Hey all! Lots of things to say. - First of all, let me clarify that Geoff Marshall is an absolute legend. As I said in my Q&A video, he truly paved the way for transit-exploring CZcamsrs. Just thought I’d poke some fun at him in this video LOL, given that this video is so clearly inspired by his infamous “Secrets of the Underground” series. - Anyways. This video has taken me a LONG time to make, simply because it’s my longest video to date. I was considering splitting it into two, but I realised most people who watched Part 1 would probably just forget to watch Part 2, so I figured I’d just upload it all as one and let you all decide whether or not to watch the whole thing haha. Let me know if you enjoy this “Explore” style of video. I know I enjoyed making it! - There’s a few camera hiccups in the video unfortunately, where the camera appears to “stutter” on a frame for some reason. Not entirely sure why this happened, but I think it’s a problem with my phone camera. Hopefully it will be fixed for my next video! - Yes, I know I skipped Marayong and Quakers Hill, even though those are on the Richmond Line. I didn’t have too much time the day I filmed this so I didn’t visit them. Maybe I’ll visit those in a future video. - Did you notice my last three videos have all been in the format “The R******** Line”? (Ropes Creek Line, Red Rooster Line, Richmond Line) I don’t know how that happened haha. Pure coincidence that I noticed only yesterday! - Anyways, I’ll probably have to take a break for a few weeks after this video unfortunately. I have uni exams again at the start of November. Rest assured, I will be working on the new video in breaks between uni study, so that I can have the video filmed and finished as soon as possible after my exams! We shall enter a glorious period between the start of November and the end of January where I should be able to upload even more frequently than I do already! Enjoy your week everyone :))
@@abcdefgh1 interesting... Anyone suggested this video from watching other rail content has definitely come across Geoff Marshall - he is the YTr of English rail
@@abcdefgh1 others may have wider interests. E,g., speculating when any Australian train might go as fast as some Indian trains czcams.com/video/l2HFpWyFpuI/video.html
Old Schofield station will always be close to my heart as it was my dad's hometown that I used to visit every second weekend and I also lived there until I was 3. So many great memories of that station and level crossing that I will never forget. Sadly he died of cancer in 2020 so I wont be going to Schofields anymore but my grandparents (His mum & dad) lives at Riverstone so I will still be going there from time to time. Great vid on my main Sydney line mate :D
It's insane just how much history there is to the Richmond line, being rebuilt and duplicated again and again, with spots even still almost unchanged since it's opening. One could say it's the only one of Sydney's "rural" branches left, with the others being the Camden and Rogan's Hill branches. I would kill to see those massive timber bridges survive till today, but knowing the area it's astonishing the whole region is still inhabited lol Fantastic video as always!
@@hartleymartin The extension to Kurrajong was made in hopes of making a second main line across the Blue Mountains through Bilpin, however it never made it past there.
Ah, the line of my childhood! Fun thing about being from Richmond; you soon learn to tell people that you're from "far western Sydney" because when you tell people you're from "Richmond", everyone always assumes you're referring to Richmond Victoria, so one *always* has to clarify that no, it's Richmond, NSW, you know, the one with the RAAF base...
I grew up in the Hawkesbury, so it's great to see all these stations I use to visit quite regularly feature. You've nailed the pronunciation of Schofields too 😉. If you ever want to check out a beautiful station one day, Bathurst is a stunner.
I'd love to see some videos about the history of defunct lines and infrastructure. The line to Kurrajong sounds like an interesting topic for a future video. I love that you're documenting the current, but it's also great to reflect on the past. Keep up the good work 👌
Clarendon was also good for the Richmond Air Shows, although the last of those occured in 2010. In the 80's and prior, a temporary station would be used between Quakers Hill and Schofield's for the air shows held at the former Schofield's Aerodrome, which is now all housing estate. Riverstone used to have three tracks cross at Garfield Rd too! Great vids. I hope the KBBQ was as good as you expected!
I really miss those air shows. I remember going to the 1996 one and taking over and hour just to get out of the car park. While watching the trains leave with barely anyone on them. Made sure to catch the train in 2006.
I learnt to fly in the early 80's as a teenager who rode a bicycle from Quakers Hill station to the aerodrome after catching the train as I didn't have a car. The airfield was part of HMAS Nirimba, a naval training establishment that no longer needed the airfield and allowed Schofield's Flying Club to operate there on weekends and public holidays only. It also was the home for Alan Bonds airship too.
the industrial complex at Riverstone was an abattoir and meat processing facility with its associated holding paddocks. the abattoir actually owned thr land on both sides of the line at Vineyard and subdivided the northern side for housing but very few properties were ever developed. Riverstone used to have a the diesel railcar terminating at the northwestern end of the main platform. Windsor used to also have a holding siding which was used to allow the diesel railcars to pass. I think the main purpose of Clarendon was to give access to the Hawkesbury Racecourse, Showground and the Air base. I think there also used to be a spur line after Richmond leading to a sand quarry.
7:10 Electrification. I remember a big air show @ Richmond RAAF when I was a kid (prob early 80s), the ran the silver electric double deckers all the way to Richmond, using shunting engines to tow them cos it was the only way to handle the huge crowds. I think trains terminated at Clarendon, then the just parked them end to end all the way to Richmond, until later in the day when they reversed the process to take everyone home again!
This is such a cool video man, this rail lane got me back and forth from Richmond for work, family and uni for so many years. I'm very fond of the train line. Edit: The reason why East richmond exist is for the Uni, it was a life savour for me and so many uni students, makes it is a much quicker walk to uni then from Richmond station. Edit 2: one thing about Vineyard is that a few rumours was that the infamous north-west train line that would be brought up for like 15 years, and that the train line would connect up too vineyard. EDIT 3: Mulgrave station I have seen used regular by a few schools too drop kids off by buses . Edit 4: The only big thing at Clarendon is the House Race course and the only time I have seen it have more then 10 people on the station.
