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Tarana, New South Wales facts for kids

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Tarana
New South Wales
Tarana Railway Station, New South Wales - 6.jpg
Tarana is located in New South Wales
Tarana
Tarana
Location in New South Wales
LGA(s) City of Lithgow
Region Central Tablelands
County Australia
State electorate(s) Bathurst
Federal Division(s) Calare

Tarana is a small and interesting town located in the Central West area of New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the City of Lithgow. This town is especially known for its history with trains and railways.

Tarana used to be a very important spot for trains. It was where the Oberon Branch railway connected to the main train route, called the Main Western Line. This branch line was quite special because it had some really steep slopes, known as gradients. Imagine a hill that goes up 1 meter for every 30 meters you travel forward – that's a 1 in 30 gradient! It also had very sharp turns, or curves, that were only 100 metres (330 ft) wide. These features made it a challenging but interesting railway to build and use.

History of Tarana

The name Tarana has a special meaning. It comes from an Aboriginal word that means watering hole. This suggests that the area was once a place where people and animals could find water.

The Railway Station

The Tarana railway station first opened its doors on 22 April 1872. This was a big moment for the town, as railway stations were often the heart of small communities back then. They helped people travel and goods move in and out of the area. The station played a key role in connecting Tarana to other parts of New South Wales.

Heritage Sites

Tarana is home to several places that are considered heritage-listed. This means they are important historical sites that are protected because of their special value. They tell us a lot about the past.

  • The Tarana railway station is one of these important heritage sites. It's part of the Main Western railway line, showing its historical significance in the development of train travel in Australia.
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