Sandstone Branch Railway (also known as the Black Range railway) was a branch railway line between Mount Magnet and Sandstone in the Mid West region of Western Australia.

History

It was built in 1910,[1][2] and closed in 1949;[3] it was lifted in 1950.[4]

Route

It was connected to the Mullewa – Meekatharra railway at Mount Magnet.

Map of railway in location to the rabbit-proof fence, and Meekathara railway line on left

Locations on line

  • Mount Magnet – 481 miles (774 km) (from Perth)
  • Warrambu – 504 miles (811 km)
  • Mount Ford – 510 miles (820 km)
  • Paynesville 525 miles (845 km)
  • Intersection with No 1 Rabbit Proof Fence at 543 miles (874 km)
  • Anketell – 547 miles (880 km)
  • Jundoo – 550 miles (890 km)
  • Sandstone – 575 miles (925 km)

An interactive map of the Sandstone line is available at OpenStreetMap.[5]

Prior to[6] and after construction, there were suggestions of connecting to the railway line at Leonora, approximately 100 miles (160 km) south east of Sandstone.[7] Such a connection would have created a loop line linking the Northern Railway with the Eastern Goldfields Railway. The proposal was not successful.

Reputation of branch line

The railway was considered by the railway commissioner of the time in the mid-1930s to be the worst railway in Western Australia.[8][9][10]

Post-Second World War austerity issues were given as part of reason for closing in 1948 due to shortage of 45-pound (20 kg) rails for the required repairs to remain open.[11]

Goods shed

The Sandstone railway goods shed built in 1910 was considered to be of heritage significance, having survived long after closing of the line.[12]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1 August 1910 – page 69, or WN 83Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John R; Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division (2000), Australian railway routes 1854 to 2000, Australian Railway Historical Society – New South Wales Division, ISBN 978-0-909650-49-0
  2. ↑ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA". The Argus. Melbourne. 19 July 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ Mount Magnet to Jundoo closed 31 December 1949, Jundoo – Sandstone closed 28 May 1949 – from page 69 Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John R; Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division (2000), Australian railway routes 1854 to 2000, Australian Railway Historical Society – New South Wales Division, ISBN 978-0-909650-49-0
  4. ↑ "Sleepers Sleep on Sleepers?". The Sunday Times. Perth. 3 February 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Relation: Mount Magnet-Sandstone Railway (8780689)".
  6. ↑ "The Black Range Railway". Kalgoorlie Miner. WA. 8 March 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 23 November 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "The Lawlers district". The West Australian. Perth. 9 October 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Sandstone railway". Geraldton Guardian and Express. WA. 22 July 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Commissioner's comment". The West Australian. Perth. 20 July 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "Commissioner's comment". Western Mail. Perth. 27 July 1933. p. 26. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "Sandstone to get road link". The Sunday Times. Perth. 19 December 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 22 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ John Taylor Architect; Sandstone (W.A. : Shire). Council; Heritage Council of Western Australia (2002), Conservation plan for Railway Goods Shed (1910), Sandstone, Western Australia, distributed by the Heritage Council, retrieved 22 October 2012
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