Good luck with your exams, thank you for taking the time to do this video. I was a young teacher at Windsor in the early eighties. I caught the train to Parramatta, Blacktown and the City on many occasions. It was pre-electrification to Windsor. If my memory serves me correctly there used to be a direct railmotor to the city in the morning and a return train in the afternoon. It was always a great ride, you had to change at Sydney Terminal for the electric train into Sydney. It was mostly run by two car sets of the 600- 700 railmotors at other times it was run by the venerable Tin Hare rail motors. Happy days. Great video.
Thanks “Geoff Marshall” lol. Loving the content. Fun Fact: the lines area was the backdrop to one of Australia’s most popular TV series: A country practice. Although the show renamed it to Wandern Valley, filming took place around McGraths Hill and stretched to Windsor and Vineyard.
Great video. I can remember the line when it was worked by the old CPH railmotors, a shuttle service from Blacktown. Good to be able to sit up front next to the driver and watch the track ahead. The track was divided into sections and the driver would get a staff for each section, it was contained in a hoop which he would hang on the inside of the windscreen. During the peak period a steam train used to run all the way from Richmond, where there was a turntable for the loco, to Central. From the carriages, you could hear the timber work on the old trestle bridge creaking as you went over it. A bit off-puting. The Richmond line is still a backwater on the Sydney system. The other one was the Carlingford line.
I remember in the late 70's taking a ride on the railmotor sitting next to the driver. It was a very unusual Richmond to Central return service when the railmotors normally operated between Richmond and Blacktown.
This is such a great video. It actually has me thinking I might catch a train on this line, as I don't often get to see rolling countryside from the train, it's either bush or suburb usually. Thanks for putting in so much effort!
Lived in Epping 35+ years & now living close to East Richmond Station.. Just something about the place.. Laid-back "country" town; very convenient shopping wise & still connected to an international city!.. Also now & then we get a temporary lake on our doorstep lol (welcome to Richmond Island)!
Thank you for the informative video .They bring back memories .I once was taken to the dental hospital for some treatment by my mum .I also first played basketball at the Auburn basketball centre .The first time I went down the entance path there were demolished factory ,warehouse buildings .All absestos on each side.The basketball centre was a converted warehouse not at all like Condel Park .Liverpool converted the main street to a shopping strip in the ninties .The hume highway is a couple of streets away .There is ,or was .a crane at Fairfield station .
Clarendon station is used by a lot of people on the one weekend each year when the Hawkesbury Agricultural Show is on, which is held right next to the station. It is so easy to get the the show by rail, thanks to the station.
That's actually funny about East Richmond because although the one in Melbourne is much closer to the CBD like you said, it's a Melbs joke that nothing stops there because it's so close to Richmond (like the Sydney one) and so many services say 'stopping all stations except East Richmond' lol. Interesting parallels! And thanks for the fab vid! I had no idea about these two existing in Sydney too.
To correct you: In 2007 the then State Government advised that the planned multi access infrastructure Nirimba Station (corner of Burdekin Road and Railway Terrace) would be built and the local infrastructure Schofields Station would be upgraded in line with the rail duplication. The then residents of Schofields were in full support as they saw the benefit and rationale to that plan. This would offer a walking catchment for 3,000 new residents and would include vehicle parking for 750 - 1000 vehicles and bus interchange for Nirimba (and walking catchment of 3,000 residents for the revamped Schofields Station). In line with this build the duplication of the single line would occur (from Quakers Hill to Vineyard). In 2008, the Labor State Government announced that they would test the options covering the Nirimba Station. Remember, the plan was to build the Nirimba Station and upgrade the Schofields Station. NONE of the options offered included that plan, all were centred around relocating the Nirimba Station 600 metres north (this relocation intent was nominated in Transport Department information yet politicians only referred to a relocation of Schofields Station after that - where you got that assumption). There was NO supporting documentation regarding either the option process or how the selection was made. The only document available was a briefing paper that led to a whole of Government decision to relocate the Nirimba Station and remove Schofields Station. This was in favour of a grateful developer at the "new" site. If you care to look at your vision taken from the footbridge, there is a five storey apartment block at the old Schofields Station site - in the briefing paper removal of the station was supported because they said that that could not be built there. ALL of the "reasons" in the briefing paper have been discredited. Those responsible for the briefing paper both went on to higher paying jobs in planning (go figure). The footbridge you crossed was "relocated" from the original planned location further north (in line with the original crossing). The reason was that this footbridge was purchased for an entirely different location on this rail line then seen not to be needed. It ended up costing $4M, twice as much as a compact stairs/lift bridge crossing used at other locations. When this footbridge was opened it had more than 150 defects (but the contractor was paid as it was opened on time). By the way The station spacings on the Richmond Line at the time were predominately 2kms or less apart. In fact, at the time, on the Sydney Rail Network 106 station were 2kms or less apart with only 8 stations being 3kms apart. The loss of Schofields Station and relocation of the Nirimba Station made that 8 stations 9 (against 106). There was no official opening of Schofields Station in 2011 (even though it was a project in excess of $250M), and this appears to be a first where a politician has not officially opened a major project (as the political stink to decisions made and the possible links to a less than honest decision/individuals involved).
When i lived in Sydney I used to love the Richmond line. It was a great day of exploation as I felt I was outside the Sydney metropolitan area and in the country on a bouncy old railcar.
Geoff, just to add to your comments about the final electrification extension, there was a big airshow at Richmond airbase in 1988 which attracted a large crowd. To cater for this, they attached a diesel locomotive to haul 8-car electrics with their pants down to Richmond at about bicycle speed. Being such a hot day, I don't know if I took a pic or not of the consist!
That was the Australian Bicentennial Airshow. Perfect weather and big crowds. I remember they even had a B-52 from Guam participate in the display. It just did a few low fly-bys then back to Guam they went.
This is a real good video man!The cox street crossing opens to cars during floods, as the drains under macquarie and george street bridges overflow and flood onto the roads
You kept talking about heritage listed stations. As a railway worker myself I love the old petersham station that was situated against the mainline before they put a new station between the local lines
Mate that offhand comment about the Kurrajong line has had me googling around for about half an hour and there's barely anything online! I'd love to see more about it, especially the stops along the way (looking at you, Phillip Station)
I know this line well, I lived at Richmond and worked in Windsor, I caught the train from Richmond to Windsor every day. Back in the 90s. At that stage the Tangara was still the new design, but most of the trains that went to Richmond were the older trains, many which didn't have air-conditioning. This video brings back memories of catching the train there, I even remember back in the 80s, the old red rattler from Richmond. Great video, thank you.
