Tarago railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tarago
Southbound view in July 2007
Location	Tarago Road, Tarago
Coordinates	35°04′12″S 149°39′05″E / 35.0700°S 149.6513°E / -35.0700; 149.6513
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	Bombala
Distance	282.51 kilometres from Central
Platforms	1
Tracks	3
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Other information
Station code	TGO
History
Opened	3 January 1884
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Bungendore toward Canberra NSW TrainLink Southern Line Canberra Xplorer Goulburn toward Sydney

Tarago railway station is a historic train station in Tarago, New South Wales, Australia. It is on the Bombala railway line. The station was built in 1884 by G. & C. Horn. It is now a protected heritage site. This means it is an important part of history that needs to be looked after.

Station History

Tarago station first opened on 3 January 1884. It was the end of the Bombala railway line at that time. The line was later extended to Bungendore in March 1885.

The station building, a home for the Station Master, and a goods shed were built by G. & C. Horn. These buildings were likely finished sometime after the station officially opened. The station had a long platform and areas for goods and livestock.

The station building at Tarago is quite large. It was designed for towns with many people. However, Tarago was not a very big town. This suggests that important or powerful people in the area might have influenced the government to build a bigger station.

Over the years, the station changed a lot. In 1891, the tracks were changed to help with cattle. A weighbridge was added in 1893 to weigh goods. Postal services were added in 1899. A crane was put in place in 1902.

More improvements were made to the cattle yards over time. A rest house for workers was moved to Tarago in 1925. The cattle yards were removed in 1989.

Tarago station stopped handling goods traffic around 1989. But it is still a stop for passenger trains. These trains travel between Canberra and Sydney. The station buildings have been repaired and looked after since the mid-1990s.

Train Services

Tarago station is served by NSW TrainLink Xplorer trains. These trains travel between Sydney and Canberra. There are three trains each day in both directions.

This station is a "request stop." This means the train only stops if passengers have booked to get on or off there. If no one has booked, the train will just pass through.

Station Buildings and Features

The station area is a heritage site. It includes several old buildings. There is a brick station building from 1884. There is also a signal box from 1938. A goods shed, also from 1884, is part of the complex. Across from the platform, there is a track for trains to pass. There is also a track that used to go to the Woodlawn Mine.

Station Building (1884)

The main station building has five rooms. It has a central waiting room. On either side are offices for the Station Master and for selling tickets. One end has a parcels office, and the other has a ladies' waiting room.

The building is made of brick and painted. It has roofs that come to a point (gabled roofs). These roofs are covered with corrugated iron. There are brick chimneys. The middle part of the building has a back porch entry.

The ends of the gabled roofs have fancy wooden decorations. The veranda over the platform also has decorative wood. It is held up by wooden posts with curved iron brackets. The windows are made of wood and have special frames.

The brick platform was also built in 1884. The surface of the platform is now covered with asphalt.

Signal Box (1938)

The signal box is a simple square building. It has a roof that slopes down on all sides (hipped roof). This roof is covered with corrugated iron. The walls are made of timber frames covered with fibro sheets.

Goods Shed (1884)

The goods shed is a large rectangular building. It has a gabled roof covered with corrugated iron. This roof extends out to form awnings on both sides of the building. These awnings are held up by wooden brackets.

The building has a timber frame. Its walls are covered with corrugated iron. There is a small office wing made of weatherboard. The shed has a large wooden platform. It also has big wooden sliding doors with diagonal patterns.

The station buildings are in good condition. The station building, platforms, goods shed, and signal box are mostly in their original state.

Why Tarago Station is Important

Tarago Railway Precinct is very important to the history of New South Wales. It has many original buildings from the 1880s. These include the station building and the goods shed from 1884. These buildings are a key part of the small town of Tarago. They are also good examples of railway buildings from that time.

Tarago 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.

Historical Importance

The station shows how railways developed in New South Wales in the late 1800s. It has several items from when the line opened in 1884. It also shows how a railway area was set up back then.

Design and Beauty

The station is also important for its design. It has several original buildings that show railway design from the 1880s. The 1884 station building is a great example of a Victorian-era station. It has many details typical of that time. The railway buildings are an important part of the look of Tarago town.

Community Connection

The station is important to the local community. It has provided jobs, trade, and a way for people to connect for a long time. It helps the community feel connected to their past. It is a special part of daily life for many people in the area.

Example of Railway Design

The station building is a good example of a third-class brick station. It is similar to other station buildings in New South Wales, like those at Bungendore and Michelago. The goods shed is also a good example of a goods shed from the late 1800s. All these buildings together show how railways were built and used in New South Wales in the late 1800s and early 1900s.