The Cooma Monaro Railway (CMR) is a heritage railway museum in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia. It is based at Cooma railway station on the Bombala line. It previously operated services on a 18 kilometre section of the line.
| Cooma Monaro Railway | |
|---|---|
 | |
 CPH6 at Chakola station in March 2012 | |
| Coordinates | 36°14′11″S 149°08′07″E / 36.2364744°S 149.1352844°E |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Bombala line |
| Built by | New South Wales Government Railways |
| Original gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | 3 |
| Length | 18 km (11 mi) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1889 |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1992 | Founded |
| 1998 | Services to Snowy Junction commenced |
| 1999 | Services to Chakola commenced |
| Headquarters | Cooma |
| Website | |
| www.cmrailway.org.au | |
History
editRegular services on the Bombala line ceased south of Queanbeyan with the withdrawal of the Canberra Monaro Express in September 1988.[1] Following a bridge carrying the line over the Numeralla River at Chakola being declared unsafe, freight services south of Queanbeyan ceased in May 1989.[2] However a steam special did operate through to Cooma a few weeks later, albeit without passengers over the bridge in question.[3]
In 1992, the Cooma Monaro Railway was formed with the aim of establishing a tourist railway. It set about negotiating a lease on the Bombala line from Cooma to Chakola with the State Rail Authority. In 1994, it purchased three CPH railmotors and an accompanying trailer from the Mountain High Railway, Tumut, and restoration at the former locomotive shed at Cooma commenced.[4] After the line and railmotors were refurbished, northbound operations commenced on 5 December 1998 on a three kilometre section between Cooma station and Snowy Junction opposite Cooma Racecourse.[5][6] In June 1999, the line was opened to Chakola, 18 kilometres from Cooma.[7]
Trains ceased operating in January 2014, with major repairs required to the line.[8][9][10]
In December 2022, the museum officially reopened, showcasing a "Travel for Pleasure" exhibit, [11] showcasing the past history of the line. In May 2024, maintenance vehicles resumed operating to Snowy Junction as a precursor to passenger operations resuming.[12]
Rolling Stock
editCurrent
edit- 3203 restored by Transport Heritage NSW at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot: Static display, restored arrived May 2023[13]
- CPH railmotor 6: In storage, awaiting restoration
- CPH railmotor 8: In storage, awaiting restoration
- CPH railmotor 22: Under restoration, operational
- CTC railmotor 55: In storage, awaiting restoration
- FP paybus FP11: Under restoration, operational[14]
- S-Truck wagons: Static display[15]
- L-Truck wagons: Static display[16]
- MBC22959, timber bodied refrigerated bogie box van:[16][17] Static display, restored
- MB 22493, Steel framed MB timber box van :Static display, under restoration[18]
- PV 22318 Powder van: Static display, restored
- L759 four-wheel riveted oil tanker: Static display, awaiting restoration[17]iting restoration[19]
- 40ft Bogie flat wagon, to be used for track maintenance, under restoration.[20]
- MHG Guards van: To be used for track maintenance, under restoration.[20]
Former
edit- 620/720 class railcars 625/725 and 631/731
References
edit- ^ Cooma Railway Digest February 1989 page 55
- ^ Last Cooma Freight Railway Digest July 1989 page 237
- ^ High Drama or Farce and Tragedy Railway Digest August 1989 page 261
- ^ Still standing… Track & Signal issue 17/1 February 2013 page 85
- ^ History Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ Rail Returns to Snowy Mountains Railway Digest January 1999 page 42
- ^ Cooma News Railway Digest July 1999 page 44
- ^ Cooma Monaro Railway closed and in need of community muscle ABC Local Radio 12 February 2014
- ^ Railway stopped Cooma Monaro Express 13 February 2014
- ^ Efforts to get the Cooma Railway back on track Canberra Times 3 January 2015
- ^ And just like that....We're open! Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ Rail Operations Commence Cooma Monaro Railway 25 May 2024
- ^ Steam locomotive 3203 coming to Cooma Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ Rolling Stock Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ S-Trucks Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ a b New Arrivals - MBC Refrigeration Van & L-Truck Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ a b New Rolling Stock Restoration Projects Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ New Arrivals MB Timber Box Van Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ Projects Cooma Monaro Railway
- ^ a b New Arrivals Cooma Monaro Railway 3 January 2022