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HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY  UPDATED May 2010
STATIONS AND SIDINGS     UPDATED May 2010
STATION STAFF AT PICKERING JUNCTION

HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY UPDATED May 2010

By the mid 1880’s, new railway lines were linking outlying parts of Perth to the Capital and to the Ports. The Guildford-Perth-Fremantle line was opened in 1881 and suburban settlements were established around railway stations along the route.

TIMBER TRAMWAY, EMU BAY, TASMANIA. MASON & BIRD TRAMWAY WOULD HAVE
LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE THIS  #1

TIMBER BRIDGE & TRAMWAY FOR TRANSPORTING LOGS HAULED BY HORSES.
SIMILAR TO MASON & BIRD'S.   #2

UPDATED May 2010 EXAMPLE OF WOODEN TRANWAY   #42

UPDATED May 2010  EXAMPLE OF WOODEN TRAMWAY  #43

UPDATED May 2010  EXAMPLE OF WOODEN TRAMWAY   #44

The Timber Industry was one of the first industries to be established in Western Australia.  On May 1st 1864 a carpenter named Benjamin Mason acquired a license to cut timber over an area of 260 hectares near the head of the Bickley Brook in the locality of what is now known as Carmel. Mason joined Francis Bird to form the Mason Bird Company.   Mason and Bird built two sites, one on the Canning River, set up in 1860, and one near Carmel, set up in 1864 known as Mason’s Mill (along the existing Mason Rd and in the vicinity of the Heritage Rose Gardens). In 1889 Lionel White and Edward Keane built a sawmill at Karragullen known as Canning Mill and established a large settlement (at the turn off of Canning Mills Rd).

By 1871, Mason’s timber concession had expanded to 40,000 hectares, subject to the construction of a 15km tramway from the Darling Range to Cannington on the Canning River.  It was this partnership that built a wooden tramway to the Canning River, nine miles away, completing it in January 1872. Mason Mill was then connected to a station on the Canning River known as “Mason’s Landing”  from which timber was sent by barge to Fremantle.  Horses were used to pull the huge log trains down the escarpment of the Darling Range.

By 1866 there were one hundred men and their families living on the timber mill. Mason had installed a steam engine driving a circular saw to replace the old saw pit sawing method.

Despite his initiative, transport difficulties and competition brought Mason’s venture to a close in 1882.  However, Mason and Bird made a significant contribution to the development of the early timber industry and the growth of the Kalamunda district.

EDWARD  V. KEANE   #3

#4

Edward Keane, engineer and manager of the Midland Railway Company, proposed the construction of a railway down the escarpment linking the hills to Midland and through to Fremantle.

TRAIN ON THE ZIG ZAG   #5

A TYPICAL AD (DOG BOX) PASSENGER COACH. NOTE THE STEPS FOR USE WHERE THERE WERE NO RAISED PLATFORMS. I.E. ALL STATIONS EXCEPT KALAMUNDA   #6

TRAIN ON THE ZIG ZAG. PROBABLY A V.I.P. SPECIAL   
#7

G CLASS LOCOMOTIVE CLIMBING THE ZIG ZAG   
#8

A MIXED TRAIN REVERSING DOWN THE ZIG ZAG (NOTE THE STEAM DIRECTION)
G CLASS LOCOMOTIVE   #9

UPDATED May 2010 

VIEW OF TRAIN CLIMBING THE ZIGZAG RAILWAY CONSISTING OF
"G"  CLASS  LOCOMOTIVE,  EMPTY  TIMBER  CARRIAGES  AND
PASSENGER CARRIAGE. NOTE THE GENTLEMAN IN THE FOREGROUNG
WAITING TO CATCH THE TRAIN. #40

In 1889 Edward Keane took up the timber license that had been granted to Mason and Bird, with the sole right to cut timber on the leased area. The State Government approved the license over the Mason and Bird concession subject to the construction of a railway down the escarpment.  Keane and White built the Upper Darling Railway in 1891 to serve the new mill run by the recently incorporated Canning Jarrah Timber Company.  This line was built to supply railway sleepers to Perth’s growing railway system. It ran from Midland Junction through to the Darling Ranges and up into Kalamunda, via the Zig Zag section to climb the Darling Scarp.  This line was later extended to Pickering Brook and then onto Karragullen. From Pickering Brook the line also ran onto Barton’s Mill, however this was only a logging train.  As part of the arrangement with the State Government, Keane’s Zig Zag railway was to carry the public and the general freight of the area. This agreement was to continue in force until the end of 1899, at which time the Government would have the right to purchase the line.

