Windsor railway station, Sydney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Windsor
Windsor in September 2020
Location	George Street, Windsor
Coordinates	33°36′50″S 150°48′39″E / 33.61381111°S 150.8108333°E / -33.61381111; 150.8108333
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	Richmond
Distance	54.98 kilometres from Central
Platforms	1
Tracks	1
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	WSR
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	1 December 1864
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	850 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	165
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station Clarendon toward Richmond North Shore & Western Line Mulgrave toward Berowra Cumberland Line Late night services only Mulgrave toward Leppington

Windsor railway station is a historic train station in Windsor, Australia. It is on the Richmond line and serves the Sydney area. Trains from Sydney Trains' T1 Western and T5 Cumberland lines stop here. The station is very old and important, so it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.

History of Windsor Station

Windsor station first opened on 1 December 1864. This was the same day the Richmond line started running. The first station building was a mix of a home and an office. It was similar to buildings at Riverstone railway station and Mulgrave railway station. This original building was later moved and became a private house.

Many stations on this line were updated in the 1880s, including Windsor. In April 1883, a new brick station building and platform were planned. The station was rebuilt with a goods yard and a brick platform. The brick building you see today was finished in 1884. It looks similar to the stations at Riverstone and Richmond.

Over the years, some parts of the station changed. A small signal box built around 1916 is no longer there. An old shed for goods also used to be on the other side of the tracks but is gone now. The train line became electric in 1991, meaning electric trains could use it. The station building was also repaired and updated in 1997.

Trains at Windsor Station

For a long time, trains from Sydney's city centre and North Shore came to Windsor. These trains were part of the T1 Richmond service.

Since November 2017, the T5 Cumberland line also serves Windsor. During late nights, T5 trains now go all the way to Richmond instead of stopping at Schofields. This means they take over from the T1 Richmond line at those times.

Getting Around from Windsor

Windsor station is a hub for local buses, helping people get to many nearby places.

Bus Routes

Busways runs 10 different bus routes that stop at Windsor station:

• 671: Goes to Riverstone through McGraths Hill and Vineyard.
• 672: Travels to Pitt Town and then to Wisemans Ferry (where you can catch a ferry).
• 679: Heads to Maraylya via Scheyville.
• 668: Goes to Richmond station through Freemans Reach and Glossodia.
• 669: Travels to Sackville. You need to change buses at Wilberforce.
• 673: Connects to Penrith station via Llandilo.
• 674: Goes to Mount Druitt station through Berkshire Park and Whalan.
• 675A: Is a loop that goes anti-clockwise through Richmond and Bligh Park.
• 675C: Is a loop that goes clockwise through Bligh Park and Richmond.
• 676: Travels to South Windsor.

Hillsbus also has one route that stops here:

• 608: Goes to Rouse Hill.

Most buses also stop at Windsor shops on Kable Street and Hawkesbury Hospital.

NightRide Service

Windsor station is also served by one NightRide bus route, which runs late at night:

• N71: Travels from Richmond to City (Town Hall) in Sydney.

What Windsor Station Looks Like

The Windsor station complex includes a brick station building and a brick platform, both built in 1883. There's also an old goods yard with a special crane and some sheds.

The Station Building

The station building is a large brick building. It has a main part in the middle with two sections (or "wings") on each side. The roof is made of slate and has chimneys. There's a covered area (veranda) along the street side and a wide roof (awning) over the platform. This awning is held up by metal poles.

Inside, the building still has many of its original features. These include old plaster decorations on the ceilings, wooden floor edges, and wooden doors and windows. Even with some updates, you can still see its old-fashioned style. The building is in very good condition.

The platform is made of brick with a concrete top and an asphalt surface. There are modern fences, bins, lights, and signs along the platform.

The Old Goods Yard

The goods yard is a large, fenced area next to the station. It used to be where goods were loaded and unloaded from trains. Today, it's a bit overgrown, but you can still see parts of the old train tracks and concrete areas.

You can also see parts of the old brick platform where goods were once loaded. The most interesting part of the goods yard is an old iron crane from the 1880s. This crane has a single arm that could turn to lift heavy items. It's called a Class 1, 5-tonne hand crane.

There are also three newer metal sheds in the goods yard. Beyond the fenced area, there's an old shed for railway workers (called a gangers shed). It's made of timber and corrugated metal. This shed is in poor condition, but its roof looks new.

Cool Old Items

Some cool old items still at the station include:

• A working Seth Thomas Clock from 1886 in the ticket office.
• Two old wooden corner seats in the waiting room.
• An enamel sign with the station's name on the platform side.
• An old Ajax brand safe in the Station Master's office.

The old goods yard is very important for history. It might still hold clues about how goods were handled by trains in the late 1800s.

Changes to the Station Over Time

• 1883: The station was rebuilt with the new brick building, goods yard, and crane.
• 1939: The platform was made longer.
• 1943: Changes were made to the station buildings and offices.
• 1945: The platform was made higher.
• 1991: The train line became electric.
• 1997: The main station building was repaired and updated. Other structures on the platform were removed.

Why Windsor Station is Special

Windsor Railway Station is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's one of the stations that was greatly improved in the 1880s. This shows how much the Windsor area grew after the railway arrived in the 1800s.

The station building from 1883 is a great example of a Victorian-era station. It's a well-known landmark in the old town centre. The goods yard is also important because it can teach us about how goods were moved by train in the late 1800s. Even though some parts are gone, the old tracks, brick platform, and crane still tell a story.

Windsor railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it meets several important rules:

• It shows how history unfolded: Windsor Station helps us understand the history of railways in New South Wales. It shows how stations and goods yards were set up in the 1880s. The station building, crane, and platform show how goods were handled in the farming area of Hawkesbury back then.

• It's a beautiful and well-designed building: The station building from 1883 is a beautiful example of a Victorian-era station. It shows how important and wealthy the Windsor area became. The building is a key part of the historic town.

• It connects to the community: The station helps local people feel connected to their past and their community.

• It can teach us new things: The goods yard can help us learn more about how goods were handled in the late 1800s. The old tracks, platform, and crane might reveal more if studied closely.

• It's a rare example: Windsor Station, with its goods yard, is a rare example of an 1880s railway station layout, even though it has changed over time.

• It shows what a typical station of its kind was like: Windsor Station is one of three stations on the Richmond line (the others are Richmond and Riverstone) that have larger, more detailed buildings. It's a great example of a late 1800s station building, showing the best of station design from that time.