Railway Hamley Bridge, South Australia

different gauges @ hamley bridge: on left broad gauge s class locomotive , on right narrow gauge y class locomotive

the original railway through town 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm). gladstone railway line extends through towns of owen , balaklava hamley bridge , opened in 1880. initially, built 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm), hamley bridge break of gauge station rather junction.

a new railway station established few hundred metres north of original in 1880 , @ first known alma railway station. stone building, occupied private residence today, represents fine architecture of era , heritage listed along signal box , water tanks, , 2 of bridges on river light.

as hamley bridge 40 miles (64.4 km) capital , major port, break of gauge became sore point, leading lobbying on decades extend narrow gauge way capital , port. trains reaching hamley bridge may have travelled 600 miles (965.6 km) oodnadatta, illustrating poor design of break of gauge. break of gauge @ hamley bridge cramped , poorly sited due rivers, bridges, gradients , curves, difficult improve upon. there shunting delays , shortage of trucks. counter proposal ease congestion @ inadequate facilities @ hamley bridge break of gauge shift break of gauge northwards balaklava, opposed. alternately, break of gauge may have been moved northwards owen

hamley bridge ceased break of gauge station in 1927 when narrow gauge lines far north gladstone converted broad gauge, gladstone becoming break of gauge station in lieu.

24 hour per day operation made possible installation of floodlighting in 1908.