Mount Victoria railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mount Victoria
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Westbound view from Platform 2 in September 2007
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| Location | Darling Causeway, Mount Victoria Australia |
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| Coordinates | 33°35′16″S 150°15′25″E / 33.587856°S 150.256914°E | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 1,043.6 metres (3,424 ft) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Transport Asset Holding Entity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | NSW TrainLink | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Main Western | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 126.72 km (78.74 mi) from Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections | Bus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | MVR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Transport for NSW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 6 September 1869 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrified | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traffic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2013) | 90 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 251 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Official name | Mount Victoria Railway Station group | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designated | 2 April 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference no. | 1203 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Railway Platform/ Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | Transport - Rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Builders | Allan McClean and James Barrie (1868 building) |
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Mount Victoria railway station is a historic train station in Mount Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Main Western line. The station opened on 6 September 1869. It is known for its old buildings and its important role in the history of railways in the Blue Mountains.
The station has two platforms. The building on Platform 2 was built in 1869. A special refreshment room was added in 1884. The building on Platform 1 was built later, in 1911. This was when the railway line was made into two tracks.
Contents
Discovering Mount Victoria Station's Past
Mount Victoria has always been a key railway spot since it opened in 1868. It was one of the first stations built with stone, not just timber. The original station building is still standing today. It was designed in the style of John Whitton, a famous railway engineer.
Station Building Changes Over Time
More parts were added to the station building in 1899. A parcels office, where packages were handled, was built in 1911. This office was at the Sydney end of the building.
In 1884, a two-story stone addition was built. This part included the Railway Refreshment Room. It had eight bedrooms for travelers upstairs. There were also rooms for the manager and their family. This was common for railway stations in New South Wales. The refreshment room closed in 1957.
The Role of Mount Victoria's Train Depot
A place to keep and fix trains, called a locomotive depot, was at Mount Victoria by 1897. It became much bigger between 1911 and 1913. This was when the railway line was doubled through Mount Victoria. This depot was home to the trains and crews for the famous "The Fish" commuter train to Sydney. Mount Victoria was also the destination for the "Caves Express." This train brought holidaymakers to the Blue Mountains.
Accommodation for Railway Staff
The NSW Government Railways built places for train drivers, guards, and other staff to stay. These were called barracks or rest houses. A standard design for these was approved in the late 1890s. The barracks at Mount Victoria had rows of four bedrooms on each side. There was also a central kitchen and a meal room. This building is still used today for staff meals and lockers.
The Signal Box and Its Importance
On the platform going towards Lithgow, there is a tall signal box. It was built in 1911 and is still in use today. It is a typical design for signal boxes from that time.
Platform Upgrades and Features
A separate men's toilet was built on the Lithgow-bound platform in 1900. The original roof supports on this platform were removed in 1927. This was part of a plan to make station buildings look more modern.
The platform going towards Sydney was built in 1911. This was to serve the new double line. It also had a second Railway Refreshment Room. This one closed in 1957. The roof of this 1911 building is made of slates. It might be one of the last stations to use slates for roofing.
Mount Victoria's Link to Tourism
The station's history is closely tied to Jenolan Caves. The "Caves Express" train brought tourists to the Blue Mountains from the 1920s to 1942. Mount Victoria was also the nightly stop for "The Fish" train from Sydney. It was the only place on the NSW railway system where two named trains ended their journeys. One was for daily commuters, and the other for tourists.
The Station Footbridge
A pedestrian footbridge connects both platforms. It was built in 1911. This bridge replaced an older one from around 1896. It is still mostly in its original condition. It is a common design used across the NSW railway system.
The Station Master's Home
A home for the Station Master was built in 1868. It was made of stone, like other homes in the Blue Mountains. This house was taken down over 30 years ago. However, a stone showing the building date is still around. It is now in Baden Powell Park in Mount Victoria.
A Train's Journey from Mount Victoria
A train that was later involved in a significant railway event in 1977 started its journey from Mount Victoria.
Platforms and Train Services
Mount Victoria station has two platforms. NSW TrainLink Blue Mountains Line trains stop here. These trains travel from Sydney Central to Lithgow. Some trains end their journey at Mount Victoria. They then park in the sidings west of the station. The Bathurst Bullet train also runs two evening services to Bathurst.
