LITHGOW DISTRICT RAILWAY STATIONS

4. CLARENCE

Clarence station takes its name from nearby Mt Clarence, itself named from the English Duke of Clarence. The construction of the western railway brought development to an otherwise wilderness area.

Activity at Clarence may be divided into four main periods.

1. 1867-1869. Excavation of the tunnel and construction of the great ZigZag.

2. 1869-1910. Operation of the Zig Zag and then the Ten Tunnels and related deviations.

3. 1910-1972. A new Clarence station built.

4. 1972-present. The tourist Zig Zag railway constructed and operating.

Thank you to NSW Lands 2004 for the use of this map

Clarence Station 1913

The date for the Clarence Station under snow image is probably an error. See the article below suggesting that 1910 is probably the correct date.

 "20th July 1910.Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday

It was at Clarence however that one could understand the plentitude of the present storm and people living there have seen enough of it to be satisfied for many a day. At this spot there are a great number of people camped in connection with the deviation works. Some of them live in very primitive structures hardly built to sustain the wintry conditions. They had a very trying time, especially the women and children, although the latter for the once thoroughly enjoyed themselves snowballing and creating the inevitable snowman."

Clarence station and township 1911

Clarence station in 2023

The new Clarence station built in 1910 on the Ten Tunnels deviation had very little use after the closure of the Zig Zag. Most of the population moved away to other places where railway construction was going on, especially to the Glenbrook deviation in the lower Blue Mountains.

The story of the Zig Zag Railway, based on Clarence station since 1988, will be told in another blog.

View this video: a Trip down the Zig Zag Railway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_AHPfDthYY

View this video of a family visit to the Zig Zag 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lff1sEkEUVU

 https://johnsbluemountainsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/links-to-all-blog-entries-and-relevant.html All Blue Mountains blogs and videos

https://johnsnewenglandminerals.blogspot.com/2013/12/list-of-all-blog-entries-to-date.html

All New England and other Geology blogs and videos

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

Limestone Caves of NSW

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1147003616874115974/2430103125095714141

Song Studies. Bible studies based on hymns and songs

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1515863000684737715

Shoalhaven District Geology.   

 LITHGOW DISTRICT RAILWAY STATIONS: 

3. NEWNES JUNCTION

From Blue Mountains Map 1921

The years around 1910 were rather busy for the Great Western Railway. The 10 Tunnels Deviation to eliminate the great Zig Zag was being built, deviations of the main line to accommodate this were being constructed and the line was being duplicated.  Duplication was completed to Mt Victoria. New platforms were erected on most stations, between Lithgow and Glenbrook, the one at Bell being typical (see the previous Blog).

                                  Newnes Junction Station 1908

A branch line from the oil shale mines at Newnes in the Wolgan Valley was completed in 1907. The Newnes Junction station shown above was on the as yet undeviated main line to Lithgow, which was still a single track. The present station was built on the new line in 1910 and is about 500 metres south of the original platform. It is the highest station on the western railway (3503 feet above sea level).

The railway to Newnes closed in 1932 but the station remained open until 1975. The buildings were destroyed in the 2019 Gosper's Mountain bush fire.

Before the fire                                                       After the fire

A famous photograph of the Station Master at Newnes Junction during the heavy snow storm of July 17/19 1965. The caption reads: "The down Central West Express stands at Newnes Junction waiting for the tracks ahead to be cleared. The diesel loco is obscured by the station master...who has cleared enough snow from the platform to keep his feet dry. (Daily Telegraph)"

Video: After the fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-v1CaynrYohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-v1CaynrYo

Video showing Newnes Station: 

 https://whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmT9xe6miIww.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmT9xe6miI

 https://johnsbluemountainsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/links-to-all-blog-entries-and-relevant.html All Blue Mountains blogs and videos

https://johnsnewenglandminerals.blogspot.com/2013/12/list-of-all-blog-entries-to-date.html

All New England and other Geology blogs and videos

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1325599670344725659?pli=1

Limestone Caves of NSW

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1147003616874115974/2430103125095714141

Song Studies. Bible studies based on hymns and songs

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/1515863000684737715

Shoalhaven District Geology.