Re: Pimba, Woomera & Roxby Downs

[Roy Wilke <3891@bit.net.au>]

The answer to most of your questions, Garry, is "no."

The Woomera branch was built in the 1950s to supply the WRE
establishment and terminated at the Woomera aerodrome.

The traffic was "military."

SAR provided a  passenger service with a Bluebird railmotor.

I think the branch was closed when the ELDO (European Launch Development
Orbiter (?) - the forerunner of "Ariane") project was abandoned in the
late 1960s.

There is some info available in the AGPS book "Fire In The Desert" -
which is available for about $100 from Commonwealth bookshops.

Roxby Downs has never had a rail connection - as it postdates Woomera
and ELDO by decades.

Garry Hoddinett wrote:

> Does the Pimba - Woomera branch still exist?  Earlier this year I
> passed through Pimba and there seemed to be at least a long siding
> disappearing to the north away from the TAR and also, unfortunately,
> from the road.  This line seemed to be in the general direction of
> where the Woomera branch did (does?) go. Further does rail carry any
> traffic for the Roxby Downs mining operation? As Pimba/ Woomera would
> be the closest rail access point?  If so, what traffic is carried?