Journey Beyond's weekly Indian Pacific train also passes through Mount Victoria. It only stops here when it is traveling towards Sydney.
| Platform | Line | Stopping pattern | Notes |
| 1 |
NSW TrainLink
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services to Sydney | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Pacific | to Sydney Central | ||
| 2 |
NSW TrainLink
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services to Lithgow 2 evening services to Bathurst |
Station Buildings and Features
The Mount Victoria station area includes several important buildings. These are the stone station building on Platform 2 (from 1869), the brick station building on Platform 1 (from 1913), and two toilet blocks (around 1900). There is also a signal box (1911) and the barracks/rest house (1911-1913). The old site of the Station Master's Cottage (1868) is also part of the complex.
Other parts include the platforms themselves, the footbridge (1911), and other smaller structures.
Platform 2 Station Building (1869, 1884)
This building is made of stone with a slate roof. It has a large two-story central part. This part is flanked by smaller stone and brick sections. The main building has a hipped slate roof. It features four tall brick chimneys. The building has timber-framed windows and doors. Wide platform awnings are supported by iron brackets.
Inside, the original layout is mostly the same. The ground floor has the station master's office, ticket office, and waiting rooms. The upper level now holds a local museum. The old refreshment rooms are no longer used.
Platform 1 Station Building (1913)
This is a single-story brick building with a slate roof. It has a special gabled lantern roof in the center. The walls are made of face brick. The platform side has timber-framed windows and double doors. A ticket window is also at the south end. A cantilevered awning covers the platform.
Inside, this building is mainly used by station staff. It has two locked rooms and a general waiting room in the middle. The waiting room has a decorative plaster ceiling.
Signal Box (1911)
This is a large two-story signal box made of brick and timber. It has a corrugated iron roof. The signal box is on Platform 2. Its floor is raised above the platform. It has sliding windows on the upper floor. Access is by steel stairs.
Inside, the signal box still has much of its original equipment. The 48-lever interlocking machine is still working.
Barracks/Rest House (1911 - 1913)
This building is located near the station. It is a single-story brick building with enclosed verandahs. The roof is made of corrugated metal. A large brick gable on the east side marks the original entrance. The verandahs have fibrocement panels and louvered windows.
Inside, the layout of the barracks has been changed. It now has six bedrooms, a shared kitchen, and a lounge room.
The Footbridge (1911)
The footbridge is a standard design. It connects both platforms. Since the station is in a cutting, the bridge extends to the top of the embankment. It connects to Patrick Street on one side and Station Street on the other. The sides of the bridge are covered with corrugated metal.
Station's Natural Beauty
The station is set within a rocky area. This is typical for stations in the Blue Mountains. The station has many plants, including mature trees, shrubs, and potted plants. These add to the historic look of the station.
Station Condition and Changes
Most of the buildings at Mount Victoria station are in good condition. They are largely intact, meaning they haven't changed much on the outside. The footbridge is also in good condition.
Over the years, there have been some changes:
- Between 1868 and 1884, the Platform 2 station building was extended. This was to add refreshment rooms.
- In 1891 and 1898, minor repairs and additions were made to the Platform 2 building.
- In 1902, more improvements were made to the Platform 2 building.
- In 1993, the inside of both station buildings was updated.
- At some point, the ticket window on Platform 1 was bricked up. The cantilevered balcony on Platform 2 had most of its iron removed and was filled in.
- The barracks building had its internal layout changed. Its verandah was enclosed.
Transport Connections
Blue Mountains Transit runs a bus route from Mount Victoria station:
- 698V: to Katoomba
Why Mount Victoria Station is Special
The Mount Victoria Railway Station Group is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is a large collection of buildings that show how railway facilities grew in the Blue Mountains. It is the biggest railway station complex in the Blue Mountains. This shows how important the location used to be. It had a locomotive depot (now gone) for trains going to the Jenolan Caves for tourism. It also handled freight trains over the steep Blue Mountains tracks.
The buildings also show how important Mount Victoria was as a health and holiday spot. The refreshment room and accommodation in the station building support this. The Mount Victoria Railway barracks is a rare example of a rest-house still used by railway staff. The signal box is one of only a few brick signal boxes on a platform that are still working. The footbridge is also rare because it is still in its original condition.
The station's beauty is also special. It is set within the rocky landscape of the Blue Mountains. It has many plants, trees, and shrubs along its platforms.
Mount Victoria Railway Station is linked to important people like John Whitton and George Cowdery. They were key engineers in the NSW Railways.
