Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 9 September 1884, page 5


THE EXTENSION OF THE RAILWAY TO

MUDGEE.

The extension of the Mudgee railway, which will be opened for traffic to-morrow, commences at Rylstone, the present terminus, 158 miles 11 chains from Sydney, and 53 miles 44 chains from its junction with the Great Western Railway at Wallerawang, and terminates at Mudgee, the end of the contract, at 189 miles 68 chains, being a total distance of 31 miles 57 chains. The earthworks are rather heavy, there having been taken to embankments 710,000 cubic yards of excavation, which represents about 22,350 cubic yards per mile, the material consisting principally of rock and gravel. The height of rail level at Rylstone is 1992 feet above high-water spring tides Sydney, and at Mudgee it is 1635 feet, giving a fall of 357 feet in the direction of Mudgee. The highest, part of the line, at about 165 miles, is 2451 feet, or 459 feet above Rylstone, and 816 feet higher than Mudgee. The cuttings are numerous, and the depths of the cuttings and the

heights of the embankments vary from 1 to 48 feet for cuttings, and from 1 to 55 feet for embankments. The largest cutting contained about 40,000 cubic yards of exca-  vation, and the heaviest bank 47,700 cubic yards of filling.

There are two overbridges at 170 miles 50 chains and 178 miles 60 chains respectively, each constructed of timber, and supported by trestle piers on timber sills. There are 46 curves of from 20 to 60 chains radii for a total distance of 14 miles 55 chains, the remaining length of 17 miles 2 chains being straight. Of these curves 27 are of 30 chains, or of sharper radii. The gradients number 97, and vary from 1 in 40 to 1 in 1320. A distance of only 3 miles is level. The only large stream met with upon this extension, vis., the Cudgegong river, is crossed at two places. The   first crossing is situated about a quarter of a mile beyond Rylstone station, where there is a timber viaduct consisting of two 18-feet spans and five 39-feet spans of trussed timber girders. The second crossing of this river is at 187 miles 17 chains, where two 18-feet and three 39-feet spans of the same description and class of bridge have been adopted. A few chains further on are three timber viaducts, amounting in the aggregate to 73 spans of 26-feet openings, which have been provided to carry off the flood-waters from the river. In addition to these a number of 26-feet timber open-ings, brick oulverts, 6 and 10 feet timber flood-openings and box drains have been found requisite at various points along the line. Two timber aqueducts over the railway, one at 168 miles 30 chains, and the other at 180 miles 77 chains, have also been erected to drain the steep sides of the heights above the slopes of the cuttings. The troughs, or water-ways, of these aqueducts are 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep, and are supported by trestle piers. Blind Creek, at 171 miles 22 chains, is crossed by 6 29 feet 6 inch spans,   and 2 15-feet spans of timber openings. At 171 miles 64 chains, the road from Rylstone to Mudgee, and also a small creek, are crossed by 5 26-feeet spans, and 2 15-feet spans of timber openings. The first station reached is Lue, 172 miles from Sydney, where there is a passenger station, built of brick, 51 feet long with verandah to platform front, and containing a general waiting-room 20 feet x 17 feet, and ladies' room and ticket office each 14 feet square. The lamp-room is 14 feet x 11 feet, and the other rooms are detached from the main portion of the building, being placed at each end, the inter-vening spaces being allotted to yards, sheds, &c. The platform is 264 feet long and 12 feet wide. There is also a carriage dock 40 foot long, with siding. The goods warehouse (a timber and galvanised iron structure, built on brick foundations) is 72 feet x 22 feet, with an office and two covered platforms extending the whole length of the building, each 6 feet wide ; it has also an uncovered platform 84 feet long by 15 feet wide, with the necessary siding accom-modation for loading and unloading purposes. The station-master's residence is a six-roomed cottage, built of brick, with an iron roof. The water supply for these buildings is obtained by rain-water tanks. At 184 miles 63 chains there is a timber viaduct, consisting of 14 26-feet spans of timber openings, partly supported by brick piers and partly by trestle piers on timber sills. The next station is that of Bumberra, at 186 miles 53 chains. Here are a waiting-shed, platform, and siding. The waiting-shed is built of brick, with galvanised iron roof, it has a verandah to platform front, and contains a general waiting-room 13 feet 6 inches x 12 feet 6 inches, ladies' waiting-room, and ticket office, each 8 feet 6 inches x 12 feet 6 inches. The platform is 264 feet long and 12 feet wide. At 185 miles 64 chains there is a level crossing and gatekeeper's cottage, built of brick. Water is supplied from underground rain-water tanks. At Mudgee, the terminus, very extensive and complete station yard accom-modation has been provided in order to meet the require-ments of the increasing business of the town and surrounding district. The passenger station, a spacious and handsome structure, is built of brick in cement, with stone quoins, and has verandahs to both platform and road fronts. The roofs of these station buildings are of galvanised iron, with ornamental pierced iron ridge cappings. The elevation presented to the road approach to the station is pleasing and effective, with its wide covered verandahs, supported with clustered iron columns, and with ornate pierced iron spandrels and curtains between same. The rooms in this building are large and lofty, and consist