KALAMUNDA RAILWAY STATION IN THE EARLY 1920'S
WITH TRAIN APPROACHING FROM PICKERING BROOK.   #10

A TRAIN ARRIVES AT KALAMUNDA, BEHIND AN Ms LOCOMOTIVE.
FROM THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS AND COACHES BEHIND THE ENGINE,
IT  WAS PROBABLY A WEEKEND TRAIN.
DATE PRIOR TO 1927   #11

EILEEN POSSELT, IVY REYNOLDS & TWO OTHER CARMEL COLLEGE STUDENTS WAITING FOR A TRAIN AT CARMEL SIDING. NOTE THE TYPICAL SMALL BUILDING   #12

PASSENGERS WAITING AT TURNER'S SIDING c1920
   #13

VERY RARE PHOTO OF PICKERING BROOK JUNCTION AND TERMINUS SITE WHICH WAS THE END OF THE LINE AFTER THE GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER THE LINE IN JULY 1903.
THEY LATER EXTENDED THEIR PURCHASE OF THE MILL LINE TO CANNING MILLS AND THEN BUILT AN EXTENDED LINE TO KARRAGULLAN         #14

RARE PHOTO OF THE SITE FOR THE PROPOSED PICKERING BROOK JUNCTION AND TERMINUS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER
THE PREVIOUS MILL LINE TO  CANNING MILLS IN 1903. A TRIANGLE WAS LATER LAID HERE FOR TURNING LOCOMOTIVES       #15

PICKERING BROOK JUNCTION. NOTE: THE PASSENGER LUGGAGE, THE PLATFORM SCALES FOR WEIGHING FREIGHT
AND THE BASKET ON WHICH THE WOMAN IS SITTING, WHICH WAS USED TO CARRY BREAD ON THE TRAINS   #16

PICKERING BROOK JUNCTION WITH TIMBER TRAIN  SHUNTING      #17

TAKEN OUTSIDE SHOP, NEIL WESTON & VIC HAWKINS WITH BIKES
AT PICKERING BROOK STATION     #18

HART PARR TRACTOR AT PICKERING BROOK STATION  1927
L to R:  FLO HEWISON, FRANK STANSFIELD, unknown, EDDIE PADGETT   #19

RUINS FOUND IN OLD PICKERING BROOK JUNCTION SHUNTING YARDS
PHOTO TAKEN MAY 2008    #20

PICKERING BROOK JUNCTION SHOWING SHUNTING YARD 
AND STATION  #21

PLAN SHOWING LAYOUT OF PICKERING BROOK JUCTION
Information supplied from various sources

NOT TO SCALE

Map drawn by GORDON FREEGARD

 Copyright : Pickering Brook Heritage Group 2008    #22

TRAIN WORKING IN THE TIMBER YARD AT CANNING MILLS   
#23

THE MANAGER'S HOUSE AT CANNING MILLS 1895 WITH VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE WHITE FAMILY & FRANK WILSON, MANAGER OF THE CANNING JARRAH TIMBER COMPANY, WHO LATER BECAME PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA   
#24

LOCOMOTIVE J. H. SMITH AT BARTON'S MILL 1903   
#25

A TIMBER TRAIN PULLING
A LOAD OF SAWN TIMBER FROM CANNING MILLS IN MARCH 1903   #26

UPDATED May 2010  PASSENGER TRAIN FROM CANNING MILLS  #45

   UPDATED May 2010 TIMBER TRAIN FROM CANING MILLS   #46

At the time of construction it was the only section of railway in Western Australia to have had a zig zag formation, the line was so steep (1 in 30 grade) that the engine would alternate between pushing and pulling the load. Three trains, each way per day traversed the full length of the Upper Darling Railway, and at peak periods an additional “special” was run to cope with the heavy loadings of sawn timber and firewood produced in the area.

ON MARCH 15th 1902 A PARLIMENTARY PARTY VISITED KALAMUNDA ON THE ZIG ZAG RAILWAY AND LOCAL RESIDENTS URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER THE LINE.   #27

ARCHIBALD SANDERSON.   #28

KALAMUNDA AGRICULTURAL HALL, JUNE 1st 1903. GUESTS ASSEMBLED FOR THE LUNCHEON TO MARK THE TAKE-OVER OF THE ZIG ZAG RAILWAY BY THE GOVERNMENT.   #29

In 1902, Archibald Sanderson formed the Upper Darling Range League, to lobby the government to take over the railway.  In a submission to the Western Australian Premier, the League claimed that commercial enterprises along the line made the take-over an economically viable proposition, as cartage revenue for transport from the area to Midland for the previous year equated to the agreed take-over from the Government, a sum of 20,000 pounds.  The Railway League also drew attention to the natural beauty of the area serviced by the line and its recreational potential for the people of Perth.

