Kempsey Stock Siding

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Type : Siding
Line : North Coast Line
Distance from Sydney : 506.541km
Opened : 29th April 1969
Closed : January 1990
Status : Closed
Name meaning : Same as Kempsey
Notes :

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Location of the siding, now an electricity substation.

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Train consist form 20-5-88 6124 F stock special from Kempsey sale yards with 8012 consist 26 wagons including 3 x NSSF sheep vans which would have been loaded with calves/weiners (one deck only) this would have been in the period were the SRA would only except block loads of stock minimum of 25 wagons.
The stock siding was closed in January 1990. (Lenore Reinhard - Riddel)

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Lenore Reinhard - Riddel:


Footnote re: Kempsey stock siding closed, although this siding was closed in January 1990 10 NSCF cattle wagons remained stranded for several years requiring a temporary reopening so the wagons could be retrieved, they where taken south for scrapping by 44210 which also picked up 10 loaded sleeper wagons @ Wauchope for Boradze. Unfortunately I don't have the date for this.

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Lenore Reinhard - Riddel:


8011 on 6AB6 (between NR71 & NR88) Sunday 14/12/2023 the locomotive is pictured approximately where the City end points for Kempsey stock yards where once situated there was another set on the Country end (with a cross over in the middle) so trains could shunt in the up or down direction.This locomotive was involved in a level crossing smash approximately 100m south of this photo @ North Street level crossing on Tuesday 14-07-1981 whilst heading (along with 48104) no.288 🍌 up fruit express, it collided with a fully loaded cattle truck which had just loaded @ Kempsey sale yards (73 head) & was heading to Macksville.

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2 locomotives for 2 wagons (DN) 8217 & 8047 D/A @ Kempsey stock yards Anzac Day 25-04-2001.
Greg Riddel

Jeremy Williams
This happened everywhere at times - locos were still needed for a Roster or timed Maintenance/Trip inspections even if there was no return load. At this stage, locos had an hourly rate value and sitting idle was considered to be wasting money. I'd also suggest being Anzac Day on a Wednesday, staff at the siding did not work that day and another train was on the way for the Thursday/Friday.

Lenore Reinhard - Riddel
Jeremy Williams
I remember the steel train one public holiday Monday in the early 90's had 3 locomotives all running & 5 loaded steel wagons.
Greg Riddel

Jeremy Williams
Lenore Reinhard - Riddel back in those days there often was fear of shuting-down locos being hauled long distance for other services having flat batteries upon arrival and that could cause significant delays, so it was an unofficial thing to keep HD locos running.

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Trailing view of 6M31 taken from the old city end buffer stop (earth mound with timber surround) of Kempsey stock siding the rails & turnouts having been removed.
12/09/1998 (Greg Riddel)