The timing of this video personally is great as we just got back from a two-week caravanning trip, and one of the stopping points for us was Richmond! Great video, quite informative and entertaining!
Feed your inner Marshall lol Great video, learnt a few more facts about the Richmond line after this video. Hope your dinner was that great in the end!
The Windsor Bridge was not built to be flood resistant. If it was built for a 1:100 year flood, it would have been massive and needed to be built away from Windsor which would inconvenience many of the current users. In any case, if it was higher, it would be a dead end as the roads on the other side would be underwater anyway.
I live in Schofields and I usually use Schofields station and sometimes Tallawong station if trackwork at Schofields.Some of my friends live in a Richmond line suburb south of Schofields.
From Riverstone to Richmond there used to be old Railmotors that ran the line before electrification. I remember going to the Bicentennial Air show, and they hooked up a diesel engine to the old double-deckers and towed the train to Clarendon for the 10's of 000's of people wanting to see the most amazing show. I was lucky enough to get to visit. the flight deck of an Antonov AN-124. The largest aircraft of its time.
Loved the opening at Schofields and lots of utterances of the word 🙂 I grew up in Marayong and remember that both Marayong and Quakers Hill also had leveling crossings in the past Edit: I believe the Quakers Hill level crossing is also still available for pedestrians only
Geoff @Adam Thrussell A suburb of Melbourne,State of Victoria, Hawthorn railway station in the City of Bundoora on the Belgrave and Lillydale suburban railway lines. A beautiful wooden building. Big M Marathon 1981 Frankston to Melbourne Town Hall. Nike Melbourne Marathon 2022 Thank you Geoff Stay healthy and fit Adam Thrussell
Also thinking about the logistics of filming this video! You must have had to get off, film, wait for the next train! Must have taken you ages so props to you for your awesomeness and patience!
I’d be interested in an exploration if what’s left of the Kurrajong line and any hints of its prior existence. Another interesting one to do in that vein would be the Westmead to Castle Hill & Rogans Hill line.
Thanks for a wonderful look at this historic line. My only trip by rail there was by Motor Rail many years ago. Lovely to see those vintage stations with slate roofs rather than the glary, stark, unpainted galvanized iron that now fashionably disfigures so many heritage buildings in Sydney.
I love this explore style video, it's fun. I hope you cover the T8 line and T2 line as they are my old stomping grounds. T2 1989 - 2006 (so pre Leppington) and T8 2006 - 2017.
You didn't notice the 'Mulgrave musk', huh? There was always a strong cow poo smell, which wafted to Windsor Road, back when it was a 100km/h two-lane road. Anyhow, great topic, and I loved that you had music in the background! I think you did just the right amount of vlogging, but that you way, way overdid the Geoff Marshall thing. But good luck with the exams, and I look forward to the next vid.
That is my biggest memory of Mulgrave - in the 90s traveling to and from Hawkesbury Ag College (UWS) the smell at Mulgrave!!!! while waiting at the platform for the cross over train.
The original Mount Druitt Railway Station opened on 19 August 1881. A replacement station was built in 1946 and again on 8 December 1974 a new station opened 500 metres to the east.
You're honestly so good at youtube, every video is great and I can't wait to watch another big hit spike your subcount again. I'm central Sydney based and have a few people to drag along so if you ever have an idea which requires extra help or bodycount please reach out.
My company that I work for supplied all the concrete for the new shopping centre where Coles & Maccas & Oporto are. We did all the roads & footpaths, traffic signals, the new carpark behind the station as well. All the new intersections too. Great videos. Our depot is very close to Marayong Station.
The Kurrajong line took an interesting route out of Richmond. Once it crossed the road, it cut the corner of the oval and went along the north side of March St between the footpath and the road. There were no barriers at any of the side streets. Towards the river there was a gravel gathering business which had sidings.
@@asd36f yes. The Yass Town line is still in place on the street there. Otherwise there were a couple of industrial lines, one between Fairfield and Prospect and another at Bellambi.
I lived at Schofields when the electrification of the line was being done in the mid-1970s. I was about 8 or 9. My parents owned a small petrol station and corner store across the road from the original station, next to what is now the Limestone Cafe. I remember being fascinated by the construction work. My parent's business had a good spike in trade during the time the work was being done on that part of the line.
One of the few petrol stations around that continued to offer petrol during the numerous petrol strikes without large queues due to the small population.
Hi Sharath, thanks for another great vid. I wonder how many Aussie Geoff Marshall subs are subbed to your channel too? I watched him coz I knew nothing about the London Underground - I watch yours for the opposite reason, or nostalgic reasons as I used to live in Sydney. I am sure that you aspire to be as well followed as Geoff, and I do like your depth of knowledge. Cheers.
Great video as always, sorry if I've missed it in the previous comment but there use to also be a military airport (RAAF or RAN) at Schofields (not far from the railway station) at one time.
Clarendon is adjacent to the Hawkesbury Showground. In theory, its primary purpose is getting people to and from events at the showground, but I think that virtually everybody drives there now.
There was an 8th level crossing on the Richmond line - at Windsor. When the crossing was removed, George St was rerouted to its current position under the rail bridge. However, if you look straight ahead from George Street when the road starts to turn to the right, you can still see where the road went up to the station to the crossing. In regard to the goods sidings at Richmond, the current car park for McDonalds was also the site of some sidings as well.
@@brianmackenzie5692 That's the crossing at Cox Street just north of Windsor Station. It is normally a pedestrian-only crossing with locked gates, but as you said, it was opened during the flooding. It doesn't have the warning lights and boom gates like the other level crossings on the Richmond line.
Schofields used to be the site of an aerodrome operated by the Navy as HMAS Nirimba. A temporary railway station on the airport would be used during airshows in the 1970s and 1980s. It was near where Burdekin Rd meets the railway line looking back towards Quakers Hill.
