Mount Barker
Station Frames
MOUNT BARKER | |
W. A. G. R. Great Southern Railway | |
1938 W. A. G. R. MAP Mileage = 302 | |
Location Map | |
Next Down Station: | Next Up Station: |
Narrikup | Carbarup |
Quick Facts | |
Opened | Closed |
? | ? |
Mechanical | Electrical |
Station Frame | Frames "A" and "B" |
Preservation Notes if applicable | |
The Mount Barker station shown on this page, is located on the former Great Southern Railway Co. line which opened in 1889. This town is situated between the stations of Cranbook (274 miles) and Elleker (331 miles) but other sidings were located between each of these stations. The opening of the railway had the effect of focusing the development of the town around this vital transport centre. The GSR Co. was sold to the WAGR in December 1896.
In 1897, the WAGR telephone system ringing code for Mount Barker, (which conformed to the Morse-like system using longs and shorts interleaved with pauses), was "B" or Long; Short; Short; Short. This was published on page 7 of Weekly Notice No. 4 of 1897.
In the early days, the land around Mount Barker was being used for mixed farming, but this gradually changed as more and more orchards were planted. The Mount Barker Fruit Growers Cool Storage Co-Operative was established in 1917, and they built their own packing shed near the railway the following year.
The Local Instructions published in the W. A. G. R.'s 1922 General Appendix gave some indication of the working of trains at the station:
GREAT SOUTHERN LINE.
This line is worked under the Electric Train Staff System.
Mount Barker.
As this station is approached by steep rising gradients on the Up and Down journey, Engine-drivers of mixed and goods trains must exercise extreme care when turning the grade, and thereby guard against overshooting the station.
When trains are stopped at this station for the purpose of detaching or attaching vehicles, the train must be properly secured before engine is detached. This must receive special attention.
To enable bank loads to be stowed in dead ends scotch blocks are provided on the siding.
Page 331, General Appendix to the Book of Rules and Regulations and to the Working Time Table. December 4, 1922.
The original timber-built railway station building was replaced by the station built in 1923, and it still stands today. At the time, it was regarded as a most imposing and up-to-date structure on the line. The bricks were produced at the nearby Kendenup Brickworks and the roof was clad with terracotta tiles. Included under this roof was a Refreshment Room which was used by railway passengers and local people alike.
Fruit production declined during the 1960s and this caused the packing shed to close in 1975. All was not lost for Mount Barker though, as the area has become a prolific wine producing region, now known as the Plantagenet District.
In an announcement by the Deputy Chief Traffic Manager published on page 379 of Weekly Notice 16 of 1962, notice was given that the Refreshment Room at Mount Barker station would cease to operate. No doubt this would disappoint many patrons, local and mobile alike.
Signalling
A sketch dated 17th of November, 1903 contained on page 465 in the McKenzie and Holland Signalling Contractors "Plans and Estimates Book" for the WAGR, the "Proposed Interlocking of Mount Barker Scheme No. 1" consisted merely of a set of ground frame levers (Bolt-Locked from the Station), one at each end of the station. Up and Down Home and Distant Signals were provided and Point Indicators were to be placed on the facing points on the main line only - four in total. The station throat points at each end of the station were 'mirror-images' of themselves, consisting of a set of scissors crossovers, with the inner points being a set of compound (double-slip) to enable shunting between the siding (on which was the Goods Shed was located) and the loop, without needing to obstruct the Main line traffic. Interestingly, on the next page (No. 466) of the same book, the "Proposed Interlocking of Mount Barker Scheme No. 2" was almost identical, but omitted the Home and Distant Signals and Bolt Lock Controls on the two ground frames.
