History Richmond Vale railway line

1 history

1.1 minmi collieries & railways
1.2 richmond vale railway & collieries
1.3 method of safeworking
1.4 stockrington area collieries
1.5 closure of minmi collieries
1.6 passenger line between richmond main , pelaw main collieries
1.7 changes in company ownership
1.8 link line , flood workings
1.9 hexham coal preparation plant
1.10 closure of line beyond stockrington
1.11 unit train loader @ hexham , end of non-air working on ptc main line
1.12 final closure , demolition

history

the line privately owned, private firm of j & brown , successor companies, j & brown , abermain seaham collieries limited (jabas) , coal & allied industries limited. constructed in sections, earliest section being hexham minmi, built john eales in 1856 service colliery @ minmi. @ hexham railway crossed hunter river railway company s line maitland (the current main north line) , several coal loading staiths built on bank of on hunter river allow loading of coal onto ships.

minmi collieries & railways

in march 1859 j & brown purchased railway & mine john eales. june 1859 had constructed connection , exchange siding great northern railway @ hexham allow coal railed shipping port @ newcastle. in 1861 j & brown extended railway line @ minmi further 300 yards , sunk new pit named c pit, established workshops @ pit.

in 1874 new tunnel colliery named duckenfield colliery sunk north of c pit , branch railway laid colliery. followed in 1876 new colliery sunk east of c pit named brown s colliery (also known creek colliery), new branch line laid mine.

the fastest recorded journey on line late passenger train minmi hexham @ 60 mph (97 km/h).

richmond vale railway & collieries

rod 2-8-0 locomotive hauling loaded coal train on richmond vale railway

the new south wales legislative assembly passed richmond vale coal-mine railway act in 1900 allowed construction of line minmi line (at location later known minmi junction) serve richmond vale colliery. in october 1900 before construction of line had commenced browns had purchased adjoining stanford greta colliery renamed pelaw main in april 1901. until rvr completed pelaw main production hauled on connecting railway east greta coal mining company s stanford merthyr colliery , onwards east greta junction. construction of rvr did not commence until 1904, construction of line pelaw main completed june 1905, branch line richmond vale colliery being completed in august 1905. richmond vale colliery although founded in 1890, not developed until 1910 when colliery renamed richmond main in 1911, mine did not reach full production until 1918.

in 1909-10 line across hexham swamps duplicated between exchange sidings , richmond vale junction (latter renamed minmi junction). during 1913-14 development of duckenfield no.2 colliery @ stockrington taking place, main line duplicated between minmi junction , stockrington. cabin house electric staff instrument section 6 mile loop constructed @ stockrington. in 1942 re-arrangement of main lines @ stockrington cater new stockrington no.2 colliery new staff cabin built adjacent level crossing @ doghole , staff instruments relocated new cabin.

method of safeworking

the original safeworking line after opening of rvr ticket , telephone system. tickets issued train driver @ start of section, , information telephoned officer in charge @ other end of section. section @ time pelaw main richmond vale junction (later renamed minmi junction). trains not allowed travel in opposite directions on section @ same time, , before train enter section section had cleared phone communication other end of section. there 30-minute delay between trains proceeding in same direction, , if preceding train still in section caution written on ticket issued.

this system worked until november 1910, when railmotor carrying manager of pelaw main colliery collided rear of coal train in no.2 tunnel, killing him , injuring passenger. after coroner s inquest accident, electric staff instruments installed new south wales government railways j & brown. part of installation of electric staff instruments, loop @ 6 mile loop brought use crossing point. staff instruments installed @ minmi junction, 6 mile loop, richmond main junction (later renamed richmond vale junction) , pelaw main. when richmond main colliery started producing coal instruments installed richmond main - richmond vale junction section. minmi junction staff instruments moved stockrington in 1914 completion of duplication of line minmi junction. after construction of direct passenger line constructed between richmond main , pelaw main collieries in 1922, electric staff instruments installed on line. double track section of rvr worked telephone block controlled traffic officers @ both hexham , stockrington.

stockrington area collieries

during 1912 development work started new mine named duckenfield no.2 colliery, located @ stockrington (near minmi) on rvr, work ceased on work in 1914. in 1922 development of duckenfield no.2 recommenced , time colliery ready produce coal in 1935 had been renamed stockrington colliery. further collieries developed in stockrington valley: duckenfield no.5 colliery (in 1931), stockrington no.2 colliery (in 1940) , stockrington no.2 colliery no.3 tunnel (in 1954).