Really in joying your channel I live in the Northern Territory now but use to live in and around a lot of the places your videos cover and funny thing is I’ll be going through Windsor heading towards upper colo river for my holidays for a friends 50th birthday keep up the great content 10000 subscribers coming soon😜🤘
The level crossing that leads into Riverstone Business Park I travel across daily as I work there, Its the only level crossing that I'm aware of that has a 24/7 attendant that guides vehicles over 11 meters in length over it. As a truck driver, I'm forbidden to leave Riverstone business park without first getting approval from the traffic attendant to prevent trucks blocking the crossing whilst waiting to turn left or right.
claredon station is mainly used for the hawkesbury show that occurs in the showgrounds behind it, the trains tickets on the line become free for the three days and its quite a big event, never seen anyone use the station outside of that weekend though
@@CockatooTransit intresting, i’ve never been at the raaf during the airshow, i try to stay as far away personally living around that base my entire life has made me a bit annoyed by planes really, should look into it next time it happens
I have such a love hate relationship with this line. Riverstone has been my family stop for over 100 years. I miss seeing the paddocks at Schofields, I hate that the train is every 30 min because we can't expand the line but hey, it's ours
Student at the Uni in early 90s - lived on campus but trained home to the mountains every Thursday Night (via the old Blacktown Station configuration) - East Richmond station made the long cold walk up the Uni Driveway much more tolerable. The smell at Mulgrave was terrible - made worse as the train had to wait there for the cross-over (from opposite direction) train to arrive, sometime you had to wait ages. I reckon the low Tap on numbers at East Richmond are skewed by Unit Students who don't tap on / tap off.
A video that might be interesting would be the site of the Silverdale Hillclimb .It was a car timetrial venue in the 1970s .On the way down from Penrith to Warragamba ,Wallacia .
Just catching up on Building Beautifully clips and chuffed to see this one about the Richmond line. I heard from older locals that Vineyard was extended during WW2 for some military installation - was this just an urban (or rural) myth? Who has olfactory memories of the stench of the Riverstone Meat Works and "Mulgrave musk" (not sure if that was chickens or mushroom farm)? Also, the things that only happened on the quaint diesel motor rails: guard opening a hatch in the floor to make repairs when the train broke down; the gas heaters being lit on winter mornings; or the rattling of the train so bad that a light fitting came loose and smashed on the floor next to commuters. Can't believe how built-up Schofields is now compared to when I lived in the Hawkesbury late 80s - early 90s. In a way I'm glad that local flooding limits development in the Hawkesbury.
This series reminds me so much of Jay Forman’s series called Unfinished London. I wonder if he ever did a collab with Geoff Marshall…whoever he is 😂 Love your work
Hey Sharath, have you looked into the old Liverpool to Holdsworthy Army supply rail line? It used to run until the mid 1970’s moving military goods including personnel carriers and tanks to and from the Army base. cheers, Greg
At Windsor I think you got the shed roof and column materials mixed up. It is in fact corrugated steel roof and wrought iron columns. But I know you knew that.
your channel makes me really want to start my own version based around brisbanes transport infrastructure considering even perth now has trams while we still don't sadly I'm stuck in the uk for the time being, could still do it but without an in person reference it's pretty difficult
Also, some members of 5SOS are from around the Quakers Hill area, and went to school up at Norwest Christian College (which is at Riverstone, and *not* Norwest)... so their feature is extremely fitting here.
Annoyingly after that accident at Richmond they reduced the speed limit between East and Richmond stations to 20kph. Takes way too long to get to Richmond station from East Richmond. This is despite the accident happening due to driver fatigue and not speed
Good job with this video Mr. Marshall! Absolutely loved it, look forward to your return but I hope you take it easy and don't study too hard. Good luck with your exams, I'll be waiting!
Very interesting about the short distance between Richmond and East Richmond stations, I think there are a few like this on the network. Have you considered doing a video about these?
Hey all! Lots of things to say.
- First of all, let me clarify that Geoff Marshall is an absolute legend. As I said in my Q&A video, he truly paved the way for transit-exploring CZcamsrs. Just thought I’d poke some fun at him in this video LOL, given that this video is so clearly inspired by his infamous “Secrets of the Underground” series.
- Anyways. This video has taken me a LONG time to make, simply because it’s my longest video to date. I was considering splitting it into two, but I realised most people who watched Part 1 would probably just forget to watch Part 2, so I figured I’d just upload it all as one and let you all decide whether or not to watch the whole thing haha. Let me know if you enjoy this “Explore” style of video. I know I enjoyed making it!
- There’s a few camera hiccups in the video unfortunately, where the camera appears to “stutter” on a frame for some reason. Not entirely sure why this happened, but I think it’s a problem with my phone camera. Hopefully it will be fixed for my next video!
- Yes, I know I skipped Marayong and Quakers Hill, even though those are on the Richmond Line. I didn’t have too much time the day I filmed this so I didn’t visit them. Maybe I’ll visit those in a future video.
- Did you notice my last three videos have all been in the format “The R******** Line”? (Ropes Creek Line, Red Rooster Line, Richmond Line) I don’t know how that happened haha. Pure coincidence that I noticed only yesterday!
- Anyways, I’ll probably have to take a break for a few weeks after this video unfortunately. I have uni exams again at the start of November. Rest assured, I will be working on the new video in breaks between uni study, so that I can have the video filmed and finished as soon as possible after my exams! We shall enter a glorious period between the start of November and the end of January where I should be able to upload even more frequently than I do already!
Enjoy your week everyone :))
@@abcdefgh1 interesting... Anyone suggested this video from watching other rail content has definitely come across Geoff Marshall - he is the YTr of English rail
@@mark123655 I'm here for the general Sydney-specific infrastructure aspect, rather than being a "train" person.
@@abcdefgh1 others may have wider interests. E,g., speculating when any Australian train might go as fast as some Indian trains czcams.com/video/l2HFpWyFpuI/video.html
Love these vlogs
I just watched a recent Geoff Marshall video. Yours are better.
"The area is located on a notorious floodplain"
Housing developers: That won't stop me because I can't read
Old Schofield station will always be close to my heart as it was my dad's hometown that I used to visit every second weekend and I also lived there until I was 3. So many great memories of that station and level crossing that I will never forget. Sadly he died of cancer in 2020 so I wont be going to Schofields anymore but my grandparents (His mum & dad) lives at Riverstone so I will still be going there from time to time.
