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Saddleworth railway station was located on the Roseworthy-Peterborough railway line. It served the town of Saddleworth, South Australia.

History

Opening

The first stage of the broad gauge Burra line from a junction at Roseworthy to Forresters (now Tarlee) opened on 3 July 1869. It extended to Manoora on 21 February 1870, Burra on 29 August 1870, Hallett on 10 March 1878 and Terowie on 14 December 1880. Terowie was a break of gauge station with the line continuing north to Peterborough as a narrow gauge line, opening on 11 May 1881. The current Saddleworth railway station was built in 1897–98. It was identical to other stations along the line like Merildin, consisting of a station building and a hammered veranda edgingIt also consisted of a railway siding and a station master's garden.

Closure and demolition

In 1978, the station and all associated infrastructure was included in the transfer of South Australian Railways to Australian National. The station closed for regular passenger use on 13 December 1986, but some special train tours used the station afterwards. The last passenger train, a SteamRanger tour hauled by former SAR steam locomotive 621 and recently acquired diesel locomotive 958 used the station on 19 September 1992. In 1997, the station and railway line were included in the transfer of Australian National's South Australian freight assets to Australian Southern Railroad (later known as One Rail Australia.) Grain trains last used the silos at Saddleworth in October 2005. The station remnants and railway line were included in Aurizon's purchase of One Rail Australia in 2022. The station has since been demolished.

Proposed connections

A railway from Clare to Saddleworth was proposed in 1875 but it was rejected for various reasons. Another railway was proposed to branch off from the Morgan line at Kapunda but it was also rejected.

References

1. "Roseworthy and Forresters Railway". South Australian Chronicle and Weekly Mail. Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 10 July 1869. p. 12. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
2. "Opening of the Northern Extension Railway". South Australian Register. Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 30 August 1870. p. 5. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
3. "Opening of the Hallett and Terowie Railway". Evening Journal. Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 15 December 1880. p. 3 Edition: 2nd. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
4. Quinlan, Howard; Newland, John (2000). Australian Railway Routes 1854 – 2000. Redfern: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 55, 56, 58. ISBN 0-909650-49-7.
5. HERITAGE OF EIGHT LOWER NORTH TOWNS 2. 7 5 A D D L E W 0 R T H
6. Saddleworth Railway Station in South Australia.
7. Railway Stations in the Mid North of South Australia
8. Merildin Railway Station South Australia
9. Saddleworth railway station and its garden
10. Aurizon closes acquisition of One Rail Australia for $1.75bn
11. Now later in 2011 the Saddleworth station has long been demolished
12. THE CLARE AND SADDLEWORTH RAILWAY 14 August 1875
13. RAILWAY FROM KAPUNDA TO SADDLEWORTH 29 July 1882

• Disused railway stations in South Australia
• Railway stations in Australia opened in 1898
• Railway stations in Australia closed in 1986