closure of minmi collieries

duckenfield colliery @ minmi closed in 1916 , brown s colliery closed in 1924, both mines were, however, maintained, , railway line remained open serve workshops. following need borehole seam coal use in new water tube boilers @ richmond main power station, both mines reopened on smaller scale in 1930. both collieries remained open until 1932, , in 1934 both mines sealed, remaining workshop equipment moved workshops @ hexham , line minmi closed , used wagon storage. in late 1948 line relaid point near duckenfield colliery branch left main line serve new open cut mine being developed. open cut opened in 1949 , mined borehole seam outcrop around minmi area; open cut removed remains of both duckenfield , brown s collieries. open cut remained open until july 1954, minmi branch remained until being lifted scrap in 1974.

passenger line between richmond main , pelaw main collieries

in 1922 increase capacity on pelaw main richmond vale junction section direct passenger line built compressor house @ pelaw main richmond main. line used miner s passenger trains pelaw main richmond main. after centralisation of locomotive facilities @ pelaw main in 1925 line used transferring of locos , rolling stock between 2 collieries. miners trains on line ceased in april 1959, line remained open locomotive movements until closure of richmond main.

changes in company ownership

on 5 march 1930, last major brown family member john brown, aged 78, died, , j & brown firm amalgamated abermain seaham collieries limited new company being known j & brown & abermain-seaham collieries limited (commonly abbreviated jabas). merger added 3 abermain collieries served own railway , smr , 2 seaham collieries served private line branched off main northern railway @ cockle creek, collieries controlled company. afterwards in april 1931 jabas purchased east greta coal mining company limited, in financial trouble due recent miner s lockout. added stanford merthyr no.1 @ stanford merthyr, stanford merthyr no.2 @ paxton, , closed east greta nos.1 , 2 collieries @ east greta, of served smr under company s control. gave jabas 50% interest in south maitland railways. after jabas replaced merthyr main in 2 stanford merthyr collieries names market greta seam coals under common main name.

in 1960 jabas merged caledonian collieries limited form coal & allied industries limited. after merger jabas, become subsidiary company carried out mining operations of coal & allied until being renamed coal & allied operations pty ltd in 1980. in april 1967 coal & allied purchased hebburn limited added hebburn no.2 , associated railway company s assets. purchase of hebburn limited gave coal & allied full ownership of south maitland railways pty ltd.

the link line , flood workings

the richmond vale railway had 2 connections nearby privately owned south maitland railway lines @ pelaw main. first being original connection stanford merthyr colliery, fell out of use after completion of rvr in 1905, connection rebuilt in 1934 after 1931 purchase of east greta coal mining company jabas allow haulage of coal stanford main no.1 colliery on rvr. second connection south maitland system dated 1936 when link line constructed pelaw main colliery smr @ weston. line used jabas gas coal 3 abermain collieries , stanford main no.2 colliery @ paxton shipment @ company s coal loader @ hexham, coal shipped @ dyke @ newcastle still had travel on smr east greta junction , new south wales government railways newcastle. opening of coal preparation plant @ hexham traffic on line increased small coal washed travelled on link line. line fell out of use after closure of rail operations @ abermain no.2 colliery in december 1963 , connection smr lifted in august 1964, line lifted during 1973.

the richmond vale railway provided separate route , connection main north line @ hexham , used alternate route when south maitland lines flooded during 1949-1952 , 1955 floods.

hexham coal preparation plant

to cater increased demand small coal central coal preparation plant built jabas adjacent exchange sidings @ hexham. construction of plant , associated sidings began during 1953 , completed plant came operation in june 1953. preparation plant served series of new sidings connections rvr @ stockrington end entry exchange sidings , nsw department of railways coal roads. connection government mainlines @ southern end of plant , these sidings known j & brown s coal plant sidings, hexham. sidings had dump station unloading unwashed coal , loading point loading washed coal coal wagons. connection government main remained in use until 1962, when following construction of stacking , reclaim system plant serviced via exchange sidings , connection removed in 1973.