Great vid on my main Sydney line mate :D
It's insane just how much history there is to the Richmond line, being rebuilt and duplicated again and again, with spots even still almost unchanged since it's opening. One could say it's the only one of Sydney's "rural" branches left, with the others being the Camden and Rogan's Hill branches.
I would kill to see those massive timber bridges survive till today, but knowing the area it's astonishing the whole region is still inhabited lol
Fantastic video as always!
Geoff marshal go sub to him
It is amazing to think that the Richmond Line was built at the same time as the Zig-Zag over the Blue Mountains in the 1860s.
@@hartleymartin The extension to Kurrajong was made in hopes of making a second main line across the Blue Mountains through Bilpin, however it never made it past there.
Ah, the line of my childhood!
Fun thing about being from Richmond; you soon learn to tell people that you're from "far western Sydney" because when you tell people you're from "Richmond", everyone always assumes you're referring to Richmond Victoria, so one *always* has to clarify that no, it's Richmond, NSW, you know, the one with the RAAF base...
Wow didn't know that! I guess I don't know enough Melbourners coz I forgot they even had a Richmond 🤣
I grew up in the Hawkesbury, so it's great to see all these stations I use to visit quite regularly feature. You've nailed the pronunciation of Schofields too 😉. If you ever want to check out a beautiful station one day, Bathurst is a stunner.
I'd love to see some videos about the history of defunct lines and infrastructure. The line to Kurrajong sounds like an interesting topic for a future video.
I love that you're documenting the current, but it's also great to reflect on the past. Keep up the good work 👌
Clarendon was also good for the Richmond Air Shows, although the last of those occured in 2010.
In the 80's and prior, a temporary station would be used between Quakers Hill and Schofield's for the air shows held at the former Schofield's Aerodrome, which is now all housing estate.
Riverstone used to have three tracks cross at Garfield Rd too!
Great vids. I hope the KBBQ was as good as you expected!
I really miss those air shows. I remember going to the 1996 one and taking over and hour just to get out of the car park. While watching the trains leave with barely anyone on them. Made sure to catch the train in 2006.
I learnt to fly in the early 80's as a teenager who rode a bicycle from Quakers Hill station to the aerodrome after catching the train as I didn't have a car. The airfield was part of HMAS Nirimba, a naval training establishment that no longer needed the airfield and allowed Schofield's Flying Club to operate there on weekends and public holidays only. It also was the home for Alan Bonds airship too.
the industrial complex at Riverstone was an abattoir and meat processing facility with its associated holding paddocks. the abattoir actually owned thr land on both sides of the line at Vineyard and subdivided the northern side for housing but very few properties were ever developed. Riverstone used to have a the diesel railcar terminating at the northwestern end of the main platform. Windsor used to also have a holding siding which was used to allow the diesel railcars to pass. I think the main purpose of Clarendon was to give access to the Hawkesbury Racecourse, Showground and the Air base. I think there also used to be a spur line after Richmond leading to a sand quarry.
You get an instant 'like' because I work for Sydney Trains & I really like the way you present tour content.
7:10 Electrification. I remember a big air show @ Richmond RAAF when I was a kid (prob early 80s), the ran the silver electric double deckers all the way to Richmond, using shunting engines to tow them cos it was the only way to handle the huge crowds. I think trains terminated at Clarendon, then the just parked them end to end all the way to Richmond, until later in the day when they reversed the process to take everyone home again!
This is such a cool video man, this rail lane got me back and forth from Richmond for work, family and uni for so many years. I'm very fond of the train line.
Edit: The reason why East richmond exist is for the Uni, it was a life savour for me and so many uni students, makes it is a much quicker walk to uni then from Richmond station.
Edit 2: one thing about Vineyard is that a few rumours was that the infamous north-west train line that would be brought up for like 15 years, and that the train line would connect up too vineyard.
EDIT 3: Mulgrave station I have seen used regular by a few schools too drop kids off by buses .
Edit 4: The only big thing at Clarendon is the House Race course and the only time I have seen it have more then 10 people on the station.
Good luck with your exams, thank you for taking the time to do this video. I was a young teacher at Windsor in the early eighties. I caught the train to Parramatta, Blacktown and the City on many occasions. It was pre-electrification to Windsor. If my memory serves me correctly there used to be a direct railmotor to the city in the morning and a return train in the afternoon. It was always a great ride, you had to change at Sydney Terminal for the electric train into Sydney. It was mostly run by two car sets of the 600- 700 railmotors at other times it was run by the venerable Tin Hare rail motors. Happy days. Great video.
Thanks “Geoff Marshall” lol. Loving the content.
Fun Fact: the lines area was the backdrop to one of Australia’s most popular TV series: A country practice. Although the show renamed it to Wandern Valley, filming took place around McGraths Hill and stretched to Windsor and Vineyard.
Great video. I can remember the line when it was worked by the old CPH railmotors, a shuttle service from Blacktown. Good to be able to sit up front next to the driver and watch the track ahead. The track was divided into sections and the driver would get a staff for each section, it was contained in a hoop which he would hang on the inside of the windscreen. During the peak period a steam train used to run all the way from Richmond, where there was a turntable for the loco, to Central. From the carriages, you could hear the timber work on the old trestle bridge creaking as you went over it. A bit off-puting. The Richmond line is still a backwater on the Sydney system. The other one was the Carlingford line.
Forgot to mention the new Schofields station looks to me like an oversized version of a KFC store with its roof colours.
I remember in the late 70's taking a ride on the railmotor sitting next to the driver. It was a very unusual Richmond to Central return service when the railmotors normally operated between Richmond and Blacktown.
This is such a great video. It actually has me thinking I might catch a train on this line, as I don't often get to see rolling countryside from the train, it's either bush or suburb usually. Thanks for putting in so much effort!
I appreciate you doing this video. I have been living in Quakers Hill for 15 years but never knew so much history about this line. Good Job Mate!
