Bombo railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bombo
Location	Princes Highway, Bombo New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	34°39′30″S 150°51′14″E / 34.6584°S 150.8539°E / -34.6584; 150.8539
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Line(s)	South Coast
Distance	117.551 km from Central
Platforms	1, 196 metres
Tracks	3
Train operators	NSW TrainLink
Bus operators	Premier Illawarra
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	8 spaces
Disabled access	Easy Access
Other information
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	9 November 1887
Electrified	17 November 2001
Previous names	North Kiama Kiama
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	30 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	274
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Kiama Terminus South Coast Line Minnamurra toward Bondi Junction

Bombo is a special train station in Bombo, Australia. It's on the South Coast railway line. This station is important because it's listed as a heritage site. This means it has historical value and is protected.

Bombo station has one platform. It serves NSW TrainLink trains. These trains travel south to Kiama. They also go north to Wollongong and Sydney.

History of Bombo Station

Early Days as North Kiama

Bombo Station first opened in late 1887. It was called "North Kiama" back then. For a while, it was the end of the South Coast Line. This was because it was hard to build tracks through the rocky area near Kiama.

The station had an open platform. A timber building was finished in 1888. Because it was the end of the line, it had special features. These included a turntable for turning trains around. It also had water facilities and a shed for engines.

The station kept this important role until 1897. This was even after the line reached Bomaderry in 1893. The station's name changed a few times. It was North Kiama in 1887, then Kiama in 1889, and back to North Kiama in 1893.

Building the Line Through Kiama

Over the next six years, workers built five tunnels. These tunnels helped the train line get through Kiama. Once the line went past North Kiama, the station became less important. It lost its train turntable to Kiama station in 1897.

Bombo Station and the Quarry

Even though it was less busy, the station was still important. It helped the NSW Government Railways with their basalt quarry nearby. Mining at the quarry started in 1880.

In 1907, the station was renamed Bombo. A small yard was built there. This yard was used for the quarry and other local businesses. In 1925, a concrete signal box was added. This helped manage all the trains: quarry, goods, and passenger trains. The station still has a long passing loop and a siding for trains.

Modern Changes and Electrification

At some point, the platform was made longer. The middle part of the platform was also resurfaced. A new platform canopy was built.

On 17 November 2001, the train line became electrified. This meant electric multiple unit trains could run from Sydney to Bombo. Around this time, the signal box was no longer needed. In 2009, the station became unattended. This happened after a review of stations with few passengers. In 2014, the Opal card became available. This is an electronic ticket for public transport.

Bombo station is located between Bombo Beach and the Princes Highway. It's also near quarries and a cemetery. This means not many people live close enough to walk to the station. Because of this, it has very few passengers. Some people have suggested building a new station further north. This new station would be in the middle of Kiama Downs. However, this idea has not moved forward.

Platforms and Services

Bombo station has one platform. It is used by NSW TrainLink trains. These trains run on the South Coast Line. They travel between Sydney Central, Bondi Junction and Kiama.

Transport Links

Premier Illawarra runs one bus route that stops near Bombo station:

• 71: Stockland Shellharbour to Kiama

What Bombo Station Looks Like

The station has several important parts. These include the platform building from 1887. There's also an "out of room" building from around the same time. The signal box was built in 1925. There's also a modern platform canopy and the original platform.

The station is on the east side of the Princes Highway. It's very close to the ocean beach at Bombo. You can see the ocean, the beach, and the Bombo escarpment (a steep slope) from the station. You can also see the southern headland of Kiama.

You get to the station from the south. There's a ramp from the Princes Highway footpath. White fences surround the station. There's also a drop-off area for cars on the highway.

Platform Building (1887)

This building is made of weatherboard (wooden planks). It has a gabled roof (a roof with two sloping sides) made of corrugated steel. The eaves (the part of the roof that hangs over the walls) are also weatherboard.

There are five doors that open onto the platform. One door has a simple timber fretwork (decorative cut-out wood) awning. There's one window on the platform side. It's a double-hung window, meaning both sashes can slide up and down. The side facing the Princes Highway is plain. At the south end, there's a toilet addition with a skillion roof (a single sloping roof). It has a modern wooden door and timber louvres (slanted slats) for air.

Inside, from south to north, you'll find toilets, a storeroom, a waiting room, and a booking office. The waiting room has modern floor tiles and simple walls. It has strip lighting and three wooden seats.

Out of Room (1887)

This is another single-storey building made of weatherboard. It has a gabled corrugated steel roof. It has modern wooden doors on the east and west sides. The door frames have architraves (decorative moldings) from the 1920s. There's also a double-hung window on the north side. In 2009, this building was used as a storeroom.

Signal Box (1925)

This building is made of reinforced concrete. It has a gabled corrugated steel roof. There's a timber porch attached to the platform side. The building has original timber sliding windows. These windows have horizontal bars. The inside walls are plain. The original signals are still inside.

Platform (1887)

The platform has a concrete edge and surface. The middle part has a newer, patterned concrete surface. The platform has been extended at both ends. You can still see some old timber foundations under parts of the platform buildings. There's also a rare section of brick-paved platform surface.

Platform Canopy (Modern)

At the far northern end of the platform, there's a modern canopy. It stands on steel posts with concrete bases. It has an aluminium mesh wall facing the Princes Highway. The roof is a gabled Colorbond roof.

Movable Items

The quadrant signals are still in the 1925 signal box. These are old types of railway signals.

Landscape and Natural Features

Bombo Railway Station is in a beautiful spot. You can see the ocean to the east. To the south, you can see Kiama. To the west, you see the Princes Highway and the rising land beyond. It feels a bit isolated, which adds to its charm.

Condition

As of 2010, all parts of the station were in good condition. This includes the platform building, the out of room, the signal box, the canopy, the platform, and the signals.

Why Bombo Station is Special

Bombo Railway Station is a very important historical site in New South Wales. It's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.

Historical Importance

The station is important because it was first built as the end of the Illawarra Line in 1887. This part of the line was separate from Sydney at first. It later connected to Sydney and extended to Bomaderry in 1893. The station still has its original 1887 weatherboard building and the "out-of-room" building. It also has parts of the early platform and the 1925 signal box with its original signal levers.

Beautiful Setting

Bombo Railway Station is also special because of its amazing location. It feels a bit isolated. It has the basalt escarpment (rocky cliff) to the west. It's right next to the ocean beach. You get wide, spectacular views in all directions, including towards Kiama. This beautiful setting has been captured in many old photographs.

Rarity

The collection of buildings at Bombo station is rare. The 1887 platform building, the "out-of-room," the platform, and the 1925 signal box with its signals are all uncommon. The platform building, which doesn't have an awning, is especially rare. It's one of only a few like it on the Illawarra line.

Bombo railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It met several important criteria:

• It shows the history of New South Wales: It was an important early terminus station. It still has many original parts from 1887 and 1925. Its isolated, scenic location is also part of its history, appearing in many old photos.
• It shows great design or technical skill: The buildings themselves are good examples of early rural station architecture. The station's amazing location, with its ocean views and sense of isolation, makes it very special.
• It is important to the community: The station helps local people feel connected to their past.
• It has rare features: Many parts of this station are rare, both historically and architecturally.