Where is? (or more precisely) Where was? Darling Island and its Signal Box?
Darling Island was located around the corner from Darling Harbour. It was a little known area bounded by Pyrmont Bridge Road, Darling Harbour and Gipps St Pyrmont. In its heyday, it, in conjunction with Union St Signal Box,
These two photographs were taken fron Union St., Signal box, looking West, towards which was located near to Pyrmont Bridge, controlled the traffic onto the Wharves and
various sidings around the Pyrmont area. The area that was Darling Island encompassed all of the wharves as well as a
large storage siding area, a wagon repair centre, Coal storage sidings for
Pyrmont Power Station (Hardly ever used for coal), mainly used to store Wool
consignments that could not be accepted into Darling Harbour due to other
traffic, and access to the Meat sidings at Jones Bay. Traffic arriving via
the goods line from Wardell Rd and destined for Darling Harbour had to pass
through Darling Island. It was a very busy area with at least two 19 class engines shunting continuously
all day and most of the night. Incoming engines requiring water could be accommodated
under the water hose, located on the ash pit siding adjacent to the signal box.
The Signal box was manned from 0700 Sunday to 1900 on Saturday, only being
closed for the period 1900 Saturday until 0700 Sunday, it was staffed by three
regular staff with relief staff attending as necessary. The lever frame in its heyday consisted of 28 levers and a large wheel to
operate the crossing gates outside the signal box ahead of the home signal under
Gipps St. the track diagram in the signal box was of the light out, for
approaching train, type. Located adjacent to the signal box was the signal
sectionmans hut. The signal box was of standard design although constructed low
to the ground, (being only 3 steps up from ground level). Unfortunately I do not possess any photographs of the signal box although it
did appear briefly in a movie,'Strictly Ballroom' it was used as the home of the parents of the girl who danced with Paul Mecurio, if you saw the movie a '49' class locco appeared briefly in front of the house.
could be wrong on the title. Why, you may ask do I mention this signal box, well as Darling Harbour
disappeared so did Darling island, although part of it lives on in a different
guise, that of the light rail network. Anybody traveling on the light rail arriving at
the Casino stop is traveling very near to the actual railway route, the signal
box would have been about where the buses stop now. Once the light rail leaves
the Casino stop and proceeds into the cutting it is traveling on the alignment
of the #1 siding Pymont Power House Storage sidings. The next stop on the light
rail, was the site of the Shell siding, with the next stop being what was
Gillespies siding, (a wheat/flour siding). As of 13/08/2000 the light rail network
continues over the Viaduct, above Wentworth Park and continues through the Old Glebe
tunnel to its new terminus at Catherine St Lilyfield, just short of where the goods
line branched off at Balmain Rd. Signal Box.
Hopefully, one day as soon as the Goods line is phased out (I am led to believe that
only one train a day uses the line) we might see the light rail extended even further.
Darling Island Jct, this area is now occupied by the Sydney Star Casino.
One of the main wharves in the area was 13 Pyrmont which was the main berth for
incoming passenger traffic.
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