I knew exactly what was coming but still had a good chuckle when you turned around after saying "guess how close I am to Vineyard right now"
Lived in Epping 35+ years & now living close to East Richmond Station.. Just something about the place.. Laid-back "country" town; very convenient shopping wise & still connected to an international city!.. Also now & then we get a temporary lake on our doorstep lol (welcome to Richmond Island)!
Thank you for the informative video .They bring back memories .I once was taken to the dental hospital for some treatment by my mum .I also first played basketball at the Auburn basketball centre .The first time I went down the entance path there were demolished factory ,warehouse buildings .All absestos on each side.The basketball centre was a converted warehouse not at all like Condel Park .Liverpool converted the main street to a shopping strip in the ninties .The hume highway is a couple of streets away .There is ,or was .a crane at Fairfield station .
Clarendon station is used by a lot of people on the one weekend each year when the Hawkesbury Agricultural Show is on, which is held right next to the station. It is so easy to get the the show by rail, thanks to the station.
That's actually funny about East Richmond because although the one in Melbourne is much closer to the CBD like you said, it's a Melbs joke that nothing stops there because it's so close to Richmond (like the Sydney one) and so many services say 'stopping all stations except East Richmond' lol. Interesting parallels!
And thanks for the fab vid! I had no idea about these two existing in Sydney too.
To correct you: In 2007 the then State Government advised that the planned multi access infrastructure Nirimba Station (corner of Burdekin Road and Railway Terrace) would be built and the local infrastructure Schofields Station would be upgraded in line with the rail duplication. The then residents of Schofields were in full support as they saw the benefit and rationale to that plan. This would offer a walking catchment for 3,000 new residents and would include vehicle parking for 750 - 1000 vehicles and bus interchange for Nirimba (and walking catchment of 3,000 residents for the revamped Schofields Station). In line with this build the duplication of the single line would occur (from Quakers Hill to Vineyard). In 2008, the Labor State Government announced that they would test the options covering the Nirimba Station. Remember, the plan was to build the Nirimba Station and upgrade the Schofields Station. NONE of the options offered included that plan, all were centred around relocating the Nirimba Station 600 metres north (this relocation intent was nominated in Transport Department information yet politicians only referred to a relocation of Schofields Station after that - where you got that assumption). There was NO supporting documentation regarding either the option process or how the selection was made. The only document available was a briefing paper that led to a whole of Government decision to relocate the Nirimba Station and remove Schofields Station. This was in favour of a grateful developer at the "new" site. If you care to look at your vision taken from the footbridge, there is a five storey apartment block at the old Schofields Station site - in the briefing paper removal of the station was supported because they said that that could not be built there. ALL of the "reasons" in the briefing paper have been discredited. Those responsible for the briefing paper both went on to higher paying jobs in planning (go figure). The footbridge you crossed was "relocated" from the original planned location further north (in line with the original crossing). The reason was that this footbridge was purchased for an entirely different location on this rail line then seen not to be needed. It ended up costing $4M, twice as much as a compact stairs/lift bridge crossing used at other locations. When this footbridge was opened it had more than 150 defects (but the contractor was paid as it was opened on time). By the way The station spacings on the Richmond Line at the time were predominately 2kms or less apart. In fact, at the time, on the Sydney Rail Network 106 station were 2kms or less apart with only 8 stations being 3kms apart. The loss of Schofields Station and relocation of the Nirimba Station made that 8 stations 9 (against 106). There was no official opening of Schofields Station in 2011 (even though it was a project in excess of $250M), and this appears to be a first where a politician has not officially opened a major project (as the political stink to decisions made and the possible links to a less than honest decision/individuals involved).
When i lived in Sydney I used to love the Richmond line. It was a great day of exploation as I felt I was outside the Sydney metropolitan area and in the country on a bouncy old railcar.
Loved the whole video! Love longer format videos compared to splitting it up into 2 smaller videos :D
thank you for being the #1 supporter of Australian rugby and the #1 supporter of Scho-mo. what a fantastic combo
That's maliciously incorrect
Fatally incorrect even
I appreciate the black & white photograph from 1974... makes it look 100 years older!
Geoff, just to add to your comments about the final electrification extension, there was a big airshow at Richmond airbase in 1988 which attracted a large crowd. To cater for this, they attached a diesel locomotive to haul 8-car electrics with their pants down to Richmond at about bicycle speed. Being such a hot day, I don't know if I took a pic or not of the consist!
That was the Australian Bicentennial Airshow. Perfect weather and big crowds. I remember they even had a B-52 from Guam participate in the display. It just did a few low fly-bys then back to Guam they went.
This is a real good video man!The cox street crossing opens to cars during floods, as the drains under macquarie and george street bridges overflow and flood onto the roads
You kept talking about heritage listed stations. As a railway worker myself I love the old petersham station that was situated against the mainline before they put a new station between the local lines
Mate that offhand comment about the Kurrajong line has had me googling around for about half an hour and there's barely anything online! I'd love to see more about it, especially the stops along the way (looking at you, Phillip Station)
It can all be found in John Oakes book "Sydney's Park and Rural Railways", if you're still curious! Only around $20
I know this line well, I lived at Richmond and worked in Windsor, I caught the train from Richmond to Windsor every day. Back in the 90s. At that stage the Tangara was still the new design, but most of the trains that went to Richmond were the older trains, many which didn't have air-conditioning. This video brings back memories of catching the train there, I even remember back in the 80s, the old red rattler from Richmond. Great video, thank you.
I really liked this video! The classic Richmond line is probably one of my favorite lines in Sydney!
The timing of this video personally is great as we just got back from a two-week caravanning trip, and one of the stopping points for us was Richmond! Great video, quite informative and entertaining!
Feed your inner Marshall lol
Great video, learnt a few more facts about the Richmond line after this video. Hope your dinner was that great in the end!
A bit of bonus trivia for you, Vineyard Station was used in the film clip for the song ‘No Promises’ by Icehouse
The Windsor Bridge was not built to be flood resistant. If it was built for a 1:100 year flood, it would have been massive and needed to be built away from Windsor which would inconvenience many of the current users. In any case, if it was higher, it would be a dead end as the roads on the other side would be underwater anyway.
