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The Richmond Kurrajong Railway |
This site is designed by Alan Aldrich
| Political History of Richmond-Kurrajong Railway | Pictures of Pansy | Stories of Passengers |
| Description of the line | Technical Details of 20 Class Locos | Maps of the Line |
The history of the Richmond Kurrajong Railway is the story of too little too late.
"From the Railway Bulletin No.123 January, 1948"
As soon as the residents of the old established towns of Windsor and Richmond, together with the neighbouring villages on the Hawkesbury Flats, noted the benefits gained by Parramatta from the successful operation from Sydney, they petitioned the government as early as 1856 to provide a railway for their district. After extensive tactics were tried out, the Government in 1860 granted a sum of 57,000 pounds, afterwards increased to 60,000 pounds for a 16 ¼ miles line from Blacktown. The Engineer-in-Chief for Railways, Mr. John Whitton, had always opposed the many proposals for cheap surface tramways operated by horses, and had, up to that period, contrived to get permission to construct the new Great Southern and Western Railways to reasonably substantial standards. In the case of the colony's first branch line to Richmond, however, the government thought it a fine opportunity to test the theory of the light horse-operated tramway. Mr. Whitton resolutely refused to be associated with such a scheme so an "expert" was obtained from New Zealand to prepare designs and supervise construction of the new line. Shortly before the construction of the track commenced, the government changed its mind as to the horse traction and decided that the branch should be worked by light steam locomotives, and 55lb. Rails were substituted for the 40lb. Rails already indented. Three tiny 17 ton 0-6-0 box-saddle tank engines were purchased new from Manning Wardle and Co. in 1864 for the working of the new line, and one of them was employed in ballast train working during the construction period. The extension was finally opened for traffic on December 1, 1864. The three Manning Wardle locomotives were named "Windsor" "Richmond" and "Sydney".
A lobby group developed called "The Kurrajong Railway League" became a lobby to push for the construction of the line to Kurrajong.
