Random Bollocks From A Semi-Retired Foamer!

AMPOL BRANCHLINE

PAGEWOOD

PART 2

THE LINE - Brad Peadon

 The branch was not very long, at 664 metres (2,178ft), I guess it was more a long siding.
However there was much of interest to the modeller over this distance.
 The points for the line faced Marrickville, branching off just east of today’s Page Street overbridge, passing through a boundary gate before immediately crossing
Ocean Street on a curve.
 This was the first of two crossings on the line, and being a main thoroughfare for traffic from Botany at the time, it was protected by Type F flashing lights from opening in 1958.
The lights were manually operated for train movements.
 While it has not been confirmed, it is assumed that the lights probably fell into disuse following the opening of thePage Street overbridge on December 4th, 1979 when Ocean Street became far quieter.
 The derelict remains of these lights survived into the mid 90s, quite possibly until the closure of the line when most signage and most rail removed.
 On crossing Ocean Street, the line continued to curve a little more, crossing the driveway access of a nearby house, before entering the narrow right of way between the rear fences of the Young Street housing on the west side, and
industrial estates to the east.
 These industrial businesses sit level to the paralleling Anderson Street, which put the branch up on
an elevated shelf for a much of its distance.
 After the Young Street backyards were passed, the expansive property of David Gelatine was to be seen. The closest structure to the formation was an office building that was in an advanced state of dereliction by 1993/4. Today, however, it has been refurbished and in use as the Treehouse Restaurant.
 Davis Gelatin, while never having any relationship with the railway line, had land that reached from Page Street right through to Anderson Street, which resulted in the line needing to run through their property. To date, no information of this agreement has been found.

 Soon after, the line curved more to the north east while passing another warehouse, crossed Baker
Street and entered the AMPOL terminal.
 The terminal was actually opened in 1955 by ‘United Petroleum Ltd’. The company name changed to ‘Anglo United Petroleum Ltd’ in 1957 and again in 1958 to ‘Total Oil Products Australia Ltd’. AMPOL purchased Total in 1984.
 Despite the name change, to this day the old branch is more commonly referred to as the Total branch.
 Back in the days of the branch, Baker Street was not the busy location it is today, the crossing signage being of a more simple Type B arrangement.
 Since opening in 1958, the yard layout changed three times before its ultimate closure, the most recent refurbishment of the yard and facilities being in 1994, just a couple of years before it would ultimately close.

Article: Brad Peadon
Photos: David Xuereb
Diagram: Brad Peadon

Junction with mainline at Gelco.
Intermediate staff hut and point levers.

Gates just beyond Ocean Street with the backs of residential properties at right, factories at left. The van in the distance (first street) mark Ocean Street.Ocean Street crossing, towards terminal, as it is today.

A tar path leads to the branch, with sleepers forming a crossing. No path appeared to exist on the west side of the track and it's usage is still unknown.

Following shots are all on heavily overgrown 'Davis Gelatin' land. The company had closed down some years prior and has been getting sold off.  

Below: Water treatment area for Davis Gelatin, below that, 

a pipe from here into the works.

Factory on south-west corner of crossing and Baker Street.

Same location today.

Old map noted during a display at Mascot library.

To date, there has been nothing to suggest either the sidings, 

or the loop, ever existed.

A different map, at the same exhibition, showed a triangle at 

Botany yard that never existed. 

It is thus thought that this may have been an idea that was never enacted upon.

There be more to come in Part 3.

We would like to hear from anyone who is able to contribute more photos or information on the AMPOL branch for us to include in a possible part 4.
Did you work on it, work at the terminal, shunt train over it, or just take some photos?

Please email us on our alcogoodwin email address.

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