Guard - Dave Wheatley gives a "Steady" signal as Driver Pat Lyon is about to couple the first load of timber to the van.

On return to Northcliffe yard it was simply a matter of backing the loaded wagons including any other goods wagons from the yard, onto the guards van. 

Perhaps a bit of crib was then partaken of by the crew and then a departure for Pemberton was made

The Station at Northcliffe was just the square "Out of Shed" style, with gable roof, but it served the purpose well. Also provided was a small barracks style building for the crews. (Any Photo's showing the barracks building up close would be appreciated)

You will have noticed the single covered van behind the locomotive in earlier pictures. This contained produce for the general store which by the time the sawmill shunt had been carried out, the storekeeper - A Mr Richards, would have nearly emptied the van and the few remaining items would be put into the station, in order to return the empty truck to the city as they were in great demand during the fruit season. Other items often brought by the train into Northcliffe would be - Tractors, Water Tanks, Hay Bailers, Ploughs, Household furniture, Cattle & Sheep, Fuel, spare parts, building materials etc Virtually everything imaginable came or went by rail including the residents themselves.

W913 and new train of loaded sawn timber is ready to depart. The small building in view next to the locomotive is the Trainmen's Barracks (used by the railway Bus Drivers) with the station a little further down and gangers houses in the distance. On the opposite side of Wheatley Coast road can be seen the thriving metropolis of Northcliffe including Pub, Bank, Butchers, Bakery and General Store,

All Photographs marked taken by George Baxter & Supplied by Patrick Lyon from his Collection. PTCo gratefully acknowledges this contribution. Thanks Pat.

Also thanks to Rudi Vanderputten for information regarding shunt procedures at Northcliffe Sawmill. Rudi worked in the sawmill for 11 years and often saw the WAGR trains bringing the empties to the mill and taking the empties away.

Any further information and photo's readers may have regarding services on the Pemberton Northcliffe section would be gratefully appreciated by the PTCo to further our recording of History

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