Lithgow railway station facts for kids

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Lithgow

Platforms of the Lithgow railway station

Location

Main Street, Lithgow
Australia

Coordinates

33°28′50″S 150°09′27″E / 33.480487°S 150.157388°E

Elevation

917 metres (3,009 ft)

Owned by

Transport Asset Holding Entity

Operated by

NSW TrainLink

Line(s)

Main Western

Distance

152.8 kilometres (94.9 mi) from Central

Platforms

2 (1 island)

Tracks

Connections

Bus

Construction

Structure type

Ground

Disabled access

Yes

Other information

Station code

LTH

Website

Transport for NSW

History

Opened

9 March 1925

Electrified

1957

Traffic

Passengers (2013)

270 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)

Rank

212

Services

Preceding station		Following station
Terminus	Blue Mountains Line	Zig Zag toward Central
Rydal toward Bathurst	Blue Mountains Line (4 daily services) Bathurst Bullet	Mount Victoria toward Central
Rydal toward Dubbo	NSW TrainLink Western Line Dubbo XPT	Katoomba toward Sydney
Bathurst toward Broken Hill	NSW TrainLink Western Line Broken Hill Outback Xplorer	Katoomba toward Sydney

New South Wales Heritage Register

Official name

Lithgow Railway Station Group and Residence; Eskbank East

Type

State heritage (built)

Designated

30 August 2013

Reference no.

1833

Type

Railway Platform/ Station

History of Lithgow Station

The first Lithgow station.

The railway line reached Bowenfels in 1869. This was a big step, as it meant trains could cross the Blue Mountains. Lithgow became an important place because of its coal and iron.

The first Lithgow station opened in June 1877. It was about 430 meters east of where the station is now. You can still see parts of that old platform today. In 1880, the railway line was made wider with two tracks.

In the 1920s, Lithgow was chosen to be a main hub for the NSW Railways. A new, bigger passenger station was built. This new station opened on 9 March 1925. It had two main buildings. One was a timber office for tickets and parcels. It even had a special lift for staff to move luggage!

In 1957, the railway line through Lithgow was set up for electric trains. Lithgow is still the furthest point electric trains can go on this line. In 1961, a refreshment room opened at the station. This was a place where passengers could buy food and drinks. It was the last one of its kind in the state when it closed in 1990.

A new footbridge and offices were built around 1993. This changed how people accessed the station.

What the Station Looks Like

Station Features

Lithgow Railway Station is built in a deep rock cutting. This gives it a unique look. There are a few small garden beds on the platform. They have shrubs and flowers, keeping a tradition of railway gardening alive.

Buildings and Structures

The station has several important parts:

The main platform, built in 1925.
The old platform from 1877.
The Eskbank Street Overbridge from 1924.
The main Station Building from 1925.
The old Booking/Parcels office and Goods lift tower from 1925.
The Station Master's residence, built around 1880.
The Hayley Street Footbridge and Booking Office from 1993.

The Island Platform

Lithgow station has an island platform. This means it's a platform with tracks on both sides. It's made of brick with a concrete top. You'll find seats, signs, and small garden beds here. To get to the platform, you use concrete stairs and ramps from the western end. A modern roof covers the area between the station building and the footbridge.

Hayley Street Footbridge

The Hayley Street Footbridge is a modern concrete bridge. It goes over the station platform and the railway tracks. It connects the station to Railway Parade and Main Street. The Station Master's office and booking office are on this bridge. It has a metal roof and glass sides. You can reach the platform from the bridge using ramps and stairs. There is also a lift tower.

Old Station Platform

This is a leftover from the very first Lithgow Station in 1877. It's a flattened rock area where the old platform used to be. It's located west of the current station.

Station Building

The main station building was built in 1925. It's made of brick with a corrugated metal roof. The roof extends out like an awning to cover both sides of the platform. It has a classic "Federation style" design. In 1961, a part of the building was extended. This part used to be the Railway Refreshment Room. The building has many windows and doors. There's also an old clock on Platform 1.

