Culcairn railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Culcairn
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CountryLink station sign in November 2009
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| Location | Olympic Highway, Culcairn | |||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°39′58″S 147°02′17″E / 35.6661°S 147.0381°E | |||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Transport Asset Holding Entity | |||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | NSW TrainLink | |||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Main South Corowa Holbrook |
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| Distance | 596.82 kilometres from Central | |||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | |||||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | |||||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | CUL | |||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1 September 1880 | |||||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||||
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Culcairn railway station is a historic train station located in the town of Culcairn, New South Wales, Australia. It is an important part of the Main South line, which connects many towns in New South Wales. This station has been around for a long time and is even listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its special history and design.
Contents
History of Culcairn Station
Culcairn station first opened its doors on 1 September 1880. This happened when the Main South line was extended. It connected Wagga to Gerogery. Across from the main platform, there is a special track called a passing loop. This allows trains to wait while another train goes by.
In the past, there were many extra tracks and loading areas here. These were used to load goods onto trains. The large buildings used for storing wheat, called wheat silos, are still there today.
Station Master's Home
The house where the station master used to live was built in 1883. It has been carefully restored. The Culcairn Museum Committee did a great job bringing it back to its original look.
Connecting Lines
On 3 October 1892, Culcairn became a very busy station. It became a "junction station" when the Corowa line opened. This meant trains from different lines could meet here. An extra platform, called an island platform, was added for this.
Later, on 18 September 1902, the Holbrook line also opened. This made Culcairn even more important for train travel. However, both the Corowa and Holbrook lines have since closed. The island platform was also taken down.
The Footbridge Today
Since 2010, a footbridge near the station has been closed to the public. This bridge is on the Sydney side of the railway crossing. In 2018, there were discussions about what to do with it. The bridge might need to be made stronger, replaced, or removed. This is to allow very tall freight trains to pass underneath. These are called "double stacked" trains.
The footbridge is one of 12 structures being looked at. They are part of the Inland Rail Project. This big project is building a new freight rail line. It runs from Albury to Illabo.
Train Services at Culcairn
Culcairn station is served by special trains called XPT services. These trains are run by NSW TrainLink. There are two XPT services each day in both directions. They travel between Sydney and Melbourne.
Culcairn is a "request stop." This means the train only stops if passengers have booked a ticket to get on or off the train here. If no one has booked, the train will just go straight through.
| Platform | Line | Stopping pattern | Notes |
| 1 |
Southern Region
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services to Sydney Central & Melbourne | request stop (booked passengers only) |
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Station Description
The main station building at Culcairn is made of timber, which is wood. It has a standard design for stations along the railway line. The platform where passengers wait is made of brick. This building was finished in 1880, the same year the station opened.
Why Culcairn Station is Special (Heritage Listing)
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Culcairn railway station is considered a very good example of an early timber station building. It still has its original platform and many important details. The station master's residence, which is no longer owned by the railway, is also a key part of its history.
The station building is quite large. While it doesn't have fancy decorations like some bigger brick stations, its simple design is important. The old residence is also interesting because it's much bigger than other buildings nearby. This shows how important the station was for carrying goods in the past.
It's also unusual to see a footbridge across the tracks at a level crossing here. This bridge wasn't directly part of the station. It shows how busy the town and railway were. There was a lot of train and shunting (moving trains around) activity.
Even though some parts like the second platform and many old railway structures have been removed, the remaining buildings are very important. They help tell the story of Culcairn and are a key part of the town's look, right in its center.
Culcairn railway station was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it meets special requirements for historical importance.
What Makes It Rare?
This station is considered rare because of its history and how it was built. It shows unique aspects of the cultural history of New South Wales.
