South Maitland Railways in 2025

[@Maitlandgarbo1809]

Really want it back up and running again

[@railmediaproductions3677]

Another great one there David. Beautiful photography and well edited together 👍

[@David_Threlfo]

@@railmediaproductions3677 Many thanks for having a look and the kind comments. Cheers 👍

[@robertcoleman4861]

It's not to late to reopen the line with new stations & regular train service.

[@mike59317]

This needs to be a Heritage line, before it's too late.

[@David_Threlfo]

@@mike59317 Absolutely agree. And also provide a fast, direct transport link for the communities from Cessnock back along the line to Maitland and beyond.

[@rollingthunder9087]

There are moves afoot to preserve the alignment with a view to making it a passenger line again.

[@zonavarbondagoo4074]

Since Aurizon bought SMR in it's entirety in late 2022 it has totally ruined this line from ever really being used again unless the Austar coal mine starts up again and wants to send coal out by rail which PN was doing for it until a few years before the previous owners (who bought SMR from Coal and Allied) started to think about selling it. Sadly. Aurizon basically uses the line as a single-track very long wagon storage road extending past the bridge over the Hunter Expressway. It's sad in another way too as the very short (relatively speaking) missing link of the RVR from Pelaw Main to Weston would (if the line was still operational) provide a full rail connection for RVRM out to the mainline via East Greta Junction at Maitland.

[@markrolly5486]

Sad Ending I wish it had stayed open

[@bimma320]

I drove coal trains out there. Sad to see it like this

[@Qantas7474]

That Signal box and Road bridge at weston is near my house

[@spanners94]

I lived in Scott Street 1981-1990. The first night in the house I was woken by a strange noise. It was a steam loco taking empties up to Pelton. Never bothered me after that. Same when they started using diesel locos except they didn't sound as good. I've got photos that my wife took on her way to work of the last train running across the main road at Neath.

[@smortgaming4217]

I'm suprised it didn't become a heritage line.

[@zonavarbondagoo4074]

It could easily be just that, except for Aurizon owning it now thereby 'locking out' any possible commercial or heritage rail use of the line.

[@raytate1300]

Wouldn't that be more a Cessnock Rail Story, Long way from Maitland.

[@David_Threlfo]

@@raytate1300 The railway is called 'South Maitland Railways ' and has been, for more than a century, part of a once large coalfields colliery system.