of the general waiting-room, 30 feet x 21 feet and 16 feet high, with porches 8 feet square on either side of the road approach; Ladies' waiting-room, 17 feet x 18 feet, with lavatories, &c., adjoining parcels' room, 17 feet x 30 feet ; telegraph office, and a room for stationmaster, each 16 feet x 18 feet; also, ticket office, luggage-room, parcels and lamp rooms, yards, &c. The platform paved with bluestone is 320 feet in length, the width being 20 feet in front of the building, and 12 feet at the ends, which are ramped to a length of 15 feet. There is also a carriage dock 40 feet long, with siding. The engine shed, a large struc-ture, built of timber and galvanised iron, with shingle roof, on brick foundations, covers three lines of rail, and is 111 feet long x 53 feet wide. At the back is erected a store-

room, 26 feet x 15 feet. Inside the building benches for workmen are fitted up, and there are also three pits, each 91 feet long, for effecting repairs to and cleaning, &o., loco-motives. The two outside pits are each 40 feet in length. An engine tank, 26 feet square, supported on a timber framing, has also been provided, and two engine pits, each 40 feet long, are placed here, one on each side of the tank. There is a turn-table 50 feet in diameter, with the requisite siding, and a coal stage 157 feet 6 inches long x 14 feet wide. A capacious warehouse for the storage of goods has also been erected at this place, built of timber and galvanised iron on brick piers, measuring 103 feet long x 22 feet wide, to which are attached an office and two covered platforms or landings, each 6 feet wide, and extending the whole length of the building; also two un-covered platforms, each 84 feet x 15 feet, one of these being placed at each end of the warehouse, together with a double siding for loading purposes. The stationmaster's house, a neat-looking brick cottage, containing 7 rooms, with lobby, pantry, and other requisite conveniences, is situated just between the road approaches to the passenger station and the goods warehouse respec-tively. Close by the goods warehouse are com-fortable quarters for the guards, engine-drivers, and porters, comprising three pairs of semi-detached brick cottages with verandahs, &c. At the far-end of the station ground is a level crossing over a double line of rails, and also a gatekeeper's cottage, built of brick, containing four

rooms. The water supply for these station buildings is pumped up from the Cudgegong River, which is situated about three-quarters of a mile to the north of the station ground. There are also underground tanks for rain water. The sheep and cattle races and yards with the necessary sidings, &c., are situated about half a mile to the Sydney end of the station ground, where there is also a level cross-ing and gatehouse. Messrs. Fishburn and Morton are the contractors for the general works upon this extension, and Messrs. John Miller and Ahern for the station buildings at

Mudgee.