Railways and Tramways of Australia

Power on in Newcastle

 

Electric train services to Newcastle were inaugurated on 3 June 1984.

 

Completion of electrifying the railway between Sydney and Newcastle took a long time to achieve. Electrification opened from Hornsby to Cowan in 1958, to Hawkesbury River in 1959 and Gosford in 1960. After a long hiatus, a commitment was made in 1978 to complete electrification through to Newcastle, and the first stage to Wyong was opened in 1982.

 

Work associated with the electrification project included erection of masts and overhead catenary, construction of substations and section huts, track upgrading, modification of bridges, installation of new signals, station improvements, and new and extended commuter car parks. Between Cardiff and Kotara a second Tickhole Tunnel for Up trains was built because the original tunnel was too small for the larger electric trains. Testing and driver training took place before the official opening.

 

On the day before the opening, electric locomotive 8620 operated an enthusiasts’ special from Sydney to Broadmeadow and return, while steam locomotive 3642 hauled another special train.

 

For the opening, an official train departed from Sydney at 12.10 pm and arrived in Newcastle at 2.45 pm, where it broke through a banner across the tracks. It was followed closely by a second train conveying invited guests and members of enthusiast societies. An opening ceremony followed, and Premier Neville Wran unveiled a plaque commemorating the event.

 

Regular services commenced on 4 June. Travel times were reduced and service frequencies were increased. The need for passengers to change trains at Gosford was eliminated.

 

Newcastle station was closed in 2014 and the line truncated. A light rail service now operates from Newcastle Interchange station at Wickham to Newcastle and Newcastle Beach.

 

Electric power still takes passengers by train then light rail to Newcastle.

 

Bibliography

R Henderson & D Budd, ‘Newcastle railway electrification opens’, Electric Traction, vol. 39, no. 8, August 1984, pp 130–41.

J Hoyle, ‘The official opening of Newcastle rail electrification’, Railway Digest, vol. 22, no. 7, July 1984, pp 218–21.

‘It’s go! Newcastle electrified’, State Wide, vol. 3, no. 3, June/July 1984, p 1.

‘Newcastle plugs in’, Network, September-October-November 1984, vol. 21, no. 3, pp 31–4.