Wikipedia

Katanning to Pingrup railway line

The Katanning to Pingrup railway line was a state government-owned and WAGR-operated railway line connecting Katanning to Pingrup via Nyabing in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The railway line was 95 kilometres (59 mi) long. At its western end, at Katanning, it connected to the Great Southern Railway. At Katanning, it also connected to the Donnybrook–Katanning railway, which closed in 1982.[1][2]

Katanning to Pingrup railway line
Overview
StatusClosed
OwnerGovernment of Western Australia
LocaleGreat Southern, Western Australia
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Western Australian Government Railways
History
Commenced1911
Opened27 October 1923 (1923-10-27)
Section 1 openedKatanning to Nyabing: 3 April 1912 (1912-04-03)
Section 2 openedNyabing to Pingrup: 27 October 1923 (1923-10-27)
Closed1957
Technical
Line length95 km (59 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Katanning to Pingrup railway line
Main locations
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
45km
30miles
Pingrup
3
Pingrup
Nyabing
2
Nyabing
Katanning
1
Katanning
Route map

Legend
Donnybrook–Katanning railway
Great Southern Railway
0
 Katanning
12
 Kibbleup
17
 Ewlyamartup
27
 Coyrecup
35
 Badgebup
43
 Kwobrup
54
 Moornaming
No. 2 Rabbit-proof fence
61
 Nyabing
77
 Kuringup
83
 Chinocup
95
 Pingrup
This diagram:

The line from Katanning to Nyabing still exists but is not in operation while the line further east, from Nyabing to Pingrup no longer exists, having closed in 1957.

History

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The Great Southern Railway, passing through Katanning, was established in 1889, having been constructed in a three-year period from 1886. At Katanning, it also connected to the Donnybrook–Katanning railway, which had opened to Kojonup in 1907 and eventually connected to the Donnybrook line at Boyup Brook in May 1912.[3]

The Katanning to Nyabing, then still referred to as Nampup but renamed soon after, was awarded for construction on 28 March 1911. Unlike most other railways in Western Australia at this point, which were constructed by the state's Public Works Department (PWD), Katanning to Nyabing was constructed by a private company, the Vincent Brothers. Vincent Brothers were also responsible for the construction of the Boyup Brook to Kojonup and the Tanbellup to Gnowangerup and Ongerup lines at the time. The Katanning to Nyabing, with a length of 61 kilometres (38 mi), was officially opened on 3 April 1912.[3] The official opening took place in the presence of the Premier of Western Australia, John Scaddan, and the Minister for Railways, Philip Collier.[4]

The construction of the second section of the line did not start for another decade, despite having been committed to much earlier, being held up by the effects of World War I and a lack of manpower.[5] The contract for the 34 kilometres (21 mi) section from Nyabing to Pingrup awarded on 24 July 1922. This section was constructed by the PWD and officially opened on Saturday, 27 October 1923 by Francis Newdegate, the Governor of Western Australia.[3][6]

In 1926, it was proposed to extend the railway line a further 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the east, to Magenta in what is now the Shire of Lake Grace, but this was not carried out as the quality of the land there was seen as to poor to warrant expansion.[7]

The line closed in 1957 and the Nyabing to Pingrup section never reopened.[8] In 1954, the state government of Western Australia had compiled a list of loss-making railway operations, of which the Katanning to Pingrup line was one, having had a total expenditure of almost four times its earnings in the financial year to June 1953, £A 40,223 expenditure versus earnings of £A 11,781.[9] The Katanning to Pingrup and Gnowangerup to Ongerup line closures in mid-1957 did result in a protest meeting in Katanning, where a number of state politicians were present to support the protest motion.[10]

The Katanning to Nyabing section eventually reopened, running seasonally during the summer month,[11][12] but closed again in 2005.[8]

Arc Infrastructure deems the railway line to be part of its Grain Freight Rail Network, which, in 2017, accounted for 50 percent of its network but only 10 percent of its freight. The line to Nyabing was classified as Tier 3.[13]

In 2021, it was estimated that it would cost A$87.76 million to upgrade the Katanning to Nyabing section of the railway line to reopen it.[14]

Acts of Parliament

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Three Acts of Parliament exist in relation to the railway, the first one being the Katanning-Nampup Railway Act 1911, which was assented to on 16 February 1911 and authorised the construction of the railway line from Katanning to Nampup, with the latter soon renamed to Nyabing.[15]

The second act was the Katanning-Nyabing Railway Extension Act 1914, which was assented to on 18 February 1915 and authorised the construction of the extension of the railway line from Nyabing to Pingrup.[16]

The third act was the Railways (Cue-Big Bell and other Railways) Discontinuance Act 1960 for the closure of the Nyabing to Pingrup section of the railway line, which was assented to on 12 December 1960. This act affected a number of Western Australian railways, officially closing multiple lines:[17]

Legacy

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The railway line from Katanning to Nyabing still exist, designated as "Not in use" on the Arc Infrastructure map.[18]

The former Katanning railway station is on the Shire of Katanning's heritage list,[19] as is the former Railway Hotel and the Railway Memorial, but they are predominantly associated with the Great Southern Railway rather than the Pingrup branch line.[20]

Further east along the line, in the Shire of Kent, the railway station sites at Nyabing and Pingrup are on the heritage list but no structures or buildings from the railway era remain on either site.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ "Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Railway map of Western Australia, 1952". Trove. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Opening dates for sections from 12. Construction of the W.A. Government Railways network, 1879 - 1931, pages 208-210 Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff; Rail Heritage WA; Gunzburg, Adrian (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
  4. ^ "Ministers on Tour", The West Australian, 19 April 1912, retrieved 30 July 2024
  5. ^ "Nyabing-Pingrup Railway Extension", Great Southern Herald, 17 February 1917, retrieved 30 July 2024
  6. ^ "Nyabing-Pingrup Railway", The Albany Despatch, 29 October 1923, retrieved 30 July 2024
  7. ^ "Nyabing-Pingrup Railway Proposed Extension", Great Southern Herald, 16 June 1926, retrieved 30 July 2024
  8. ^ a b "Back along the line: An historical gazetteer of railway stations, sidings and related facilities along Western Australian railway lines" (PDF). www.geoproject.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Minister Says Many Railway Sections Show Big Losses", The Farmers' Weekly, 11 February 1954, retrieved 30 July 2024
  10. ^ "Katanning Meeting Carries No Confidence Vote In Government", Kojonup Courier, 5 June 1957, retrieved 30 July 2024
  11. ^ "Rural Lines Opening", The Beverley Times, 24 December 1964, retrieved 30 July 2024
  12. ^ "Rural Lines Re-opening", The Beverley Times, 10 November 1967, retrieved 30 July 2024
  13. ^ "Issues Paper" (PDF). www.arcinfra.com. Arc Infrastructure. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  14. ^ Bree Swift (22 May 2021). "Budget raises hope of Tier 3 upgrades". Farm Weekly. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Katanning-Nampup Railway Act 1911". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 16 February 1911. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Katanning-Nyabing Railway Extension Act 1914". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 18 February 1915. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Railways (Cue-Big Bell and other Railways) Discontinuance Act 1960". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 12 December 1960. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Arc Map Network" (PDF). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Katanning Railway Station". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Shire of Katanning Heritage Places". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Railway Station Site (Nyabing)". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Railway Station and Terminus Site (Pingrup)". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
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