Orange railway station, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orange
CountryLink XPT at the station in August 2011
Location	Peisley Street, Orange, New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	33°17′12″S 149°06′13″E / 33.2868°S 149.1036°E / -33.2868; 149.1036
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	Main Western
Distance	322.6 km (200.5 mi) from Sydney Central
Platforms	1
Tracks	3
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	OAG
History
Opened	19 April 1877
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Parkes toward Broken Hill NSW TrainLink Western Line Broken Hill Outback Xplorer Blayney toward Sydney Stuart Town toward Dubbo NSW TrainLink Western Line Dubbo XPT Millthorpe toward Sydney
Former services Preceding station Former Services Following station Orange Showground towards Bourke Main Western Line Bloomfield NSW towards Sydney
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Orange Railway Station and yard group
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1218
Type	Railway Platform / Station
Category	Transport - Rail

The Orange railway station is a special, heritage-listed train station in Orange, Australia. It's located on Peisley Street, along the Main Western railway line. This station has a long history, built between 1877 and 1950. It's also known as the Orange Railway Station and yard group.

The station first opened on 19 April 1877. At that time, it was the end of the railway line that came from Blayney. Later, on 1 June 1880, the line was extended further to Wellington. Today, Orange station still serves the city and is an important part of its history.

Discovering Orange Station's Past

Orange station is on the main railway line that goes west. The single track from Blayney to Orange opened on 19 April 1877. Later, on 5 November 1916, a second track was added from Spring Hill to Orange.

In 1874, work began on the railway line from Bathurst to Orange. By 1876, a contract was signed to build the station. This included a building for both the station and the station master's home. It also had a goods shed and a platform roof. The station officially opened on 19 April 1877.

When the railway arrived in Orange, farmers grew a lot of wheat. The railway helped them send their crops to markets in Sydney. The station area included a goods shed for loading grains onto trains. This original goods shed was much longer than it is today.

The station area was also planned to handle more than just passenger trains. It had a depot and a shed for carriages. There was even a turntable to turn trains around. In 1937, the depot moved to East Fork. The old depot area became a place for sorting train cars.

In the 1930s, the railway at Orange grew a lot. A new main office for the District Superintendent of Railways was built next to the station in 1936. A signal box was added in 1938. This signal box helped manage the increasing number of trains. It used a new system to control signals.

Over time, Orange became a major regional city. The railway changed with new technology. Orange started growing more fruit instead of wheat by the 1950s. To help with this, a special shed was built around 1959. It was for transferring goods for the Orange Producers Rural Association.

Many other things were added or changed at the station over the years. These included:

• A large crane (1896)
• A shed for carriages (1897)
• An extended roof over the platform (1898)
• New stockyards for animals (1935)
• A new rest house for train staff (1939)

Train Services at Orange Station

Orange station is served by NSW TrainLink trains.

• The Central West XPT runs daily between Sydney and Dubbo.
• The Outback Xplorer runs weekly between Sydney and Broken Hill.

NSW TrainLink also offers bus services from the station. These buses connect to places like Lithgow, Dubbo, and Nyngan.

About two kilometres (one point two miles) south of the station, the Broken Hill line branches off. The Outback Xplorer train uses Orange station. It then reverses back to this junction to continue its journey.

What Orange Station Looks Like

The Orange railway complex has several important buildings and features.

Station Building and Platform

The main station building was finished in 1877. It's made of brick and originally had two floors. The top floor was for the Station Master's home. The building has been changed over the years, but it still looks like it did in the Victorian era.

Inside, you'll find the ticket office. Long sections of the building extend along the platform. These areas were used for parcels, refreshments, waiting rooms, and toilets. The building has arched windows with special decorative frames. A long, low roof covers the platform. It's held up by strong cast iron columns.

Other Important Buildings

• Station Master's Residence (1885): This old home is at 158 Peisley Street. It's a Victorian-style house with a gabled roof and a unique octagonal bay window.
• Railway Institute Building (around 1921): This building is made of weatherboard with a corrugated iron roof. It has a porch at the front.
• Administration Building (around 1950): This is a three-story brick building with a tiled roof. It has many windows and a grand entrance.
• Goods Shed (1877): This shed is made of timber beams and corrugated iron. It has a pitched roof with skylights. The original shed was much longer. A railway track used to run through the eastern side of the building. Today, it's used for storing landscaping supplies.
• Rail Motor Shed (around 1950): This shed is in the goods yard. It's made of iron beams and corrugated iron. Old railway tracks still run into the shed.
• Signal Box (1938): This two-story timber building is located south of the station. It was used to control railway signals. Most of its signals are no longer in use.
• Transhipment Shed (around 1959): This open shed is on the eastern side of the railway area. It was built by the Orange Producers Rural Association. It was used to transfer goods.
• Perway Office and Depot: This area includes an office and other sheds. It's located on the eastern side of the railway precinct, north of the station.

Footbridge and Jib Crane

• Footbridge (1910, extended 1938): This bridge allows people to walk over the railway tracks. The original part of the bridge, built around 1910, is made of cast iron and brick. The section added in 1938 was one of the first welded bridges in the railway system. The original part is considered the oldest surviving footbridge of its kind in New South Wales.
• Jib Crane: This is a large, hand-operated crane that can lift up to 5-tonne (5.5-short-ton). It was used to load and unload goods from trains and trucks.

Condition of the Station

Most of the buildings and structures at Orange Railway Precinct are in good condition. The station buildings have kept their original look and feel very well.

Why Orange Station is Special

The Orange Railway Precinct is very important because of its history, beauty, and unique features.

• Historical Importance: The station shows how the NSW railways grew in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The station building from 1877, along with other structures, gives us a look into a 19th-century railway area. As Orange grew and railway technology changed, so did the station.
• Beautiful Design: The station building is a great example of Victorian railway design from the 1870s.
• Community Connection: The station has been important to the local community for a long time. It provided jobs, helped with trade, and was a place for people to connect. It helps the community feel connected to its past.
• Rare Features: The 1877 two-story brick station building is rare. It's one of only a few combined residence/station buildings in New South Wales. The cast iron footbridge is also very rare. It shows a style of building from the late 1800s.
• Good Example: The site has many railway structures that show common railway practices from the 19th and early 20th centuries. These include the goods shed (1877), Station Master's residence (1885), Railway Institute building (around 1921), administration building (around 1950), signal box (1938), and the transhipment shed (around 1959).

Orange railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Images for kids

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  An XPT service towards Dubbo