Cooma Monaro Railway

The Cooma Monaro Railway is a not-for-profit heritage railway museum that is actively restoring the Cooma Railway Precinct while working on the restoration of tourist trains along the section of track on the Bombala line between Cooma and the terminus at Bombala in New South Wales, Australia.[1] The CMR operates a museum inside Cooma Railway Station called the "Travel for Pleasure" exhibit, showcasing the history and significance of the Bombala Line's previous operations.[2] The museum also showcases a vast array of rolling stock and other former rail assets. CMR are also undertaking multiple restoration efforts, in order to increase revenue and allow the reinstatement of tourist CPH services from Cooma Station to Snowy Junction. The restoration efforts include;[3]

  • Restoration of track within the yard at Cooma along with the section north to Snowy Junction
  • Restoration and repairing of signal and interlocking systems within Cooma yard.
  • Track Machining restoration, including repairs to frames, rebuilding drivetrains and repainting.
  • Restoration of the Snowy Junction Precinct, including trackwork, platform restoration, fencing and landscaping.
  • Restoration of the Cooma Railway Institute Building and original ‘Ant Hill’ surface Tennis Courts
  • General maintenance around the museum, including landscaping, additions to museum and improved visitor access like new pathways and pedestrian rail crossings.

Cooma Monaro Railway
CPH6 at Chakola station in March 2012
Coordinates36°14′11″S 149°08′07″E
Commercial operations
NameBombala line
Built byNSWGR
Original gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Stations3
Length17.5 km (10.9 mi)
Commercial history
Opened1889
Closed1989
Preservation history
1992started
HeadquartersCooma
Website
Cooma Monaro Railway

CMR run a monthly fresh produce market on the second Sunday of the month at Cooma Railway Station.[4]

History

Regular services on the Bombala line ceased south of Queanbeyan with the withdrawal of the Canberra Monaro Express in September 1988.[5] Following a bridge carrying the line over the Numeralla River at Chakola being declared unsafe, freight services south of Queanbeyan ceased in May 1989.[6] However a steam special did operate through to Cooma a few weeks later, albeit without passengers over the bridge in question.[7]

In 1992, the Cooma Monaro Railway was formed with the aim of establishing a tourist railway. It set about negotiating a lease on the Bombala line from Cooma to Chakola with the State Rail Authority. In 1994, it purchased three CPH railmotors 6, 8 and 22 and accompanying trailer CTC55 from the Mountain High Railway, Tumut, and restoration at the former locomotive shed at Cooma commenced. After the line and railmotors were refurbished, operations commenced on 5 December 1998.[8][9][10]

Trains ceased operating in January 2014, with major repairs required to the line.[11][12][13] In January 2015, 620/720 class railcars 625/725 and 631/731 were purchased from RailCorp. FP Paybus FP11 is also in the collection.[14]

In December 2022, the museum officially reopened, showcasing a "Travel for Pleasure" exhibit, [15] showcasing the past history of the line.

In April 2023, Steam Locomotive 3203 was delivered to Cooma Monaro Railway, after restoration works by Transport Heritage NSW were completed in Broadmeadow. [16][17][18] The locomotive was road-hauled, with the first section of locomotive arriving on the 10/05/2023, the tender was delivered a day later on the 11/05/2023.

Rolling Stock

Trains

Steam Locomotive 3203 (ex NSWGR)[16] - Static Display, restored.

CPH Railmotor No.6 - In Storage, awaiting restoration.

CPH Railmotor No.8 - In Storage, awaiting restoration.

CPH Railmotor No.22 - Under restoration, operational.[19][20]

CTC Railmotor No .55 - In Storage, awaiting restoration.

Trailers

S-Truck Wagons - Static Display [21]

L-Truck Wagons - Static Display[22]

MBC22959, timber bodied refrigerated bogie box van (ex NSWGR)[22][23] - Static Display, restored.

MB 22493, Steel Framed MB Timber Box Van (ex NSWGR)[24] - Static Display, under restoration.

PV 22318 Powder Van (ex NSWGR)[23] - Static Display, restored.

L759 four-wheel riveted oil tanker (ex NSWGR) - Static Display, planned for restoration.[3]

40ft Bogie Flat Wagon - To be used for Track Maintenance, under restoration.[25]

MHG Guards Van - To be used for Track Maintenance, under restoration.[25]

References
  1. Master, Station. "CMR Home". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. Master, Station. "Museum". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  3. Master, Station. "Projects". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  4. "Cooma Monaro Railway – NSW's Alpine Heritage Railway Museum". Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. "Cooma" Railway Digest February 1989 page 55
  6. "Last Cooma Freight" Railway Digest July 1989 page 237
  7. "High Drama or Farce and Tragedy" Railway Digest August 1989 page 261
  8. History Archived January 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Cooma Monaro Railway
  9. "Rail Returns to Snowy Mountains" Railway Digest January 1999 page 42
  10. "Cooma News" Railway Digest July 1999 page 44
  11. Cooma Monaro Railway closed and in need of community muscle ABC Local Radio 12 February 2014
  12. Railway stopped Cooma Monaro Express 13 February 2014
  13. Efforts to get the Cooma Railway back on track Archived 24 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine Canberra Times 3 January 2015
  14. Rolling Stock Archived 2007-04-08 at the Wayback Machine Cooma Monaro Railway
  15. Master, Station. "And just like that....We're open!". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  16. Master, Station. "Steam locomotive 3203 coming to Cooma". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  17. Master, Station. "3203 (Part 1) Has Landed". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  18. Master, Station. "3203 is back together". Cooma Monaro Railway. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  19. "Cooma Monaro Railway Inc. - Railmotor No. 22 | Facebook | By Cooma Monaro Railway Inc. | THE RUMBLE OF DIESEL | CPH Railmotor No.22 While in desperate need of a wash (thanks to our resident pigeons in the loco shed) work is underway on the..." www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  20. CMR CPH No. 22 Running, archived from the original on 13 May 2023, retrieved 13 May 2023
  21. Master, Station. "New Arrivals | 🚃 S-Trucks 🚃". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  22. Master, Station. "NEW ARRIVALS | MBC Refrigeration Van & L-Truck". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  23. Master, Station. "New Rolling Stock Restoration Projects". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  24. Master, Station. "New Arrivals | MB Timber Box Van". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  25. Master, Station. "New Arrivals". Cooma Monaro Railway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
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