Old Booking Office and Goods Lift Tower

This building is on the western side of the Eskbank Street bridge. It's made of timber. It used to be the booking office and parcels office. Part of it is now a ladies waiting room and public toilets. Next to it is a tall timber tower. This tower used to hold a goods lift. This lift would carry items from the street down to the platform. It's a very rare feature for a railway station.

Station Master's Residence

This grand two-storey house is at 6 Railway Parade. It was built around 1880 for the Station Master. It's made of brick and stone with a slate roof. It has many fancy features like arched windows and decorative details. It shows how important railway staff were back then. Today, this historic house is used as guest accommodation. Inside, it still has many original features like old fireplaces and decorative ceilings.

Interesting Items at the Station

An old Seth Thomas clock in the overhead Station Master's office.
A clock on the wall of the main station building on Platform 1.
Old timber signs that show room names and platform names.
An old Bega brand stove in the kitchen of the Station Master's residence.
An early light switch in an upstairs bedroom of the Station Master's residence.

Archaeological Finds

The old 1877 railway platform is the only known historical site underground at Lithgow Station.

Station Condition and Changes

The station building is in good shape. The old Booking/Parcels office and Goods lift tower are in fair condition. The Station Master's Residence is in very good condition. The main platform and the Hayley Street Footbridge are also in good condition.

Over the years, the station has had some changes:

In 1929, a roof was added over the footpath on Eskbank Street.
In 1948, the overhead booking office was made bigger.
Around 1990, a new bus/rail interchange was built. A new booking office opened on the footbridge.
In 1994/95, a lift was put in at the new ramp.

Trains and Services

Lithgow has one island platform with two sides. It's the end of the line for NSW TrainLink Blue Mountains Line services from Sydney Central.

Other trains also stop here:

The Bathurst Bullet goes to Bathurst.
The Central West XPT goes to Dubbo.
The Outback Xplorer goes all the way to Broken Hill.
The Indian Pacific train passes by Lithgow but does not stop.

Platform Services

Platform 1:
- Two morning Bathurst Bullet services go to Sydney Central.
- Trains to and from Sydney Central.
- NSW Trainlink Western services go to Sydney Central.
Platform 2:
- Two early morning and two evening services go to Bathurst.
- Trains to and from Sydney Central.
- NSW Trainlink Western services go to Dubbo and Broken Hill.

Getting Around Lithgow

Bus Services

Lithgow Buslines runs six bus routes from Lithgow station:

100: To Lithgow Hospital
200: To Bowenfels
304: To Oakey Park & McKellars Park
500: To Vale of Clwydd
600: To Portland
636: To Bathurst

Coach Services

NSW TrainLink also offers coach (bus) services from Lithgow to many towns. These include Orange, Grenfell, Parkes, Dubbo, Nyngan, Gulgong, Coonabarabran, and Baradine.

Why Lithgow Station is Important

Lithgow Railway Station is a very important historical site. It shows how the railway and coal industries grew in the Lithgow area. The station has buildings from the 1880s to the 1920s. They tell the story of how train operations changed in the Blue Mountains.

The station buildings are also beautiful examples of their style. The main platform building is a good example of "Federation railway architecture." The old timber booking office and the goods lift tower show clever design. The Station Master's residence is a grand, two-storey house. Its detailed look shows the wealth of the railways and the importance of its staff in the 1880s.

Lithgow railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 30 August 2013.

Historical Importance

The station is important because it was a key regional center for NSW Railways. It shows the history of trains and coal mining in Lithgow.

Design and Technical Achievements

The station buildings are good examples of their type. The main building shows typical Federation style. The old booking office and goods lift tower show smart design. The goods lift tower is especially rare. It might be the first time such a lift was used in the railway network. The Station Master's residence is a grand house. Its design shows the importance of railway staff in the 1880s.

Community Connection

The station helps the local community feel connected to their history.

Research Potential

The station has many buildings that are still mostly original. This means it can help researchers learn more about railway design and the coal industry.

Rare Features

The goods lift tower, built in 1925, is a very rare feature. It's a unique way that goods were moved from the street down to the platform.

Typical Example

Overall, the station group is a good example of a larger station. It includes standard buildings and structures linked to the coal industry. This industry is still important in the region.

Images for kids

The former station today.
The bus terminal.

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