Cootamundra was opened in 1877 and grew to be a major rail centre on the main south. At its peak it had the main platform with all facilities needed for the traveller, an island platform directly opposite, and two dead end bay platforms to cope with nearly twenty passenger trains a day in the fifties. A branch headed south east to Tumut, and Batlow, trains started here for the western branches off the Griffith and Parkes lines, and extensive marshaling yards and a loco depot completed the picture. Two large signal boxes oversaw proceedings, the northern end having some quite impressive gantries that survived until very recently, until the usual resignalling and rationalization took place. One survives preserved in a park on the northern side of the station. Today a Pacific National depot is still in use here for the wheat traffic, and the station is well maintained for the passenger, sadly however besides the XPT service, all other trains tend to be the rubber tyred variety. The island platform still stands, disconnected from the footbridge, and the platform bays have had their tracks removed. A lovely, and long, platform canopy survives from better times. The two signal boxes also stand, in good condition, however the elements, and the odd ill intentioned individual, are slowly making their presence felt.
NSW 2590, Australia
