Pine Creek railway station

Pine Creek railway station is a disused railway station and museum on the former North Australia Railway, in Pine Creek, Northern Territory, Australia. The station is located 235km from the original Darwin station, and was the southern terminus of the line until 1914. The station precinct is the most complete remaining example of infrastructure associated with the line.HistoryPalmerston and Pine Creek RailwayThe construction of the railway line from Palmerston reached Pine Creek in 1889, providing easier access to the goldfields from Port Darwin in the north, however by the time of completion the local mining industry was entering a decline. The station yard was designed with two sidings, each capable of handling forty-two goods wagons to allow for traffic growth at the terminus. Mixed passenger and goods trains began revenue services on 1 October 1889, operated by the Palmerston division of South Australian Railways and hauled by "W" class Beyer Peacock locomotives. Three trains per week served Pine Creek, arriving in the evenings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and departing on the return journey to Palmerston at 8 am the following morning. The journey time was approximately nine and a half hours, including a refreshment stop at Adelaide River.The passenger fare between Palmerston and Pine Creek was initially charged at a rate of 4d per mile for first class and 3d per mile for second class, relatively expensive given the passenger accommodations on the trains were criticised as being more suited to livestock than paying passengers. Similarly, tariffs for transport of heavy goods and machinery by rail to Pine Creek were seen by many as being set too high to promote growth of the mining industry even before the line opened, despite this being a major reason for its construction.