Binalong railway station and telegraph office

The Binalong railway station and telegraph office was the first of two closed railway stations in Binalong on the Main Southern railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The station opened in Binalong in 1875. Following a fire to the original wooden structure in 1883, a new stone and brick building was constructed. This was in use as a train station until 1916 when the line was moved to accommodate a second line. The station house and telegraph office remain today as a building of important historical significance in the town.

Binalong Railway station and telegraph office

History

Railway staff at Binalong station

A telegram slip from Binalong telegraph office from February 1901

The southern railway or as it was known at the time 'the great southern railway' was extended from Yass to Cootamundra from 1876 to 1877. The well known Amos Brothers had the contract for the extension works. The first train arrived in Binalong on Wednesday 2 November 1876 after the 14 mile stretch of track from Bowning was opened. The two engine train was carrying 20 carriages when it stopped at the contractor's camp just outside Bowning. Here Alexander Amos and his employees joined various dignitaries in a luncheon to celebrate this portion of track's completion. The train then moved on to Binalong where despite the importance of the event there was little recognition by the Binalong townsfolk. The day before, John Whitton, Engineer-in-Charge for the New South Wales Railways, inspected the track and was reportedly extremely pleased at the excellence of the work that was 'unsurpassed, if even equalled, by any other portion of the existing railways'.^[1]

Station fire

On Sunday 22 April 1883, the original wooden station house was destroyed by fire.^[2][3] A coroner's inquest failed to find a cause of the fire despite hearing evidence from many witnesses. Special praise was given to the young fettler, William Nettleton who bravely risked injury to save three chairs.^[4][5] Just over a month later Binalong was celebrating the completion of the brickwork of the new sturdier station. George Reynolds, the bricklayer, was toasted by the attendees for his work. The celebratory atmosphere also saw toasts to the Queen, the district engineer, the inspector, the carpenters, the Press and the station master and his wife; Mr and Mrs Rae.^[6]

Binalong train collision

At 4:20am on Saturday 17 April 1915 the limited express train from Melbourne collided head on with the Temora mail train which was standing on the platform. 30 Passengers were injured. One passenger, Robert Thomas, was taken to Yass Hospital and later died.^[7] A coroner's inquest heard that the night officer, 27-year-old John Sylvester Cotter, when hearing the approaching express train inadvertently lowered the signals for the wrong line, sending the express train straight into the train standing at the station instead of bypassing it on the loop. With Cotter freely admitting his mistake, the coroner's inquest found him guilty of manslaughter.^[8] He was sent to stand trial at the criminal court in Sydney, where he was found not guilty.^[9] The express from Melbourne driver, Henry Byrnes, was rewarded for his quick reaction to the impending collision by applying the brakes early. The coroner said that if any man deserved the Victoria Cross it was driver Byrnes.^[10] The driver of the Temora mail train, Alfred Spike, was also commended for managing to get his train moving in reverse and thus considerably reducing the force of the impact.^[11] Eva Rebecca Thomas, the widow of the one fatality of the incident, took the chief of the railways to court claiming £2000 in compensation. The railways admitted negligence and £1425 was awarded to be shared by his widow and eight children.^[12]

After decommission

Binalong station after decommission

With the advent of faster diesel engines, two lines were needed and straighter track. This required a new alignment and necessitated a new station. The Binalong railway station and telegraph office was decommissioned on 22 December 1915. Since then it has been in use as a private residence and for agricultural uses. A previous owner was James Doran who was a well known race horse trainer. Doran's horse 'The green isle' held the one mile record at Victoria Park.^[13] In the 1980s a previous owner acquired the brake van of the Southern Highlands Express, which is still on site today.^[14] Since the late 1970s it has had 3 different private owners who have each had a keen interest in preserving the historical aspect of the building.

References