Muswellbrook railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muswellbrook
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Station buildings
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| Location | Market Street, Muswellbrook Australia |
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| Coordinates | 32°16′03″S 150°53′25″E / 32.267372°S 150.890265°E | |||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Transport Asset Holding Entity | |||||||||||||||
| Operated by | NSW TrainLink | |||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Main Northern | |||||||||||||||
| Distance | 288.78 km (179.44 mi) from Central | |||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 5 | |||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | |||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||
| Station code | MBK | |||||||||||||||
| Website | Transport for NSW | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 19 May 1869 | |||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Musclebrook | |||||||||||||||
| Traffic | ||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2013) | 40 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink) | |||||||||||||||
| Rank | 269 | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
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| Official name | Muswellbrook Railway Station and yard group; Musclebrook Railway Station | |||||||||||||||
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) | |||||||||||||||
| Designated | 2 April 1999 | |||||||||||||||
| Reference no. | 1208 | |||||||||||||||
| Type | Railway Platform/ Station | |||||||||||||||
| Category | Transport - Rail | |||||||||||||||
Muswellbrook railway station is a special, heritage-listed train station. It is located in Muswellbrook, Australia. The station is on the Main Northern line. It was designed by John Whitton, a famous engineer for NSW Railways. The station is also known as "Muswellbrook Railway Station and yard group" or "Musclebrook Railway Station". It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.
Station History
Early Days and Opening
The railway line from Singleton to Muswellbrook was finished in 1869. The station, then called "Musclebrook", opened on May 19, 1869. The Governor of NSW, the Earl of Belmore, officially opened it. The station's name was changed to Muswellbrook on September 1, 1890.
The railway line was once the main route between Sydney and Brisbane. However, trains had to change tracks at Wallangarra. Now, the main route is the North Coast line. The line north of Armidale is no longer used.
Station Buildings and Changes
The original station building from 1869 is still standing. It was designed by John Whitton. He used ideas from his designs in England. The building shows styles from the Georgian and Victorian eras. Inside, it had offices, a ticket area, and waiting rooms.
Over the years, the station changed. A turntable for trains was added in 1869 and replaced in 1890. The platform was made longer in 1891. A gatehouse was built at the level crossing in 1892. The platform was extended again in 1898 and 1911.
Refreshment Rooms and More Updates
In the early 1900s, the station area grew. Large, two-story brick refreshment rooms were added next to the station building. These rooms opened in 1922. They offered food and drinks to passengers. They had a big dining room and a bar. The upper floor had rooms for the staff.
In 1927, the refreshment rooms were made even bigger. They added five bedrooms for the public. A subway underpass was built in 1928. This replaced a level crossing near the station. A locomotive depot, where trains were maintained, was built in 1943.
Coal Transport and Modern Upgrades
In 1977, a coal mine opened at Ulan. The railway line was extended to Ulan in 1982. This allowed coal to be transported to Newcastle through Muswellbrook.
For some years in the 1980s, buses replaced passenger trains. This was while the line was being improved. Train services started again on March 14, 1988.
In 2007, plans were approved to turn the old refreshment rooms into a museum. In 2011, the old signal box was approved for demolition.
The station used to have a large freight yard. This included a roundhouse for locomotives. The Merriwa section of the Ulan line branches off here.
In 2007, work began to improve the tracks in the yard. A longer passing loop was added for very long trains. This helps freight trains travel faster. In 2009, the Main Northern line was doubled near Muswellbrook. This helped move more coal.
Platforms and Train Services
The station has one main platform. It also has a disused platform at the southern end. Muswellbrook station is served by NSW TrainLink trains.
Hunter Line Services
Hunter Line trains travel between Newcastle and Scone. There is also an early morning weekday service to and from Newcastle.
North Western Xplorer Services
The station is also served by NSW TrainLink Xplorer trains. These trains travel from Sydney to Armidale and Moree.
| Platform | Line | Stopping pattern | Notes |
| 1 |
NSW TrainLink
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services to Newcastle & Scone One early weekday morning terminating service from & to Newcastle |
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North West Region
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services to Armidale/Moree & Sydney Central |
Station Description
Station Building
The main station building was finished in 1869. It is a brick building with a hipped roof (a roof that slopes down on all sides). The roof was originally slate, but now it's corrugated iron. The building is higher than the street. You enter by steps leading to a stone verandah (a covered porch). The verandah roof is supported by timber posts. The doors are made of timber, and the windows are double-hung sash windows (windows that slide up and down).
The platform has an awning (a roof-like cover). This awning is an extension of the one built with the refreshment rooms. It is made of cast iron and corrugated iron. Inside, the station building now has a store room, waiting room, and toilets.
Refreshment Rooms
The refreshment rooms were built next to the station in 1921-1922. This is a two-story building. It has two hipped roofs covered in diamond-patterned slate tiles. The ground floor sticks out from under the first floor. The building has brickwork, timber doors, and double-hung sash windows. Inside, you can see pressed metal ceilings and hardwood floors. The ground floor had refreshment rooms and kitchens. The upper floor had rooms for passengers.
Signal Box
The signal box was built in 1923. It is an elevated, two-story building on a timber frame. It has a hipped roof with wide overhanging eaves (the part of the roof that hangs over the walls). The windows are timber, double-hung sash type. This building was used to control train signals.
Other Structures
Other parts of the station complex include the brick platform from 1869. There is also a carriage dock from 1869, used for parcels and mail. Remains of a locomotive depot from 1943 are also there. This includes a turntable and a crane.
Heritage Importance
Muswellbrook railway station is considered very important to history. It is a great example of an early station complex. It has kept its original shape but also added new buildings as more people used it. The first station building is special because it still has its early street verandah. The refreshment rooms are also important. They show a type of building that was once very common but is no longer used. These buildings stand out in the town. The signal box also adds to the station's historical value.
The Muswellbrook railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it is protected because it is a unique and important part of New South Wales' history.
