Balaklava railway station

Balaklava railway station was located at the junction of the Hamley Bridge-Gladstone railway line and Balaklava-Moonta railway line in the town of Balaklava, South Australia.

Balaklava
The disused railway yard at Balaklava ( September 2009 )
General information
LocationRailway Terrace, Balaklava, South Australia
Coordinates34°08′38″S 138°24′54″E / 34.143969326525564°S 138.41498165181127°E / -34.143969326525564; 138.41498165181127
Operated byAustralian National
Line(s)Hamley Bridge-Gladstone line
Distance95.5 kilometres from Adelaide
Platforms1
Tracks1
Construction
Structure typeGround
Other information
StatusClosed
History
Opened15 January 1880
Closed1982
Services
Preceding station Australian National Railways Commission Following station
Hoskin Corner
towards Adelaide
Gladstone railway line Halbury
towards Gladstone
Preceding station Australian National Railways Commission Following station
Terminus Balaklava-Moonta railway line Saints
towards Moonta

History

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The earliest part of the narrow gauge Hamley Bridge-Gladstone line opened from Balaklava to Blyth on 14 March 1876 as part of the Port Wakefield line but a railway station wasn't erected at Balaklava until the line opened from Hamley Bridge to Balaklava on 15 January 1880.[1] The station consisted of a main building, a goods shed and railway yards. Originally, the stables and station were located at a much different location before being shifted to their current location.[2]

In 1927, both lines through Balaklava were converted to broad gauge in 1927.[3]

A large iron wheat silo was constructed in 1956, also being one of the first in that region.[4]

In 1978, In 1978, the station and all associated infrastructure was included in the transfer of South Australian Railways to Australian National. The station was closed to regular passengers by 1982 and both lines past Balaklava were removed by 1990.[5][6] In 1997, the railway line and were included in the transfer of Australian National's freight assets to Australian Southern Railroad (later known as One Rail Australia.) The last passenger train, an RTA special tour used the station in November 1999 and the last grain train left Balaklava in 2004.[7][8]

As of 2024, most of the station yards, goods shed, station building and disused grain silos remain but are now disused.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Hamley Bridge and Balaklava Railway". South Australian Register. Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 26 November 1879. p. 5. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  2. ^ HERITAGE SURVEY OF THE LOWER NORTH
  3. ^ "The Big Push". Register. August 1927 – via Trove.
  4. ^ HERITAGE SURVEY OF THE LOWER NORTH
  5. ^ Contemplari (11 May 2017), Brinkworth Railway - The Farmer's Friend provided grain bulk handling and transport by rail. Rail transport ended in 1989 to be followed by road transport. Mid North South Australia, Flickr, retrieved 4 September 2024
  6. ^ Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 - 2000. Redfern: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 56–58. ISBN 0-909650-49-7.
  7. ^ 124326: Balaklava 251 leading 4555B Up RTA Special
  8. ^ "When was last train movement to Balaclava". Railpage. Interactive Omnimedia Pty Ltd. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2015.[self-published source]
  9. ^ Hoyleton to Port Wakefield Railway Line