Bowning railway station facts for kids

Bowning railway station is a really old train station in Bowning, New South Wales, Australia. It's located on the Main Southern railway. Even though trains don't stop there for passengers anymore, it's a special place because it's heritage-listed. This means it's protected because of its important history and unique design.

A Look Back: Bowning Station's History

Bowning railway station first opened its doors way back in 1876. For many years, it was a busy spot where people could catch trains. However, in the 1990s, passenger trains stopped coming to Bowning. Now, it's a quiet place, but its history lives on.

What Does Bowning Station Look Like?

The main station building is quite large and has two floors. It was built in 1875. There's also a timber building called a signal box, which was added around 1913. This box helped control the train signals.

Around the same time, a house for railway workers was built nearby. This house was sold in 1998 and is now a private home. It's not part of the heritage listing anymore. The old station building itself is also now used as a home. You can also find a timber shed on the station site.

Platforms and Footbridge

The station has two platforms made of brick. These are called island platforms because they have tracks on both sides. The old lights on the platforms are still there and are part of the heritage listing. There used to be a steel and timber footbridge, built in 1913, that helped people cross the tracks. However, this bridge was removed around 1990.

Why Is Bowning Station Special?

Bowning railway station is considered very important because it's a great example of early station design from 1876. It shows the excitement and confidence people had when building these stations a long time ago. It's similar to other stations built on the southern railway line.

The station also shows how things changed over time. For example, the railway line was doubled in 1913, and a new platform was added. This made the main building an island platform. The other buildings at the site help us understand how the railway system used to work. The station building is one of the few left that was both a station and a home for railway staff. It helps us see how the state's railway system grew.

Bowning railway station was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's recognized for its special history and unique features.

Rare and Important

This station is considered historically rare. This means it has unique features that are not often found in other places. It's also important for understanding the history of railways in New South Wales.