Moss Vale railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moss Vale
Southbound view of Platform 1
Location	Dalys Way, Moss Vale Australia
Coordinates	34°32′53″S 150°22′17″E / 34.5481°S 150.371504°E / -34.5481; 150.371504
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	Main South Unanderra
Distance	106.6 kilometres from Central
Platforms	2 (1 island)
Tracks	9
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Other information
Station code	MSV
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	2 December 1867
Previous names	Sutton Forest
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	250 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	222
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Terminus Southern Highlands Line Burradoo toward Central Exeter toward Goulburn Southern Highlands Line Limited morning & evening services Bundanoon toward Griffith or Canberra NSW TrainLink Southern Line Griffith Xplorer Canberra Xplorer Bowral toward Sydney Goulburn toward Melbourne NSW TrainLink Southern Line Melbourne XPT Campbelltown toward Sydney

Moss Vale railway station is a very old and important train station in Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia. It's located on the main train line that connects Sydney to the southern parts of the state. This station is special because it has a long history and unique buildings. It is even listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's a protected historical site.

Station History

Moss Vale station around 1890

The Moss Vale station first opened on December 2, 1867. Back then, it was called Suttons Forest. For a short time, it was the very end of the train line. The line was later extended to Marulan in August 1868. The station's name was changed to Moss Vale in 1877.

In March 1999, a special area was built north of the station. This area is used to refuel and store Endeavour trains.

Train Services and Platforms

Moss Vale station has an island platform, which means trains can stop on both sides. It has two main sides for different train services.

Local Train Services

• Platform 1: This side serves NSW TrainLink Southern Highlands Line trains. These trains go to Campbelltown. In the mornings, some trains also go all the way to Sydney Central.
• Platform 2: This side serves Southern Highlands Line trains that go to Goulburn. There are only a few of these services, mainly in the early morning and evening.

Long-Distance Train Services

• Platform 1: This side also serves long-distance trains from Sydney Central. These are the Xplorer and XPT trains.
• Platform 2: This side serves long-distance trains heading to other major cities. These trains go to places like Canberra, Griffith, and Melbourne.

Connecting Transport

Besides trains, NSW TrainLink also runs bus services from the station. These buses can take you to nearby towns like Bundanoon, Goulburn, and Wollongong. You can catch these buses right outside the station building.

Station Buildings and Features

The original station building is made of brick and was built in 1867. Over the years, many changes and additions were made. For example, a two-story hotel and refreshment room were added in 1891. A special roof (awning) was put over one of the platforms in 1914.

Unique Platform Design

The station has a very wide island platform. This platform is connected to the street by a special bridge for people to walk over. This wide platform used to have a garden! It also had a private dining room for Governor Belmore, who visited Moss Vale often between 1870 and 1872. This dining room was big enough for a cook and a servant.

In 1914, a new platform was built. This was done to help Governor Gerald Strickland's daughter, who used a wheelchair, get onto the train easily. This shows how important the station was.

Other Station Structures

Around the station, you can see other old buildings. There's a two-story timber signal box from 1915, which was used to control the train tracks. There are also two metal bridges for people to cross. The station area also includes a special track called a "dock platform" and a weighbridge.

At the southern end of the station, there's a grassy area with picnic tables. This is a nice spot to relax. Just north of the station, the train line to Unanderra branches off.

Former Stationmaster's Residence

The old house where the stationmaster lived was finished in 1874. Over time, this house was used for different purposes. In 1918, it became a dormitory for female railway staff. Later, in 1952, it was turned into two separate apartments for railway workers.

In 1994, the house was leased to the local council and became the Southern Highlands Regional Gallery. During this time, some changes were made to the house to make it suitable for an art gallery. By 2001, it had become a home again.

Heritage Importance

Moss Vale railway station is considered one of the most important station groups in New South Wales. It has many old and rare buildings. It also has special structures like the ones used by the Governors. The station shows how important train travel was in the past. It's also a key part of the town of Moss Vale.

Because of its historical value, Moss Vale railway station was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.