Abandoned Railway Station #4: Fassifern

[@gunnersteinbeck235]

The platform and the line was a weird setup as there was a large gap (approx 300mm) between the train doors and the platform due to the curve of the platform. It was something of a challenge to get on and off the train. The situation with getting to Blackalls Park and Toronto from the Sydney to Newcastle line was that an electric train (after the Gosford to Newcastle electrification) would more than likely take you to Fassifern. If you were arriving from Newcastle the electric train would terminate behind the diesel train that then traveled on the non electric Toronto line. I kind of recall that even before the Newcastle to Gosford section was electrified, and everything was diesel, you still had to change trains at Fassifern for Toronto. The reason for this was that the passengers from Toronto would swap trains with the passengers from Newcastle and both trains would then be free to leave on their return journeys. This is why the platform is so long. Sometimes if you were lucky a diesel train would carry you from Newcastle to Toronto without the change at Fassifern. The second line at the platform would have been for parking trains. What I do remember is a large/huge key that was issued to the driver of the train that was travelling on the Toronto line. This key ensured that no other train could access the line while it was in use by the train with the key. To put it simply this prevented two trains colliding on the Toronto line but this did not stop other collisions at the road crossings as I witnessed one day. Some motorist some how did not see the train I was on and next thing he knew was his car was being pushed back off the tracks by our train. There were no gates just warning lights and bells. The track itself between Fassifern and Blackalls Park was unbelievable as the curved section just out of Fassifern was so rough it always felt like the train was going to jump off the tracks. Standing up was not an option. I can't believe that I am the only person to remember this but still the Toronto train only ever seemed to carry less than half a carriage of passengers if I recall correctly. No surprise that the train was replaced by a bus service. Found this bit of footage. Go to 5.31. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIKTeJ2Ogalqj80 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqiXY5loltljqsk

[@flamingfrancis]

Very interesting for me. Fassifern used to be one of the stations my Dad was a relief station master at when I was a lad in the late 50's-60's. My brothers and I sometimes went by train from 30 minutes away to take his lunch etc. I recall a small loco (32class?) pulling 2-4 carriages later replaced by two car motor rail set. The audio here captures the beautiful notes of the Bell Birds commonly found along the Coast and I am reminded of Henry Kendall's iconic poem that he wrote while residing in Gosford.

[@kayhalliwell4404]

Abandoned places give me a feeling of loneliness. Love your videos.

[@tazzer9]

you should do the entire murwillumbah branch. it has a few tunnels and old bridges which you should be able to get to if you want to walk a few km. On the note, the entire main north line is north of armidale is very accessable. (i looked at most in one night) But the most amazing thing about these "abandoned" stations, is that the stations look like the still service several trains a day.

[@doubledee9675]

There used be at least one direct train daily to/from Sydney. The one I'm thinking of was called the Toronto Express, at least back in the '50's and 60's. The train would run slightly north on the down line to Newcastle, then back into the curved platform shown - it was not overgrown then of course. It was then hauled into Toronto. On the reverse journey it would run into the curved platform, passengers would enter and leave while a 36 class was attached on the Toronto end. The loco that had brought the train from Toronto was detached and the 36 class push the train onto the up line. Once all that was done, the train would head off to Sydney. My memory is that the 36 class was too heavy for the branch line. A great pity that passenger service was discontinued. As Frank B says, great to have the Bellbirds as an accompaniment. Very authentic and true to the area.

[@RGC198]

Great video. from memory, I think I travelled on this line to Toronto, while holidaying up in Newcastle back in 1976.

[@AbandonedOZ]

+RGC198 thank you :)

[@punkizm]

Great video I used to pass through there daily on my way to TAFE back in the day.

[@AbandonedOZ]

+PUNK1ZM Thank you :) I still need to film at Blackalls Park and Toronto.

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

Great video liked 👍

[@billy196100]

Loved your video. Someone already mentioned the cycleway and museum at Toronto. Mentioning those would enhance the video. Perhaps a walk down the (at least part of) the cycleway. Blackalls Park and Toronto Stations are also "abandoned". If you visit Toronto Station there is a heap of info about the old spur line. I think it dates to the late 1800's when there was not much of a road network and people visited the area by train and the connecting ferry service at the wharf in Toronto. All good topics for your channel. At the museum it tells about the time when the Toronto line was drawn by horse or mule, and later steam engines. Would love to see that part of the story on your channel. You could also mention that the train line has been replaced by a bus service. Cheers!