I live in Schofields and I usually use Schofields station and sometimes Tallawong station if trackwork at Schofields.Some of my friends live in a Richmond line suburb south of Schofields.
From Riverstone to Richmond there used to be old Railmotors that ran the line before electrification. I remember going to the Bicentennial Air show, and they hooked up a diesel engine to the old double-deckers and towed the train to Clarendon for the 10's of 000's of people wanting to see the most amazing show. I was lucky enough to get to visit. the flight deck of an Antonov AN-124. The largest aircraft of its time.
Used to live in Kurrajong. That would be awesome if you reviewed the Kurrajong line.
LOL Geoff marshal 🤣
In a previous video, he pronounced Schofields as " show-fields "...
Loved the opening at Schofields and lots of utterances of the word 🙂 I grew up in Marayong and remember that both Marayong and Quakers Hill also had leveling crossings in the past
Edit: I believe the Quakers Hill level crossing is also still available for pedestrians only
My sister used to live in Vineyard all the way across the other side of Windsor Rd. Quite a ways from the station.
Geoff @Adam Thrussell
A suburb of Melbourne,State of Victoria, Hawthorn railway station in the City of Bundoora on the Belgrave and Lillydale suburban railway lines. A beautiful wooden building.
Big M Marathon 1981 Frankston to Melbourne Town Hall.
Nike Melbourne Marathon 2022
Thank you Geoff
Stay healthy and fit
Adam Thrussell
Also thinking about the logistics of filming this video! You must have had to get off, film, wait for the next train! Must have taken you ages so props to you for your awesomeness and patience!
Love the callout on all roads lead to windsor. always wondered why
Loving the vlog-style educational content here!
I’d be interested in an exploration if what’s left of the Kurrajong line and any hints of its prior existence. Another interesting one to do in that vein would be the Westmead to Castle Hill & Rogans Hill line.
Thanks for a wonderful look at this historic line. My only trip by rail there was by Motor Rail many years ago. Lovely to see those vintage stations with slate roofs rather than the glary, stark, unpainted galvanized iron that now fashionably disfigures so many heritage buildings in Sydney.
I love this explore style video, it's fun. I hope you cover the T8 line and T2 line as they are my old stomping grounds. T2 1989 - 2006 (so pre Leppington) and T8 2006 - 2017.
Love your videos. It’s amazing you can do all this work and still study medicine.
Anyway hope you did great in your exams.
This is Geoff Marshall.
Great documentary about the Richmond line mate, also their was a proposal to rebuild the Kurrajong line at one point as a heritage railway
You didn't notice the 'Mulgrave musk', huh? There was always a strong cow poo smell, which wafted to Windsor Road, back when it was a 100km/h two-lane road. Anyhow, great topic, and I loved that you had music in the background! I think you did just the right amount of vlogging, but that you way, way overdid the Geoff Marshall thing. But good luck with the exams, and I look forward to the next vid.
That is my biggest memory of Mulgrave - in the 90s traveling to and from Hawkesbury Ag College (UWS) the smell at Mulgrave!!!! while waiting at the platform for the cross over train.
The original Mount Druitt Railway Station opened on 19 August 1881. A replacement station was built in 1946 and again on 8 December 1974 a new station opened 500 metres to the east.
You're honestly so good at youtube, every video is great and I can't wait to watch another big hit spike your subcount again. I'm central Sydney based and have a few people to drag along so if you ever have an idea which requires extra help or bodycount please reach out.
Why wasn't the metro extended to Schofields?? Seems absolutely insane not to have a transfer station there
Not enough people in the area probably
My company that I work for supplied all the concrete for the new shopping centre where Coles & Maccas & Oporto are. We did all the roads & footpaths, traffic signals, the new carpark behind the station as well. All the new intersections too. Great videos. Our depot is very close to Marayong Station.
The Windsor Goods Yard was partial use. There was a Skatel 1960s - early 2000s when it was demolished.
I barely remember that Skatel being soo young I used to go there thanks for reminding me.
I remember that in the 1990s
I love these western Sydney videos!
Amazing videos having lived in Western Sydney most of my life its great to see the history behind it, keep up the great work
The Kurrajong line took an interesting route out of Richmond. Once it crossed the road, it cut the corner of the oval and went along the north side of March St between the footpath and the road. There were no barriers at any of the side streets. Towards the river there was a gravel gathering business which had sidings.
Peter,
Correct - one of the few places in NSW that had street running of trains?
@@asd36f yes. The Yass Town line is still in place on the street there. Otherwise there were a couple of industrial lines, one between Fairfield and Prospect and another at Bellambi.
I've always thought that the Kurrajong line left Richmond station from platform 1 and headed across East Market St. to the park
I lived at Schofields when the electrification of the line was being done in the mid-1970s. I was about 8 or 9. My parents owned a small petrol station and corner store across the road from the original station, next to what is now the Limestone Cafe. I remember being fascinated by the construction work. My parent's business had a good spike in trade during the time the work was being done on that part of the line.
One of the few petrol stations around that continued to offer petrol during the numerous petrol strikes without large queues due to the small population.
I did a train trip last friday following your journey in this video!! vineyard's my favourite station out of those
I'm new to your channel and I love it! Any videos or plans for videos on the Blacktown to Penrith line? Woot Penriff!
Hi Sharath, thanks for another great vid. I wonder how many Aussie Geoff Marshall subs are subbed to your channel too? I watched him coz I knew nothing about the London Underground - I watch yours for the opposite reason, or nostalgic reasons as I used to live in Sydney. I am sure that you aspire to be as well followed as Geoff, and I do like your depth of knowledge. Cheers.
Great video as always, sorry if I've missed it in the previous comment but there use to also be a military airport (RAAF or RAN) at Schofields (not far from the railway station) at one time.
That establishment was actually a Naval base, called HMAS NIrimba. I believe it was mainly a training school, but for what I don't know.
Clarendon is adjacent to the Hawkesbury Showground. In theory, its primary purpose is getting people to and from events at the showground, but I think that virtually everybody drives there now.
There was an 8th level crossing on the Richmond line - at Windsor. When the crossing was removed, George St was rerouted to its current position under the rail bridge. However, if you look straight ahead from George Street when the road starts to turn to the right, you can still see where the road went up to the station to the crossing. In regard to the goods sidings at Richmond, the current car park for McDonalds was also the site of some sidings as well.
