SAR Port Augusta-Hawker

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The route taken by the line in its southern section had more to do with politics than it did to economic sense. Its route from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Quorn''' took it through the '''Flinders Ranges''' via the '''Pichi Richi Pass''' which required steep grades and tight curves. The route of the northern section was largely dictated by the availability of reliable water sources. The economics of the line was so poor that in the early 1900s it was frequently considered for closure.<br>
 
The route taken by the line in its southern section had more to do with politics than it did to economic sense. Its route from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Quorn''' took it through the '''Flinders Ranges''' via the '''Pichi Richi Pass''' which required steep grades and tight curves. The route of the northern section was largely dictated by the availability of reliable water sources. The economics of the line was so poor that in the early 1900s it was frequently considered for closure.<br>
  
In the 1950s a new standard gauge (4' 8.5", 1435mm) line was built from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Maree''' which bypassed the '''Flinders Ranges''' and '''Quorn'''. Passengers and freight to '''Oodnadatta''' and '''Alice Springs''' changed trains from standard gauge to narrow gauge at '''Maree'''. In 1956 the sections of the line from '''Hawker''' to '''Maree''' and from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Quorn''' were closed leaving the section from '''Quorn''' to '''Hawker''' (the <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700; font-size: 15px;">&nbsp;Hawker&nbsp;Line&nbsp;</span>) still operating. Ocassional excursion trains from '''Peterborough''' continued to use the line from '''Quorn''' to '''Summit''' in the 1960s. <br>
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In the 1950s a new standard gauge (4' 8.5", 1435mm) line was built from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Maree''' which bypassed the '''Flinders Ranges''' and '''Quorn'''. Passengers and freight to '''Oodnadatta''' and '''Alice Springs''' changed trains from standard gauge to narrow gauge at '''Maree'''. In 1956 the sections of the line from '''Hawker''' to '''Maree''' and from '''Port Augusta''' to '''Quorn''' were closed leaving the section from '''Quorn''' to '''Hawker''' (the <span style="color: white; background-color: black; font-weight: 700;">&nbsp;Hawker&nbsp;Line&nbsp;</span>) still operating. Ocassional excursion trains from '''Peterborough''' continued to use the line from '''Quorn''' to '''Summit''' in the 1960s. <br>
  
 
The '''Hawker Line''' continued to be operated by the '''Commonwealth Railways''' using '''SAR''' locomotives and a mixture of '''CR''' and '''SAR''' rolling stock to run a single return freight service each week. There were no passenger services. This line was closed in 1972.<br>
 
The '''Hawker Line''' continued to be operated by the '''Commonwealth Railways''' using '''SAR''' locomotives and a mixture of '''CR''' and '''SAR''' rolling stock to run a single return freight service each week. There were no passenger services. This line was closed in 1972.<br>

Revision as of 20:00, 1 December 2021

Hawker Line Location Index Scenarios]
Woolshed Flat - Hawker Section
Woolshed Flat
WaterLoopWYE
Summit
 

Quorn

Junction for Peterborough Line

CoalWaterShedTurntableLoopPassengersOils_FuelsGoodsGrain
Willochra
LoopLivestock
Gordon
LoopLivestock
Wilson
LoopLivestock
Hawker

Terminus

CoalWaterShedTurntableLoopLivestock

Symbols:
Coal Loco Coal Stage Fuel Bunker C Oil Fuel Point
Passengers Passenger Stop (Active) Passengers Passenger Stop (not Active)
Turntable Loco Turntable Shed Loco Shed
Water Loco Water Tank Wool Wool Bales
Goods Goods Facility Grain Grain Storage or Processing
Oils_Fuels Oil and Fuel Terminal Stockyard Stockyard
Loop Passing Loop WYE Turning Triangle or WYE

Line History:

Opened:  1879-1891
Length:  81km (Woolshed Flat to Hawker section)

Closed (in sections):  1956, 1972
Reopened (in sections):  Port Augusta to Quorn 1974-2001 as a Heritage Railway

Built as a narrow gauge (3' 6" - 1067mm) line from Port Augusta to Oodnadatta. It reached Quorn (39km, 24mi) in 1879, Maree (372km, 231mi) in 1883 and Oodnadatta (770km, 478mi) in 1891. Originally known as the  Northern Line , it was transferred from the SAR to the Commonwealth Railways in the early 1920s. In 1926-29 it was extended to Alice Springs (1241km, 771mi) near the centre of the continent and then became known as the  Central Australia Line .

Despite crossing some of the driest parts of the continent the line was often damaged by severe flooding. There were ocassions where trains and passengers were stranded for days by flood waters and track washouts.

The route taken by the line in its southern section had more to do with politics than it did to economic sense. Its route from Port Augusta to Quorn took it through the Flinders Ranges via the Pichi Richi Pass which required steep grades and tight curves. The route of the northern section was largely dictated by the availability of reliable water sources. The economics of the line was so poor that in the early 1900s it was frequently considered for closure.

In the 1950s a new standard gauge (4' 8.5", 1435mm) line was built from Port Augusta to Maree which bypassed the Flinders Ranges and Quorn. Passengers and freight to Oodnadatta and Alice Springs changed trains from standard gauge to narrow gauge at Maree. In 1956 the sections of the line from Hawker to Maree and from Port Augusta to Quorn were closed leaving the section from Quorn to Hawker (the  Hawker Line ) still operating. Ocassional excursion trains from Peterborough continued to use the line from Quorn to Summit in the 1960s.

The Hawker Line continued to be operated by the Commonwealth Railways using SAR locomotives and a mixture of CR and SAR rolling stock to run a single return freight service each week. There were no passenger services. This line was closed in 1972.

The Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1972 and was operating steam and heritage diesel trains from Quorn to Summit by 1974, and then onto Woolshed Flat by 1979.

The line from Peterborough to Quorn was closed in 1987.

By 2001 the Pichi Richi Railway had restored the entire narrow gauge line from Quorn to Port Augusta. They now operate regular steam and diesel hauled passenger services between Quorn and Woolshed Flat and between Port Augusta and Quorn.

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