closure of line beyond stockrington

richmond vale railway s no.10 richmond main @ doghole crossing after leaving stockrington in may 1972

a dramatic slump in coal industry mid-1950s on saw many colliery closures. following opening of stockrington no.2 colliery no.3 tunnel in 1954, duckenfield no.5 colliery closed in 1955, followed stockrington colliery in 1956 , stockrington no.2 colliery in 1957. stanford main no.1 colliery closed in 1957; in february 1961 pelaw main colliery closed, although railway line mine remained open serve locomotive sheds @ colliery. on 14 july 1967 richmond main colliery, had once held record largest daily production in state, closed, except power station lasted until 1976. after closure of richmond main colliery, j & brown, abermain seaham collieries limited, ceased operations beyond stockrington no.2 colliery on richmond vale railway. serviceable locomotives transferred pelaw main hexham exchange sidings , others transferred pelaw main sheds. loading ceased @ staithes @ hexham 60-miler collier mv stephen brown loading last time on 1 november 1967. railway line staithes remained in use serving adjacent engineering workshops.

despite stockrington no.2 colliery continuing work @ full capacity, following closure of line beyond stockrington railway began single line working only. line used down line being used storage of surplus coal hopper wagons. on remaining life of railway both lines saw long periods of single line working. meant logjam developed time time necessitated week-end workings on railway in order reduce colliery stockpiles. oil crisis of 1970s revived stockrington no.2 colliery s life , mid 1973 6 8 trains each carrying 500 tons ran between stockrington , hexham.

in 1973 of rails towards richmond main beyond site of former stockrington no.1 colliery lifted use @ other coal & allied (as j & brown etc., had become) operations. in october 1973 line serving engineering workshops @ hexham closed , right angled crossing across government railway mainline removed. engineering workshops remained open constructing , overhauling equipment underground coal mining industry.

unit train loader @ hexham , end of non-air working on ptc main line

j & brown 10 ton non air wagon @ hexham 1990

during 1972 public transport commission advised users of non-air coal wagons planned ban operation of these wagons port waratah in near future. due number of loading points @ various coal & allied operations have needed converting designed accept non-air type wagons only, company decided build unit train loading system @ hexham coal preparation plant , load of company s export coal through system. ptc still work non-air wagons east greta junction hexham, hexham onwards trains had consist of air braked wagons.

the work consisted of new set of sidings , dump hoppers between coal preparation plant , ptc main line allow emptying of non-air wagons of washed coal, these sidings known coal & allied siding . unwashed coal ran via existing exchange sidings. new loading point constructed @ newcastle end of preparation plant , served balloon loop , 1200t loading bin. rails both balloon loop , coal & allied siding came section of rvr beyond stockrington. balloon loop brought use in june 1973, coal & allied siding ready use in june 1973 due industrial problems not used until 17 august 1973. last non-air train hexham port waratah ran on 15 august 1973.

the non-air wagons continued used between east greta junction , hexham, 1977 ptc planning change on traffic older bch type wagons had been released longer distance coal trains changeover occur during easter 1977. because of planned changeover large numbers of non-air wagons scrapped, august 1977 many non-air wagons scrapped , promised bch wagons yet appear on east greta hexham trains, become necessary smr, rvr , coal preparation plant @ hexham work saturdays ensure sufficient wagons returned collieries allow loading take place on following monday. late october sufficient bch trains had been made available eliminate need saturday workings. 1978 planned end use on non-airs on main line , last train ran on 8 february 1978. date onwards remaining 1,000 wagons used on rvr between stockrington , hexham only.

final closure , demolition

due tight economic conditions facing nsw coal mining industry @ time , need rationalise of operations, coal & allied decided more economical ship coal port road , on 28 august 1987 announced planned closure of stockrington hexham line 25 september 1987. railway operated until 18 september when following dispute between loco crew , management, coal haulage ceased , empty wagons worked hexham storage. last coal dumped @ coal preparation plant on 21 september , on 22 september no.25 cleared empty wagons preparation plant , made 2 trips stockrington work remaining empty wagons hexham. however, on 24 september part of vigorous protest efforts railway employees, no.25 hijacked , after spending day @ doghole loco moved lenaghans drive road bridge , protest camp set up. however, due lack of support fellow unionists @ other coal & allied operations protest ended no effect on 15 october 1987.

within weeks after railways closure sidings lifted stockrington area leaving main line , dead end head shunt intact. rails lifted rvr served dump hoppers @ coal preparation plant. in january 1988 scrapping commenced of many stored coal wagons, scrapping completed in august 1988. selection of 40 wagons kept preservation rvrm.

in may 1988 coal preparation plant @ hexham closed, followed closure of stockrington no.2 colliery in june 1988. demolition of stockrington no.2 followed , completed december 1988. dismantling of coal preparation plant @ hexham started in march 1989 demolition taking place on following 18 months. downturn in underground coalmining industry engineering workshops @ hexham closed in november 1989, marked end of coal & allied operations in lower hunter valley.