Mixed Gauge Xing

Mixed Gauge Xing

Mixed Gauge Diamond Crossing 2ft & 3ft 6inch gauge tracks

On the 7th of November 1933, The Great Boulder Mine Pty Ltd, mixed gauge tramway crossing was installed at location 378M 72C 25 Links from Perth on the Boulder mine shunt to enable crossing of the WAGR line.

Here below is the relevant extract from the 1933 WAGR weekly notice.

Signals were situated 100yards on each side of the tramway crossing applied to the WAGR line in conjunction with catchpoints on the Great Boulder Tramway. These were operated by a small lever frame situated adjacent to the crossing. The line was normally set for the passage of the Company's locomotives and the number 3 lever was pulled over and locked by a standard padlock. Point indicators were provided on the catchpoints on the Great Boulder Tramway.

Mixed Xing Fimiston 81.jpg (125462 bytes)

The mixed crossing at Fimiston 19/09/1981 - Photo by D. Whiteford

Before any WAGR train was permitted to use the crossing, the procedure was to stop at the stop signal provided and the shunter then restored the number 3 lever and clear the signal required. After passage of the train, the route was re-set for tramway operation .

In 1938 this Krauss 0-6-0, Great Boulder Mines No3 (left) could be found operating over the mixed gauge crossing.

The Orenstein & Koppel Mallet (right) also operated over this section of track till its retirement in 1962.

Mixed Gauge Crossing

The Mixed Gauge Diamond Crossing was rediscovered by WALRPA members in September 1981 and was relocated to Whiteman Park in December 1988 for eventual display on the Bennett Brook Railway.

The catch points which protected the diamond on the 2ft gauge section also exist and are in use to this day in the form of the point blade and stock rail assemblies used to build the turnout to access the turntable off 4 road at Whiteman Village Junction.

As yet there is currently no intended use for this unique piece of track equipment on the BBR other than to preserve it.

Catchpoints blades in use at WVJ

Thanks to L. Watson and D. Whiteford for their assistance in compiling this page

Webmaster N. Blinco