After crossing the Warren River we start the long 9km climb of a 1 in 60 grade to the top of the hill at our next possible stopping place of Yeagerup Siding. Here the main road from Pemberton to Northcliffe comes very close to the railway. Often on wet days where a heavy load was being hauled, it would be necessary to split the load half way up this grade and take the first section of the train to the top of the hill at Yeagerup, stow it in the siding and then return for the remainder of the train. Upon returning to Yeagerup siding the two sections would be rejoined and the journey could continue towards Northcliffe.

Driver Pat Lyon and Fireman Jac Rensen? pose for the camera en-route to Northcliffe.

After leaving Yeagerup Siding we start to once again head gently down grade. From here on the scenery starts to change a little as the soils we are travelling through are becoming sandier than the loamy soils of the Karri Forests. We move from Karri forests to Tea trees and small amounts of Jarrah and then back into Karri's. After travelling 7.5km we reach the Pemberton Northcliffe road crossing before coming to the bottom of the grade at the Dombakup creek bridge.

Driver Pat Lyon checks his gauges on W 913

We then gently climb a little before once again crossing the Pemby Northcliffe road and out onto the flats where we come into Dombakup Siding. From here it is another 4km's to Terry Siding.

This was the junction for the privately owned railway over to the Shannon River Sawmill. Another 2km's of travel sees us rolling into the sleepy little town of Northcliffe.

Terry Siding Information

Provided by Jac Rensen and Charlie Joss

WAGER Fireman Jac Rensen who was based at Pemberton for some time recalls that whilst enroute to Northcliffe, they would shunt empty wagons off the train at Terry's siding. Any goods / perishables etc for Shannon would be unloaded usually from a covered van, into the small building provided at Terry siding. The WAGER train would then depart for Northcliffe.

Whilst the WAGR train was in Northcliffe, the State Sawmills train from Shannon (hauled by a G class steam locomotive) would arrive with wagons loaded with sawn timber. These would be left in the siding at Terry and the empty wagons would be taken to Shannon after loading any goods or perishables from the building into an open wagon on the train. Jac also recalled that sometimes the SSM train would have already arrived at Terry and be waiting for the WAGR train to arrive.

After shunting duties were carried out in Northcliffe the WAGR. train would return to Terry Siding and collect the loaded wagons left by the SSM train before continuing back to Pemberton.

Charlie Joss – Assistant Station Master Pemberton. 1951-52 

Charlie indicated that his father worked in the Signalling Department Bunbury and recalls that he had accompanied his father to Terry siding on a very bleak, wet night (Date Unknown) to repair the interlock mechanism at the south end of the siding.

Terry's Siding was a staff locked siding at that time

Any further information regarding Terry Siding and the Shannon River Sawmill operation is eagerly sought by PTCo. Please email us if you can help pemtram@wn.com.au

All Photographs taken by George Baxter & Supplied by Patrick Lyon from his Collection.

PTCo gratefully acknowledges this contribution. Thanks Pat.

Click here for Page 3 of W913 to Northcliffe

Send mail to pemtram@wn.com.au  with any questions or comments.