Finally towards the end of 1902, the Government agreed to purchase the Rail line, with the matter concluded the following year. In 1903 the line was taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways and became known as the Upper Darling Range Branch, which ran until 1949 when it was closed.

FINAL STAGES OF REMOVING THE RAILWAY LINE AT KALAMUNDA   #33

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STATIONS AND SIDINGS  UPDATED May 2010

Listed below are the details of all the Railway Stations and Sidings known to have existed on the Upper Darling Railway between Midland Junction and the terminus at Karragullen. We have now slotted in copies of the appropriate old maps from the Third Edition of The Metropolitan Area and Environs Road Maps and Index dated June, 1947.

MAP FROM 3RD EDITION METROPOLITAN STREET DIRECTORY 1947    #47

Midland Junction (10m 28ch)
 The Upper Darling Range Railway left the main Eastern Railway in the station yard, and ran parallel to the right of it for 25 chains before curving away to the South-East.  Previously known as Helena Vale, later Midland Junction

EARLY PHOTO OF MIDLAND JUNCTION STATION   #34

Bushmead  (11m 30ch)
Known as Water Hall until October 1910. Siding and low level landing provided, with a private siding to the Defence Department Ordnance Depot. Two private sidings left the mail line 20 chains beyond Bushmead

                                      BUSHMEAD LAYOUT

Hesketh's Siding\

Rifle Range

MAP FROM 3RD EDITION METROPOLITAN STREET DIRECTORY 1947    #48

Ridge Hill (14m 58ch)
A shelter shed was provided at this place.

RIDGE HILL SHELTER THE DAY BEFORE THE RAILWAY WAS CLOSED   #35

City Council's Siding (14m 62ch)
A 56 chain siding ran to the Quarry, originally known as Statham's Quarry. When the line was built, the "Zig-Zag" section consisted of only three dead ends. The first 15 chains of the Quarry line were main line, and the bottom points were situated near the site of the (later) No. 2 points. Under this arrangement, trains had to be gravity shunted at the bottom points on "Down" (i.e. to Kalamunda) and top points on "Up" journeys, in order to place the locomotive at the head of the train when leaving the "zig-zag" section. This precarious operation was ended on the 15th April 1907, when a fourth dead-end was added, becoming the bottom points, and the Quarry junction then became 4 chains beyond Ridge Hill.

Statham’s Quarry (15m 62ch) UPDATED May 2010
Previously known as Darling Range Quarries. Statham's Quarry is considered a rare example of a stone quarry which has retained physical evidence of its operations and is associated with the development of the quarry industry in Western Austraila. The quarry was established by Thomas Statham and William Burton in 1894 until Statham's death in 1920. The Perth City Council operated following Statham's death and material from the quarry was used as street paving in Perth during the early 1900's. The rocks for the groyne at City Beach also came from the quarry. The quarry is the claimed location of one of the most extensive dolerite dykes on the Darling Scarp.The dead-end was known by this name, although There does not appear to have been any facilities provided at this piont for passenger or goods working.

UPDATED May 2010

A RECENT PHOTO OF THE ABANDONED STATHAM'S QUARRY  #41

The Zig Zag

ZIG ZAG SECTION OF RAILWAY #39

Gooseberry Hill (18m 77ch) A siding appears to have been provided at this location in the days of private operation, but a low level platform and shelter shed were the only facilities provided since Government operation of the line.

                                GOOSEBERRY HILL LANDING LAYOUT

MAP FROM 3RD EDITION METROPOLITAN STREET DIRECTORY 1947    #49

Kalamunda (20m 10ch)
Originally known as Stirk’s Landing and later Jeck’s Crossing, it became Kalamunnda by the time of the W.A.G.R. take-over, and later was spelt with only one "n". The only high level platform on the line was situated at this station, which also had a goods yard and depot.

                                        KALAMUNDA STATION LAYOUT

KALAMUNDA RAILWAY STATION IN THE EARLY 1920'S
WITH TRAIN APPROACHING FROM PICKERING BROOK.   #10

South Kalamunda (21m 7ch)
Originally known as Guppy’s Siding, a 25 chain siding was provided to serve the saw mill run by G. W. Guppy. A low level landing was provided at the Junction, and when the siding was removed in December 1917, a shelter shed was provided. This was resited to 21m 60ch in January 1938.

                              SOUTH KALAMUNDA SIDING LAYOUT

GUPPY'S MILL SERVICED BY SOUTH KALAMUNA SIDING.   #36

Walliston (22m 42ch)
Originally known as 12 Mile Siding, and later as Wallis Landing after the original settlers in the area. The name Walliston was adopted in Novenber 1918. A public siding low level passenger platform and shelter was provided.

