Picton railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Picton
Southbound view in November 2011
Location	Station Street, Picton Australia
Coordinates	34°10′45″S 150°36′45″E / 34.179088°S 150.612575°E / -34.179088; 150.612575
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	Main South
Distance	63.9 kilometres (39.7 mi) from Central
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	PIC
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	1 July 1863
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	260 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	214
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Tahmoor toward Goulburn Southern Highlands Line Douglas Park toward Central
Former service Preceding station Former Services Following station Thirlmere towards Mittagong Picton Loop (closed) Terminus
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Picton Railway Station group
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1224
Type	Railway Platform/ Station
Category	Transport - Rail

Picton railway station is a special old train station. It is located in the suburb of Picton in Sydney, Australia. The station is on the Main South line. It was built between 1863 and 1919. People also call it the Picton Railway Station group. This station is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it is very important. It opened on 1 July 1869.

The station has a very unusual layout. When trains leave Picton heading south, they actually go north first. Then they make a big U-turn (a 225-degree curve) to finally head south. Trains going north do the opposite. They go south first, then curve around to go in the correct northbound direction.

History of Picton Station

How Picton Got Its Name

The town of Picton was named in 1841. It was named by Major Antill after a brave soldier, Sir Thomas Picton. Before that, the area was known as "Stonequarry". Sir Thomas Picton was known for his courage in battles. He fought alongside the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War. Sir Thomas Picton died at the Battle of Waterloo. He was the highest-ranking officer to die there. He was first buried in London. Later, in 1859, he was reburied in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

Station Changes Over Time

In 1919, a new railway line was built through Bargo. This made Picton a "junction station". This means it became a place where different train lines meet. The old line was kept as a smaller branch line. Trains on this branch line left from a special platform at the southern end of Platform 2.

Picton used to have a large area north of the station. This area had places to fix trains and a spinning platform called a turntable. A track for trains to pass each other was removed in 2011. This was done to make space for a new lift, making the station easier to use.

Today, Picton is a popular spot for special steam trains. These trains come from the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere. Because the old train yard is gone, these steam trains now need an engine at both ends to change direction.

Platforms and Train Services

Picton station has two platforms, one on each side of the tracks. NSW TrainLink trains use these platforms. They run on the Southern Highlands Line.

• Trains usually travel between Campbelltown and Moss Vale.
• In the mornings, some services go all the way to Sydney Central.
• In the evenings, some services go to Goulburn.

Station Buildings and Features

The Picton railway station has several important parts. These include the main station building, a footbridge, and a signal box.

Station Building (1863)

The main station building was built in 1863. It is a simple, single-story building. It has a classic old style, with painted brick walls. The front of the building looks the same on both sides. It has two windows with six glass panes each.

The building has a long shape. It has small sections at each end. One section holds the toilets, and the other was for lamps. Inside, there was a waiting room for ladies, a telegraph office, and offices for booking tickets and baggage. You enter the platform through the central booking office.

The roof of the building is sloped and covered with slate. A large roof-like cover, called an awning, sticks out over the platform. It was rebuilt at some point. On the street side, there is a covered porch, or verandah, supported by wooden posts.

You can also see a unique plant on the station building wall. It's a large stag's horn fern, which is a type of plant that grows on trees.

Footbridge (around 1982)

The footbridge at the station was rebuilt around 1982. It now has new steel beams and a concrete walking surface.

Signal Box (1919)

This is a large, two-story signal box built in 1919. It is made of timber and stands on the platform. The top floor has windows on three sides. This allows the signal operator to see the tracks clearly. You get to the top floor by an outside staircase from the platform. There is also a toilet on the landing of the stairs. The roof is sloped and covered with corrugated iron. It hangs over the sides to shade the windows. This signal box is one of only a few like it left in the state.

Getting Around: Transport Links

Picton station is a hub for local buses.

Picton Buslines

Picton Buslines runs six bus routes that start or end at Picton station:

• Route 900: To Campbelltown station
• Route 901: To Wilton and Douglas Park
• Route 911: To Buxton and Bargo
• Route 912: To Bargo and Yanderra
• Route 913: To Buxton and Thirlmere
• Route 914: To Buxton and Thirlmere

Berrima Buslines

Berrima Buslines operates one route through Picton station for NSW TrainLink:

• Loopline Bus: To Bowral station

Why Picton Station is Special

Picton Railway Precinct is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is one of the oldest railway locations in the state. It opened in 1863, just eight years after the very first train line from Sydney to Parramatta in 1855.

Picton was the end of the Southern line until 1867. After that, the line was extended to places like Mittagong, Goulburn, and Albury. The building of the line to Picton is linked to John Whitton. He was the chief engineer for the NSW railways. This was one of his early big achievements.

The design of the Picton station building is also thought to be by Whitton. It is a great example of an old Victorian Georgian style station building. It still looks much like it did when it was built. The signal box, built in 1919, is also a good example of an elevated timber signal box. It is similar to other important signal boxes in the railway network.

Picton railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is officially recognized as a place of historical importance.