BOYANUP RAILWAY MUSEUM, Perth Australia
9th October 2011

By Bill Reid

(Designed for Widescreen Monitors)

We came upon Boynaup Railway Museum by accident, while traveling to elsewhere. Boyanup is 198 km south of Perth. We crossed over a rusting road crossing and further on yet another. On reaching the main road junction we saw a sign pointing north to Boyanup and mentioning the railway, which was only a mile or so northwards. Here we found that the two lines met at the site of Boyanup Station. It was interesting to find such a fair sized station and yard area. Very much rundown and having been closed a long time. However the old depot is still in use for storing old, renovated wagons and coaches, plus a couple of diesel passenger units.

Special passenger trains were once ran from here but only the renovation and storage takes place to day. The museum runs in conjunction with the larger Museum at Yellingup, further to the north.

We learned that one of the two branches running southwards is to rebuilt for Ore trains. Possibly to Bunbury, where there is already a large Ore Port.

The Boyanup line branched off the Perth-Bunbury line at Picton, on the northern edge of Bunbury and running south via Picton East, Dardanup West and Dardanup. Piction has a large industrial area attached to the railway. From Boyanup one line went to Busselton and the other to Pemberton. The Busselton branch has been lifted from the approach to Busselton but the Pemberton branch appears to be still complete. Likewise it is a very long route and could well be one of the longest 'closed' routes in Australia that remains compete. A short section has been taken over at Pemberton by a steam preservation group and is open to the public. From Boyanup the stations were, Gwindenup, Argyle, Donnybrpook, Brookhampton, Newlands, Balingup, North Greenbushes, Hester,
Bridge Town, Yarnup, Manjimup, Diamond Tree and Pemeberton.

The level crossing on West Road leading to Railway Road to the south of Boyanup. Left: Looking towards Busselton. Right: North towards Boyanup Jct.

The branch from Boyanup to Busselton. Level crossing on the Pemberton line.

The road junction from Railway lane onto Railway Road to the south of Boyanup

SOUTH SIDE OF THE MAIN ROAD AT BOYANUP

Ganger's Trolly Remains of a Chaffing Cutter

A Horse Cart Rusting Farm Machine

Left: The branch to Albany Looking north towards the Station. and depot. Right: Ditto Looking south.

The old Boyanup station 'General Store' Ideal for a visit to the museum

NORTH (STATION) SIDE OF THE MAIN ROAD AT BOYANUP

The line running south from Boyanup to Pemberton

A passenger coach bogie. Boynup Station area from the level crossing

A plough of some sort! An old rusting tractor

The Depot line, towards the depot and then looking south. N.B. the two wheel blocks, stopping anything running out from the Museum tracks.

The Water tower. Looks in good condition. Right: The two branches running south

Old loading bay in station area. Locomotive water supply.

Boyanup station platform remains and station sign. Is that 16km sign, from Picton! Looking north along the old platform
The station was an island platform with each branch running down each side

Old Depot signal

INSIDE THE OLD LOCO SHED

The shed was used as a passenger station by the preserved railway. I is now used as a store for preserved coaches and locos.

Preserved coach of the Leschenault Lady excursion train

Sign of the celebrations of the railway's 100th Anniversary in 1991. Station weighing machine

A Ganger's Trolly

Industrial scale static steam engines

Ventilated Box Van Diesel mechanical locomotive

AT THE REAR OF THE LOCOMOTIVE SHED

The water tender from steam loco "Leschnault Lady" that ran tourist special over the line.

Left: Vehicles within the old loco shed.. The track (nearest right) is the Bussleton line and far right the Pemberton line. They split up ahead as the head north to Picton as a single line.
Right: Old DMU power unit with wooden coaches at the rear. These and the two photos below are an excellent indication as to what the old trains looked like, in comparison to today's