Log Cabin railway station

Log Cabin railway station was a railway station located on the Main Western line, serving the adjacent Log Cabin Hotel in Penrith, New South Wales. The station was served by special passenger services for only a decade, opening in 1940 and closing in 1950.

Log Cabin
General information
LocationGreat Western Highway, Penrith, New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates33°44′48″S 150°40′59″E / 33.7466°S 150.6831°E / -33.7466; 150.6831 (Log Cabin railway station (closed))
Operated byDepartment of Railways
Line(s)Main Western
Distance56.327 kilometres (35.000 mi) from Central
Platforms2 (2 side)
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeGround
Other information
StatusDemolished
History
Opened6 July 1940
ClosedSeptember 1950
ElectrifiedNo
Services
Preceding station Former services Following station
Emu Plains
towards Bourke
Main Western Line Penrith
towards Sydney

History

edit

A station on the western bank of the Nepean River was originally proposed by the Department of Railways in 1937,[1] however none was ever built. In May 1940, a private proposal for a station on the immediate eastern bank was approved, allowing the public and patrons of the Log Cabin Hotel located opposite the railway, easier access from the city. Log Cabin station was opened on 6 July 1940, close to the site where the first successful crossing of the Blue Mountains began.[2][3]

The opening of the station was celebrated with a local gala day and night. Events such as a tennis exhibition, a dog show by the Sydney Canine Society, a barbeque, a rowing event and a cabaret show were all included in the gala.[3]

The station was mainly served by special services from Central. As well as this, clubs and parties to the Log Cabin Hotel were able to apply to the tourist bureau for extra services when necessary.[4]

A 1949 proposal by Penrith Council to rename the station Log Cabin, Nepean River was rejected by the Commissioner of Railways on the grounds that it would cause confusion due to the use of the name 'Nepean' elsewhere. The Council also proposed incorporating Log Cabin into the regular suburban network by extending weekend suburban services from Penrith to terminate at Log Cabin instead, which was also rejected due to the cost of building signal and yard facilities and upgrading existing station facilities.[5]

The station closed in September 1950 and was subsequently demolished, with no remains now extant.[2]

Description

edit

Log Cabin station consisted of two side platforms, located close to the Victoria Bridge and adjacent railway bridge crossing over the Nepean River. The platforms were around 12 metres long and 2.5 metres wide and were constructed at a low cost, out of steel frames from old rail with timber planks from old rail sleepers on top.[1] Although the station opened in July 1940, only one platform was operational at this time, with both constructed and open by the start of 1941.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Log Cabin Station, Australian Railway Historical Society. Accessed 30 September 2024
  2. ^ a b Log Cabin railway station NSWrail.net, accessed 30 September 2024
  3. ^ a b LOG CABIN STATION OPENED The Sun (Sydney, NSW: 1910-1954). Trove. National Library of Australia. 7 July 1940, p.10. accessed 30 September 2024
  4. ^ Log Cabin Station and River Bridge Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW: 1882-1962). Trove. National Library of Australia. 17 March 1949, p.7. accessed 30 September 2024