[@gunnersteinbeck235]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6nSnYWvbcasb5o

[@FogartyAvenue]

Awesome video I loved all the trees!

[@AbandonedOZ]

+LMCSXurbex Thanks mate! :) I loved filming here because of the trees and the fact i could easily show what was and what is (if that makes sense).

[@FogartyAvenue]

Epic!

[@FogartyAvenue]

Very cool!

[@ridinginryde]

Love your videos guys. Keep it up

[@TheDancingunicorn]

Sorry must correct you on that, Fassifern Station is in Lake Macquarie NSW not Central Coast NSW

[@blink1821986]

Dancing Unicorn was just about say that Toronto is not the central Coast it’s Lake Macquarie or Newcastle

[@arokh72]

@@blink1821986 to be fair, most of us further south don't distinguish between them. Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast are the same diff to many of us, no different to people saying I live in the Blue Mountains, though it's actually the Central West :) I won't be making the same mistake again though :)

[@samanthacameron-king5469]

Fassifern is in the Newcastle area not central coast either warnervale or wyee would be the last central coast station before the Newcastle ones start

[@johnnycop77]

Great vid, record history while it still stands.

[@wazzyb81]

Its not an abandoned station, its an abandoned platform

[@kwv4865]

Yes as Google map is showing a Fassifern station is still operating.

[@melissalove2463]

I would love to know what it looked like when it was in operation.

[@carnthecorby]

My great-grandmother's family used to live and operate the train gate at Blackalls Park. I think her husband was killed on that line (they switched from one to the other because a train was coming and was hit by the other one).

[@neilforbes416]

Closed in the early 1990s, they used to run early-1960s vintage 620/720-class rail motors from Fassifern to Toronto. I believe it might've been 629/729 which is now at the Rail Motor Society museum & work shed at Paterson, adjacent to Paterson Station.

[@youtubeviewer7030]

some times it ran services to Newcastle

[@neilforbes416]

@@youtubeviewer7030 No. This was a spur-line that ran from Fassifern to Toronto via Blackalls Park. To use this service you caught the Newcastle-to-Sydney train then got off at Fassifern to board the old 1960s-vintage 620/720-class two-car rail motor to travel to Toronto.

[@youtubeviewer7030]

@@neilforbes416 so what they did to the toronto line they did the same to newcastle

[@neilforbes416]

@@youtubeviewer7030 Pretty-much. The Sydney-centric State Government didn't wan't us "peasants" in the Newcastle/Lake MacQuarie/Hunter region enjoying the same service as they had in Sydney.

[@youtubeviewer7030]

@@neilforbes416 that Jeff McCoy is a real fruitcake the way he was rambling on about the condition of the rail line saying only one passenger on a train and the line is full of weeds and it seperates the city from the harbour his final plea to the government was LETS RIP IT UP very harsh words

[@top40researcher31]

this ended up the same as Newcastle rail line as redundant

[@marybrock9250]

It’s not in central coast it’s in Lake Macquarie area

[@neilpenn6530]

You are right phil line to Toronto was never electrified they ran 620/ 720 rail motors line closed in early nineties most of alignment was converted to a cycle way to the old toronto station which is now headquarters for the Lake Macquarie historical society

[@kerrileelawrence2402]

Apparently lots of knives n drugs and Aspestos in Fassifern..watch your step..

[@kwv4865]

It can't be a abandoned railway station, as Google map is still showing Fassifern station as a operating station.

[@worstintheworldwrestling1513]

kwv4865 look in the car park, you’ll see a small skin colourish building thing with some cars parked behind it, all the grass on the inside of it is what has taken up the old station, a new one was built

[@flamingfrancis]

You completely missed the information correctly described. The platform is for a disused junction line that ran from the main Newcastle line station Fassifern to the town of Toronto. There was one other station on the short line. The main station is certainly still operating. If you are still struggling think of it as per the Sydney Olympic Park platform operating from Lidcombe station.

[@top40researcher31]

the fassifern line closed without any fanfare by the state government it wouldve given a hint at the time ok Newcastle is next

[@SuperNathan90]

fassifern is not the central coast