze . Over the years countless accidents have been associated with the Richmond railway line including a significant number of fatalities . For many years foot passengers were allowed to cross the railway viaduct despite it being “ very high and very narrow , and some hundreds of yards long ” with no railings or protection . During the 1880s a number of people met their deaths by falling off the bridge . Accidents also occurred at railway stations and level crossings .

Many more changes occurred on this line over the years . Trains eventually travelled straight through to Sydney from 1893 . From the 1880s the government was lobbied to extend the line to Kurrajong which eventuated in 1923 . The Richmond- Kurrajong line closed in 1952 but that is a story for another day .

The original Richmond Station showing the adjacent goods yards and sidings , taken in 1870 . [ Courtesy : ARHS , RRC 5592 ]

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