While a new generation of trains will roll into the Shoalhaven region soon, there’ll always be a special place in everyone’s hearts for the rail system of yesteryear.
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The Nowra/Bomaderry Railway was officially opened on June 2, 1883, with the line running from Kiama opened on June 1.
The construction of the railway was due to a committee set up in the early 1870s, made up of citizens who urged the government to establish a railway between Sydney and the Illawarra area.
The work to Wollongong was finished by early 1875 and continued on as far as Kiama by mid 1876.
In 1890 the Public Works Committee Act stated that it was not proposed to extend the railway line into Nowra, but to stop on the northern side of the river.
The design for the railway bridge across the Shoalhaven River was then estimated at $200,000 and its railway terminus would have located about three kilometres out of the Nowra township.
Concern was expressed that a township would develop around the railway, at the expense of the Nowra township.
In 1883 after much dispute, Parliament allocated $1,608,000 for the extension of the line from Kiama to Nowra and eventually, Jervis Bay. The extension from Bomaderry to Jervis Bay anticipated support was not sufficient to make the extension viable.
Because of these reasons, the railway line ended at Bomaderry and work began on improving the appearance of the station. A rest house was built on January 31,1925.
The railway between Sydney and Nowra has come a long way since the early days of hot, slow and uncomfortable conditions.
Adjustments were being made on the line as early as the 1930s, only 25 years after its opening.
At that stage the journey was quickened and made more attractive with the introduction of the Daylight Express.
Further comfort was obtained after World War 2 with the introduction of steel corridor carriages.
Passenger comfort was imprevide by 1949 when a steam hauled, air conditioned train was placed on a daily run.
In 1960 an all diesel, air conditioned train replaced the 1949 model.
On August 14 this year, Member for the South Coast Gareth Ward announced a new fleet will replace the existing XPTs, Xplorers and Endeavours operating on the NSW TrainLink network.
The new trains are set to be more comfortable and more accessible. They will be operated by NSW TrainLink, the NSW Government owned regional rail and coach service provider.
Information provided courtesy of Shoalhaven Historical Society.
