Mundaring Weir Branch Railway

Mundaring Weir branch

A WAGR Ms class Garratt locomotive with a passenger train at Mundaring Weir, 1930s.

A WAGR Ms class Garratt locomotive with a passenger train at Mundaring Weir, 1930s.
Overview
Type Heavy rail
System WAGR
Status Closed
Termini Mundaring
Mundaring Weir
Operation
Opened 1 June 1898 (1898-06-01)
Closed 2 December 1952 (1952-12-02)
Owner WAGR
Operator(s) WAGR
Technical
Number of tracks Single
Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map
Legend
To Perth
Mundaring
To Northam
Wonyil
O'Connor
Portagabra
Kardo Mordo
Mundaring Weir

† 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

Originally one of the rail lines built by the Public Works Department in the early 20th century – this line was specifically built for the construction of the weir.[2] The line incorporated a zig zag. It was later taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways.[3]

The branch was a popular picnic and excursion line to the weir between the 1920s[4] and 1940s.[5]

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 engines also affected the number of possible excursion trains to the weir. This was a particular issue during times of the weir overflowing, as the Msa Garratt seemed to be the only steam engine in service capable of negotiating the steep gradient.

Due to lack of any scheduled activity on the line in the early 1950s it was closed on 2 December 1952.[6]

The services on the connecting line, Mundaring Branch Railway, ceased traffic in January 1954, and was closed by parliament in 1966.

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

Stopping Places

See also

References

  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. IX, (50). Western Australia. 22 October 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  4. "MUNDARING WEIR OVERFLOW.". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 11 August 1926. p. 6 Edition: HOME (FINAL) EDITION. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  5. 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
  6. "Bill To Close Mundaring Weir Railway.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 15 October 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 23 December 2013.

Further reading

  • Elliot, Ian (1983). Mundaring – A History of the Shire (2nd ed.). Mundaring: Mundaring Shire. ISBN 0-9592776-0-9. 
  • Gunzburg, Adrian.(1968) The Mundaring Weir railway, Perth. Australian Railway Historical Society, W.A. Division (Inc.) Copy held at Battye Library bound with: Port Honey & Companys̀ timber tramway by E.W. Woodland.
  • Watson, Lindsay (1995). The railway history of Midland Junction : commemorating the centenary of Midland Junction, 1895-1995. Swan View, W.A: L & S Drafting in association with the Shire of Swan and the Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association. ISBN 0-646-24461-2. 


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