                                     WALLISTON LANDING LAYOUT

WALISTON LANDING THE DAY BEFORE THE RAILWAY CLOSED.  #37

MAP FROM 3RD EDITION METROPOLITAN STREET DIRECTORY 1947    #50

Bickley (23m 45ch)
Originally known as Heidelberg, the present name was adopted in September 1915. Public siding and low level platform and shed were provided.

                                     BICKLEY SIDING LAYOUT

Carmel Siding (24m 48ch)
Originally known as Green’s Landing after local settlers. A shelter shed was provided at this place. On 27th July, 1921 Carmel and Turner's Siding were closed and removed, and a new station built at 24m 57ch became known as Carmel.

                                     CARMEL SIDING LAYOUT

CARMEL SIDING THE DAY BEFORE THE RAILWAY WAS CLOSED     #30

Turner's Siding (25m 11ch)
Public siding and shelter shed were provided. These were removed on 27th July, 1921 in favour of a new station erected at Carmel.

                                  TURNER'S SIDING LAYOUT

PASSENGERS WAITING AT TURNER'S SIDING c1920    #13

Monument Hill (25m 68ch)
Situated in the vicinity of Mason and Bird's timber mill, this place was a station on the line in the days of private operation but had disappeared when the Government took over the line in 1903.

Pickering Brook (26m 9ch)
Known as Pickering and later as Pickering Junction under private operation, this station was renamed Pickering Brook Junction when the Government commenced operations in 1903, and subsequently "Junction" was deleted from the name. Station buildings fronted on to a low level platform, public sidings and goods handling facilities were provided. Train movements towards the junction were controlled by down, home and distant signals. The junction with the sub line to Barton’s Mill, was combined in a triangular lay-out, which provided turning facilities for locomotives.

                     PICKERING BROOK STATION LAYOUT

PICKERING BROOK STATION THE DAY BEFORE THE RAILWAY WAS CLOSED    #31

Canning Mills (29m 57ch)
Originally known as Canning Timber Station, it was taken over by the W.A.G.R. in 1910, when Millar's operations became based at Barton's Mill. Station building and public siding were provided.

                            CANNING MILLS LANDING LAYOUT

CANNING MILLS STATION THE DAY BEFORE THE RAILWAY CLOSED      #32

Karragullen (31m 2ch)
The final terminus of the line. A low level platform shed and public siding was provided.

                     KARRAGULLEN TERMINUS LAYOUT

KARRAGULLEN  TERMINUS THE DAY BEFORE THE RAILWAY CLOSED     #38

MILL FORMATIONS (OR TRAMWAYS) IN THE FOREST 1891-c1940

THIS IS A REPRODUCTION MAP MADE BY MR. J. AUSTIN OF THE A.R.H.S. IN 1982.  IT INVOLVED TRACING ALL REMNANTS OF THE TRACKS ON FOOT. THE FORMATIONS WOULD NOT ALL HAVE BEEN IN POSITION AT THE SAME TIME

References:     Article:     Kalamunda of the Dreamtime- F.J.McNamara

                     Images:   1, 3, 4, 27, 28  Cala Munnda a Home in the Forest
                                     12, 40  Carmel Adventist College
                                     2, 21, 41  Unknown
                                     5  Westralian Newspapers
                                     6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 39   Rails in the Hills K.D.H.S.
                                    10  W.A.G.R. Achives
                                    13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36, 37, 38   Tom Price
                                    20, 22, 47, 48, 49, 50    Gordon Freegard
                                    18, 19  Mac & Pam Beard 
                                    42, 43, 44 Kalamunda & District Historical Society
                                    45, 46  Rails Through the Bush by Adrian Gunzburg & Jeff Austin

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STATION STAFF AT PICKERING JUNCTION

1903    L. N. Burgess Officer-in-charge

1907    William Fox Officer in-charge had a small orchard near Owen's orchard

1908    William Fox Officer-in-charge

1909    William Fox Officer-in-charge

1910    William Fox Stationmaster

1911    William Fox Stationmaster

1912    William Fox Stationmaster

1913    William Fox Stationmaster

1914    William Fox Stationmaster

1915    William Fox Stationmaster

1916    William Fox Stationmaster

1917    William Fox Stationmaster

1918    William Fox Stationmaster

1919    William Fox Stationmaster

1920    William Fox Stationmaster

1921    William Fox Stationmaster

1926     Mr. Boff Stationmaster had a daughter called Margaret

1927     Mr. Boff Stationmaster

1931     R. W. Reed Stationmaster lived in Repatriation Road

1932     R. W. Reed Stationmaster

Barney Gardiner Guard