I believe that, during the flooding, they reopened the former rail crossing for use.
@@brianmackenzie5692
That's the crossing at Cox Street just north of Windsor Station. It is normally a pedestrian-only crossing with locked gates, but as you said, it was opened during the flooding. It doesn't have the warning lights and boom gates like the other level crossings on the Richmond line.
@@asd36f Thanks for the description.
Nice one. Appreciate the work that went into this. 👌
Schofields used to be the site of an aerodrome operated by the Navy as HMAS Nirimba. A temporary railway station on the airport would be used during airshows in the 1970s and 1980s. It was near where Burdekin Rd meets the railway line looking back towards Quakers Hill.
What an amazing presentation and very educational and entertaining. Thank you for this video and I look forward to your next one.
5:13 That explains why the other day I missed a train that went to richmond at around 5:00 pm, and the next went to Emu Plains
Please do Brisbane next!
Really in joying your channel I live in the Northern Territory now but use to live in and around a lot of the places your videos cover and funny thing is I’ll be going through Windsor heading towards upper colo river for my holidays for a friends 50th birthday keep up the great content 10000 subscribers coming soon😜🤘
You should extend your video to the old train station or rail line beyond Richmond heading towards north Richmond and beyond
The level crossing that leads into Riverstone Business Park I travel across daily as I work there, Its the only level crossing that I'm aware of that has a 24/7 attendant that guides vehicles over 11 meters in length over it. As a truck driver, I'm forbidden to leave Riverstone business park without first getting approval from the traffic attendant to prevent trucks blocking the crossing whilst waiting to turn left or right.
there’s a model airfield a bit down the road from vineyard
claredon station is mainly used for the hawkesbury show that occurs in the showgrounds behind it, the trains tickets on the line become free for the three days and its quite a big event, never seen anyone use the station outside of that weekend though
What about the air show at the Richmond air base? They have trains terminating there when that happens.
@@CockatooTransit intresting, i’ve never been at the raaf during the airshow, i try to stay as far away personally living around that base my entire life has made me a bit annoyed by planes really, should look into it next time it happens
Windsor has so much history, it’s the third official “town” to be established in Australia behind Sydney proper and Parramatta
I have such a love hate relationship with this line. Riverstone has been my family stop for over 100 years. I miss seeing the paddocks at Schofields, I hate that the train is every 30 min because we can't expand the line but hey, it's ours
Student at the Uni in early 90s - lived on campus but trained home to the mountains every Thursday Night (via the old Blacktown Station configuration) - East Richmond station made the long cold walk up the Uni Driveway much more tolerable. The smell at Mulgrave was terrible - made worse as the train had to wait there for the cross-over (from opposite direction) train to arrive, sometime you had to wait ages.
I reckon the low Tap on numbers at East Richmond are skewed by Unit Students who don't tap on / tap off.
Oh man you are funny! I’ve subscribed because I enjoy your videos
A video that might be interesting would be the site of the Silverdale Hillclimb .It was a car timetrial venue in the 1970s .On the way down from Penrith to Warragamba ,Wallacia .
omg im so excited for this video, i’m richmond line frequenter its such a horrible line to actually attempt to navigate sadly though
I use to live in vineyard. I miss it.
Just catching up on Building Beautifully clips and chuffed to see this one about the Richmond line. I heard from older locals that Vineyard was extended during WW2 for some military installation - was this just an urban (or rural) myth?
Who has olfactory memories of the stench of the Riverstone Meat Works and "Mulgrave musk" (not sure if that was chickens or mushroom farm)? Also, the things that only happened on the quaint diesel motor rails: guard opening a hatch in the floor to make repairs when the train broke down; the gas heaters being lit on winter mornings; or the rattling of the train so bad that a light fitting came loose and smashed on the floor next to commuters.
Can't believe how built-up Schofields is now compared to when I lived in the Hawkesbury late 80s - early 90s. In a way I'm glad that local flooding limits development in the Hawkesbury.
Me - the Mushroom smell (and cloud of steam) while we waited for the cross over train at the platform . pewww!
This series reminds me so much of Jay Forman’s series called Unfinished London. I wonder if he ever did a collab with Geoff Marshall…whoever he is 😂
Love your work
Binge watching these.
A+ content
Hey Sharath, have you looked into the old Liverpool to Holdsworthy Army supply rail line? It used to run until the mid 1970’s moving military goods including personnel carriers and tanks to and from the Army base.
cheers, Greg
At Windsor I think you got the shed roof and column materials mixed up.
It is in fact corrugated steel roof and wrought iron columns. But I know you knew that.
this video would've taken all day lol, having to wait 30mins between trains to proceed to the next stop
Think i saw one train in a siding at Riverstone back in 2020 while i was going out to Richmond
Clarendon also used for the Hawkesbury Racecourse/Showground which may have been the reason it was built?
your channel makes me really want to start my own version based around brisbanes transport infrastructure considering even perth now has trams while we still don't sadly I'm stuck in the uk for the time being, could still do it but without an in person reference it's pretty difficult
I’ve always wondered what these stations looked like!
Also, some members of 5SOS are from around the Quakers Hill area, and went to school up at Norwest Christian College (which is at Riverstone, and *not* Norwest)... so their feature is extremely fitting here.
That had occurred to me! Knew they grew up in Quakers Hill, but didn't know they went to Riverstone or I would've mentioned it!
One of the best bonsai displays is located in Vineyard. Bonsai Environment is very close to the station.
Annoyingly after that accident at Richmond they reduced the speed limit between East and Richmond stations to 20kph. Takes way too long to get to Richmond station from East Richmond. This is despite the accident happening due to driver fatigue and not speed
Good job with this video Mr. Marshall! Absolutely loved it, look forward to your return but I hope you take it easy and don't study too hard. Good luck with your exams, I'll be waiting!
Who's Shanti 🤣
@@BuildingBeautifully oops sorry Geoff, let me change that right away!
Very interesting about the short distance between Richmond and East Richmond stations, I think there are a few like this on the network. Have you considered doing a video about these?