Upon arriving in Northcliffe, the train is stored in the loop, W 913 is seen here below travelling backwards on the 'main' line at the north end of the Yard, before moving into the loop to pick up the guards van off the back of the train. W913 and the Z van then reverse back out onto the mainline and then push the Z van south down the yard into a "Dead End" provided for the van.  Our locomotive then reverses back down the mainline,  then forward onto the loop and then the triangle for turning. Once turned, W913  now heads north through the yard on the mainline and then reverses back onto the rear of the empty wagons and then propels them down the short section to the Bunnings Northcliffe Sawmill.

Provided here is a basic drawing showing the layout of Northcliffe yard. Also provided is a thumbnail of the WAGR drawing for Northcliffe yard.

Thumbnail Drawing 408kb

Arrival at the sawmill sidings saw the empty wagons stowed on the left road outside the sawmill on the large embankment there.  W 913 is then cut off, moved clear of the points and proceeds down into the sawmill to collect loaded wagons from either of two loading sidings within the sawmill.

 After departure of the WAGR train the empty wagons would then be rolled by gravity into the sawmill loading sidings as required via a couple of crossovers which were forbidden to be used by locomotives.

Often there would be a need to take two bites of the load - consisting of about 6 bogie wagons of timber each trip to enable return to Northcliffe Yard up the very steep grade from the sawmill. Turning of the Locomotive before heading down to the sawmill enabled use of sanding gear in wet, slippery conditions.

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

PTCo gratefully acknowledges this contribution. Thanks Pat.

Click here for Page 4 of W913 to Northcliffe

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