On page 753 of Weekly Notice 33 of 1962, the Deputy Chief Traffic Manager announced the following alteration to signalling:
MT. BARKER. - On Wednesday, 29th August, 1962, No. 8 Up Home Signal will be moved from its present position on the right hand side of the line to a position exactly opposite on the left hand side of the line.On Wednesday, 30th January, 1963 a new 5-lever ground frame, named "Frame B", was brought into use at the South end of the yard. This required the repositioning of the Up Home and Distant signals further towards Albany. Other signalling alterations brought into use, were:
A new shunt signal (No. 2b) was added to the mast of the Up Home signal.Two new Down Starting Signals were provided (Nos. 3 b and 4 b) applying from the Loop and Main line respectively. Unlike, No. 3 b, Starting signal 4. 4 b could be worked by either the Station Frame or "Frame B".Flashing Light warning signals were brought into use at the Albany Highway level crossing at 302 miles 30 chains at the south end of the station.
Reference material:
Heritage Council website - Place No. 02318; Heritage Trail - Mount Barker - Settlement & Development of the Mount Barker District (August, 1999).
Rail Heritage Western Australia website - Photo Archive
WAGR Weekly Notices - Various, and as cited in the text above.
"Station Masters in Western Australia" by Jeff Austin, 2011.
State Records Office of Western Australia.
Other publications as cited in the text above.
Any additional information on this Station Frame would be most welcome - please use the e-mail form provided on this page.
Information researched and interpreted by Chris. J. E. French
This page designed and provided by Chris. J. E. French of SignallingWA
Photographs © by Chris. J. E. French and [] courtesy of RHWA Archives (image []) and Diagram of Signalling and Photograph © by W. A. G. R.
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Mount Barker Employees | ||
This list may not be complete and does not yet include employees who worked here without being appointed. Where an appointment date is unknown, the Weekly Notice (WN) date advising of the appointment or other official documentation, i.e. Certificate of Competency (CC) will be used. | ||
Name | Appointed | Position |
| ? | 01/06/1889 to c. 1894 | Station Master |
Ferry, W. S. | c. 1894 to July 1905 | Station Master |
| Livesey, A. | July 1905 to April 1914 | Station Master |
| Peters, E. C. | April 1914 to February 1918 | Station Master |
| Copley, E. | February 1918 to September 1919 | Station Master |
| Walker, P. A. | September 1919 to April 1921 | Station Master |
| Okely, W. J. | April 1921 to July 1927 | Station Master |
| Chester, S. G. | July 1927 to December 1928 | Station Master |
| Neve, G. C. | December 1928 to April 1939 | Station Master |
| Magee, B. J. | April 1939 to December 1944 | Station Master |
| Drawbridge, A. | December 1944 to April 1945 | Station Master |
| Hendy, W. | April 1945 to July 1946 | Station Master |
| Hull, J. | July 1946 to February 1952 | Station Master |
| Hambleton, J. | February 1952 to December 1957 | Station Master |
| Hunt, T. C. | December 1957 to April 1963 | Station Master |
| Velvelt, H. | 23/02/1962 - W. N. 10 / 1962 | Night Station Master |
| Williams, L. M. | April 1963 to May 1964 | Station Master |
| Manning, T. K. | 17/12/1963 - W. N. 51 / 1964 | Assistant Station Master (4) |
| Burnett, F. E. | 12/05/1964 - W. N. 19 / 1964 | Station Master (3) |
| O'Rourke, D. C. | 24/08/1966 - W. N. 35 / 1966 | Assistant Station Master (5) |
| Smith, H. T. | 06/09/1966 - W. N. 36 / 1966 | Guard |
| Herd, J. S. E. | 30/08/1966 - W. N. 39 / 1966 | Station Master (3) |
| Blake, R. J. | May 1968 to January 1969 | Station Master |
| Campbell, S. J. | January 1969 to November 1971 | Station Master |
| Norman, F. V. | November 1971 to February 1979 | Station Master |
| Webb, James Lloyd | 05/01/1972 - Certificate of Service | Junior Traffic Officer |
Webb, James Lloyd | 14/04/1975 - Certificate of Service | Night Station Master |
| Tarnowski, J. | February 1979 to January 1984 | Station Master |
| ? | January 1984 to 19 October 1984 | Station Relief Officer |
Is a name missing? Please submit any corrections / additions with suitable evidence using the e-mail form above. | ||