Taree

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5130 leads a C35 on goods train X7 arriving at Taree 7/7/1947 (State Archives)

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Shunting at Taree, 11/7/1947 (State Archives)

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8041 and 4466 take a rest between rosters within Taree loco.  8041 has been stabled on what was originally the accident train road, while 4466 is on the original No.2 coal stack road.  In the background left, can be seen the upright supports for Taree loco's water tower, the tank having been removed sometime in the late 70's.  The remaining frame was demolished sometime later in 1986.  This image taken 5th January, 1986. (Chris Harrison)

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Chris Harrison:

These images I am led to understand were taken as part of celebrations of 50 years of the railways to Taree.  The date being around April 1963.  Unfortunately the quality is not the best.  I acquired them back in the 80's as a student and the cost of gaining quality print copies was a bit much for me at the time, so I had to make do with photocopies.  Since that day, every time I visit the NSW State Archives to look in the SRA archive collection, I make out the same request for Taree material, but the originals of these never seem to fall into my hands again.  Perhaps someday, but at least some thing has been gained.  In the 2nd and 3rd images, there appear to be many photographers present.  You have to wonder how many locals from Taree might have a "treasure image" of this event in an old photobook?

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Mike Moy:

Taree South Box, shunting the neck and looking into "Loco". Taree South Box Circa 1945 (68 levers) was a wartime project. The North Coast Centralised Traffic Control Project (CTC) removed Taree  from its scope due to the inability of the powers that be to agree to the operational requirements. This photograph is from the microwave tower in 1983 after completion of the CTC to Casino. Taree commissioning subsequently took place on 1st September 1985 about 2 years later.

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44221 heading the up North Coast Daylight Express at Taree in 1983. 44221 is in the shadow of the tower the photo is taken from. (Bob McAlpine)

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Leon Rudd - Taree Loco

4860 & 4503 with 4492 & maybe an 80 class behind it and 4486 & 4502 in residence on 29/03/1986

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Taree looking towards north box. Last of my photos from the microwave tower in later 1983 (Bob McAlpine)

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North Coast Daylight Express at Taree 28/1/1968 (Lindsay Bridge)


Graeme Kirkby
A crew member walking up the platform, billy in hand, ready for his trip through to Sydney, while the Train Examiner ( wearing his safety boots) finishes his examination of the train during its ten minute stop.

Chris Harrison
The examiner you mention always caught my attention - very professionally dressed!!😂

Dave Oliver
Graeme Kirkby, when were Taree men qualified through to Sydney? I'm guessing it occurred once the coast succumbed to diesels?

Peter Lougher
Dave Oliver Graeme Kirkby the various Byways of steam books may shed some light on this but from what I recall reading they started running through after dieselisation in 1958 and the decimation of Dungog Depot which previously ran through to Sydney.

Graeme Kirkby
Dave Oliver . In 1958, Dave. Prior to that, Dungog men had been working through to Sydney on one job, B/O Eveleigh and return same night. Eveleigh men lost their Dungog working early in WW2 period.

Peter Lougher
Graeme Kirkby They were both the things that stood out to me. Last job of the the day for the wheel tapper on a P/off. The engineman is timeless. And the dust coated bloke on the platform. Did they have TEO's on the trains then or maybe he is a Loco Inspector? Let alone the rest of the content in the photo.

Leon Batman
Peter Lougher On train TEOs we're around till early eighties.

Graeme Kirkby
Peter Lougher . As per Leon's reply, Pete. A/C technicians were on every a/c train including DEB sets up to early 1983. From that date, Drivers who worked on DEB sets received a full shift extra training for working 900 class "without a Fitter". Don't ask me what training we received!🙄

Peter Lougher
Leon Batman Graeme Kirkby so they were certainly travelling on the trains back then well.

Graeme Kirkby
Peter Lougher . I imagine they were probably travelling on a/c trains from their introduction in late 1940s.

Peter Lougher
Graeme Kirkby some nights I wish they still were!!!

Dave Oliver
Interesting stuff, thanks all.

Lee Davis
says on pic "taken 28 Jan 1968"

Chris Harrison
Lee Davis Correct. I didn't notice that portion located on the right until after I posted the image. Will amend now.

Lee Davis
all good.


Ken Date
Having a 43 up front must have slowed the trip somewhat as that class of loco was not fitted with staff exchangers (unless I am mistaken) and there were many loops to be passed on the way to the Telarah. I do remember travelling on the NCD in the 60s behind a 43 but I don't recall specific details of the trip - I was far too young at the time. However, from my observations while growing up on the north coast, the use of a 43 on that train was not common.

John Shields
Ken Date 43s had staff exchangers, No1 end only of course

John Shields
Ken Date Additionally, this train was regularly worked by 40 class which were not fitted with staff exchangers.

Graeme Kirkby
Ken Date . Ken, sometime in the early to mid 1960s the 43 class were retro-fitted with staff exchangers. Frequently as an Eveleigh engineman through the 1960s we relieved Taree men off 26 on arrival at Sydney and often the engine was a 40, 43 or 45 class.

Ken Date
Graeme Kirkby thanks for the clarification.


John Treuren
NCDE- nice train in its day.

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Shunting at Taree, 28/1/1968 (Lindsay Bridge)

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Chris Harrison

36 years ago was this scene of a down XPT stopping at Taree on December 16, 1986.

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50th Anniversary of Rail coming to Taree - Photo taken Jan 1963

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Aerial view of railway tents that where situated in High Street Taree.Many of the tents had a red fly ( the last tent covering )
Note how close to the railway lines the tents are situated. In the right lower corner is the old butter factory.

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Railway tents in High St, Taree (probably 50s) (Anne Calvert)

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NL25 at Taree (29/9/1984) (Munro)