It (in the 1960's) was a thriving little yard, consisting of a main line (dead-end), with water tower for the steam locos, with a loop, there was one main siding alongside the loop which served as a general goods siding, off this siding was a further track that led behind the office, over Beauchamp Rd and down Perry St to the Golden Fleece Oil depot. Coming off the loop at the Mascot end of the yard were two lots of sidings, one a single track to the Mobil Oil terminal and the other leading to the Main yards (consisting (if I remember correctly six tracks)). The main traffic items to Botany were Coal for Bunnerong Power Station and empty tank wagons for Golden Fleece, Mobil and Boral (situated near Bunnerong Power Station),as well as some wool and paper for the large paper works.
The working of the yard was as follows a train would leave Mascot carrying
the miniature Electric Staff for the section, it would arrive at Botany where
the staff would be returned to the machine, the train would pull forward on the
main line (Yard portion), uncouple and proceed to take water at the yard neck,
(the crew also taking crib). the loco would then proceed down the loop and out
onto the main line before reversing onto its train. The consist would then pull
out from the yard protected by the Outer home signal and proceed to shunt the
sidings as required, placing Good wagons in the goods sidings and Golden Fleece
and Mobil tankers on their respective sidings for refilling (after removing any
full tankers).
The train would then place any departing wagons onto the Guards van, which had
been left on the loop. It would then await permission to take the staff for the
section Botany to Mascot and depart.
A coal train approaching Botany would perform the same manouvres except it would place the wagons destined for Boral and Bunnerong in the coal sidings, where they would be picked up by the privately operated loco and transported to their destination, this private loco was worked by a crew of one, and to travel to Bunnerong and Boral, it was necessary for him to operate the catch points at Beauchamp Rd as well as the crossing signals, as well as wherever he crossed a road.
The locos used on this line were 30 class, 59 class, and 60 class the latter
being most welcome on a cold winters day, due to the enclosed cab.
The local rail staff were not permitted to enter the Mobil refueling depot, all
wagons being pushed out by tractor, as was the case with the Golden Fleece
terminal, which used a tractor specially fitted with railway knuckle coupler
and air reservoirs, to enable safe movement from the yard (down the grade) to
the depot and returning in the afternoon.
Various sidings existed between Mascot and
Botany although at this stage I recall only Gelco and Kellog's, it was the
Station Assistant/Shunter's job once a week to travel with an Up train as far
as the distant signal, to refill, trim the wick, as well as to make sure it was
alight. It was also his responsibility to clean and oil the points in the yard
each week.
vk2jlo