Wikipedia:WikiProject Western Australian Wheatbelt/Railways

 

Wiki Takes Western Australian Wheatbelt Railways 2013

Western Australian Wheatbelt Railways, a component project of the Western Australian Wheatbelt Project.

• Wheatbelt railway Project
• 
  Merredin yard, DAZ 1901 awaiting clearance to leave
• 
  Ardath station limits being entered from Merredin end of yard

November 2019

1st November 2019 CBH and Arc achieve an agreement after some years of arbitration (2013-2019): -

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/wa-grain-train-dispute-over-but-hopes-of-tier-3-reopening-derailed-20191104-p537bk.html?ref=rss :https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-04/cbh-and-arc-reach-deal-over-grain-rail-freight-access/11668354

https://www.afr.com/companies/agriculture/farmers-want-tougher-oversight-after-six-year-rail-war-20191104-p53774

https://www.farmweekly.com.au/story/6477046/cbh-arc-rail-deal-on-track/

https://www.world-grain.com/articles/12833-cbh-secures-western-australia-access-to-grain-rail-network

2019

wagons waiting to enter Avon Yard 2019

There are many changes in the region - the roadworks are unabated to increase the carrying capacity and replace the now unused rail branches

There are also changes in crops - the region can be as commonly called the Grain Belt as much as the wheatbelt.

Re-start of project - some issues to consider:

Tier 3 lines that have been inoperable since 2013 - either tabulating or separate articles

Lines that were closed prior to the tier 3 issues - identification of pre 2000s closed lines in wheatbelt region

Stations and railway property that lie within the wheatbelt region - wikidata and tabulation

Rolling stock and locomotives that would have been used in particular regions - long term checking of era of particular locos and rolling stock

PD and CC suitable material for commons of early operations - various collections the clearly and correctly identify CC, PD or otherwise

Spur Lines and light rail lines for seasonal working for wheat harvesting - potentially long term

Mapping of the lines on OSM and https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ - with help from map people

Mapping of specific railway yards and facilities no longer existing - with help

Bibliography of Trove referencing to specific topics and subjects - Moore G. A; University of Western Australia. Dept. of Physiology (1978), Spatial adjustment within the Western Australian Wheatbelt Railway Network, 1900 - 1975, retrieved 24 February 2019 - usage of wp:rs as first call

Acknowledgement of resources and collections that provide researchers with public access to materials

- as opposed to licensing and rights bottlenecks

Seeking interested groups or individuals able to provide collaboration and resources to enhance the project

- potential talks at groups

Identification of the lines and the extent of current workings by watco and arc infrastructure for current grain transport:

http://www.arcinfra.com/Rail-Network/Network-Specifications

http://www.arcinfra.com/Rail-Network/Rail-Map/WheatBelt

http://www.arcinfra.com/Rail-Network/Rail-Map/Great-Southern

encouragement of editors to be involved in the project - in whatever way possible

Establshed re-launch in February 2019 - at [1]

Map of region and the railway in the 1930s

map of Western Australian Wheatbelt Railway system in 1930s

Project commencement

Wikimedia Australia and others as supporters of the larger 'Western Australian Wheatbelt Project' are pleased to note that a component project - Wiki Takes Western Australian Wheatbelt Railways 2013 commenced on the 25th of September 2013 in the accompanying of the last Aurizon grain carriage train travelling between Merredin and Avon yard, via Narrogin.

The Wiki Takes the Wheatbelt Railways is related to all current operating, and also long ceased operating railway lines in the Wheatbelt region, and beyond. It will takeplace over a number of months, where 'takes' journeys will be made along railway lines currently operating, as well as some due to be closed by the operators in October 2013. It is expected this 'takes' will be a series of events that will be advertised here.

As a consequence it is an opposite to the majority of 'takes' events, in that it will take place over a wide range of locations, over time, in Western Australia.

Project Aim

• To increase coverage on Wikipedia, and sister projects of articles and media related to the sections of railways that have served wheat and grain haulage in Western Australia, currently and historically

Project Scope

• Due to the range of historical issues related to rail services in the wheatbelt, some spinoff articles and subjects related to agriculture, and local communities will be included or connected.

• Depending upon response, some activites related to this project may be held in wheatbelt communities after harvesting time.

Completed Events

First

• 25th September 2013 - Wikipedian and enthusiasts following and accompanying Aurizon locomotive (with older ARG colours and brand) and train from Merredin to Narrogin (enthusiasts continued to Avon yard which was the destination of the train)

• Departure one - Merredin
• 
  Leaving Merredin, crossing Great Eastern Highway
• 
  Crossed the highway, and on to the south to Ardath

It is possible this was the last, or second last train to travel the length of this line before an announced closure in October 2013.

• Departure two - Narrogin
• 
  Moving into the former Narrogin yard area, old Railway Station building in right of photo
• 
  Leaving the yard and on to Avon yard

Narrogin is a former extensive railway junction and depot, it is still viable and is an essential location in the current network, so it is the rolling stock on this train, and the line it just passed through between Merredin and here that is likely to become redundant.

Second

• 9th October 2013 - Quairading railway line brief reconnaisance by wikipedians.

• Quairading line
• 
  York bridge and silo
• 
  Quairading shed and yard

subsequent events

• 2014 - 2018 - on hold
• February 2019 - re-started

note

Dates of photos might not correlate to specific events, but might also included photos added in name of the project that are taken at other times or out of sequence.

News of interest related to project

• Brookfield rail announce closure of the York to Quairading and the Trayning to Merredin railway lines at end of October 2013

Planned events

• Toodyay Show - Wikipedia presence at....Wikipedia:Wikipedia Takes Toodyay Show

2019

• 2019 - re-launch of project

locations of interest

Beginnings

The first five sidings for receiving wheat in bulk on the Western Australian Government Railways in 1931/1932 were:

• Benjaberring
• Korrelocking
• Nembudding
• Trayning
• Yelbeni

Yards

• Avon yard

• Merredin yard

Receival points

• Northam to Merredin line CBH receival points
• Tier 3 railway line CBH receival points

Closed lines

• Merredin to Narrogin via Narambeen
• Brookton to Corrigin

Lines due to be closed

• York to Quairading line
• Trayning to Merredin line

Wheat growing areas, harvesting, and transport

• Whole wheatbelt region

Participants in project

Please join if you have any interest in any aspect of the project, or even of aspects the Western Australian wheatbelt region: -

• JarrahTree
• Evad37
• Gnangarra
• Bahnfrend

Contact

Any queries online or offline to the convenor User:JarrahTree

See also

Media related to Wiki Takes Western Australian Wheatbelt Railways 2013 at Wikimedia Commons

For partial background on some of the issues related to the project scope and stretch: -

• Wheatbelt railway lines of Western_Australia

earlier wikipedian adventures in the wheatbelt

• Northam area, 2008
• 
  fields east of Northam, Western Australia
• 
  fields east of Northam, Western Australia

no diurnal variation

• Merredin CBH silos
• 
  evening loading
• 
  at sunrise