Rocky Bay Staff Shed
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Rocky Bay Staff Shed
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This small timber and corrugated iron shed was the train staff "cabin" for the Rocky Bay branch line, in North Fremantle. It was located adjacent to the branch track between the branch's connection with the main line and where the branch crossed Stirling Highway. The shed was located quite close to the highway crossing. The crossing comprised several tracks - the branch itself, and a couple of sidings leading into the "Dingo" flour mill.
The Rocky Bay Branch served a number of major industries along the north bank of the Swan River. These included the State Engineering Works, CSR sugar refiner, a couple of oil depots, and the Dingo flour mill. The Rocky Bay Branch was built early in the states rail history, as it was used to transport stone from quarries on the branch for the construction of the breakwaters at Fremantle harbour in the 1890's. the line was closed beyond Dingo flour about 1979. As the name suggests, the staff shed was used to house the safeworking equipment for the branch - most likely a staff and ticket box, and the associated staff. Similar Staff Sheds were used elsewhere on the system, where a branch line diverges from a "main" line with no station or signal box in the vicinity. There was at least one other until recently in Kewdale, at the start of the branch to Welshpool.
When the building became available, it was dismantled by BBR members and re-erected at Mussel Pool being originally located on the loop running line almost opposite the middle of the platform. It was later relocated to its current position on the head shunt at Parkers siding when construction of the siding commenced in 1995
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Bennett Brook Railway Webmaster N. Blinco
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