Oberon railway line

The Oberon railway line is a short branch railway line in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. The line branches from the Main Western line at Tarana railway station and heads in a southerly direction to Oberon railway station, with length of 24 km.

Oberon railway line
Oberon railway station
Overview
Other name(s)	Oberon branch
Termini	Tarana Oberon
Stations	4
History
Opened	3 October 1923 (1923-10-03)
Closed	1979
Technical
Line length	15 miles 7 chains (24.3 km)[1]
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Minimum radius	5 chains (330 ft; 100 m)
Highest elevation	1,106 m (3,629 ft)
Maximum incline	4%
Route map Map Legend 198.3 Main Western line at Tarana Fish River Emu Valley Creek 207.9 Carlwood Snakes Valley Creek 217.1 Hazlegrove 222.4 Oberon Source: NSWrail.net[2]

Since 2007, the Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc (OTHR) have been steadily restoring track on the line.^[3]

History

It was earlier put forward as a line from Tarana to Burraga, via Oberon, to benefit the Burraga copper mine.^[4] It opened on 3 October 1923,^[2][1] after the copper mine at Burraga had closed down.^[5] The line was lightly constructed with steep grades (1 in 25) and tight curves, and was operated by lightweight steam and then diesel locomotives.^[6] It transported local seasonal vegetables, timber, livestock, and other goods. Passenger services ended in 1971, and goods services were suspended in 1979; the line was never formerly closed.^[7] The line is currently being restored by a volunteer association to allow heritage and tourist operation.^[3]

See also

• New South Wales portal
• Railways portal

• Rail transport in New South Wales