Meeandah railway station

Meeandah railway station is an abandoned station on the Pinkenba railway line, just 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) from the Brisbane central business district; 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi) from Central station by rail. It closed as a staffed station in 1930, reopened as an unattended gate in 1931 and with full closure on 27 September 1993.

Meeandah
LocationKingsford Smith Drive, Pinkenba
Coordinates27.4297°S 153.1083°E / -27.4297; 153.1083
Owned byQueensland Rail
Line(s)
  Pinkenba Line
Platforms1 side platform
ConnectionsBus
Other information
Fare zone2
History
Opened1st April, 1897
Closed27 September 1993
Services
Preceding station Queensland Rail Following station
Bunour
towards Roma Street
 Pinkenba Line Pinkenba
Terminus

The name Meeandah comes from the English word "meander," after the twisting and turning route of the nearby Brisbane River.[1] Meeandah railway station falls within the suburb of Pinkenba.

History

The line to Pinkenba opened on 1 April 1897. During World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945), troop camps were located in the area because of deep berthing available to ships at Pinkenba on the mouth of the Brisbane River. Passenger ships of the Orient Steam Navigation Company—later P&O—used the Pinkenba wharf, and special trains ran from Brisbane.[2]

The station mistress was withdrawn and the station closed in 1930 due to economic measure brought on by the Great Depression. With public outcry by the local residents and workers to Commissioner Davidson, the station was reopened in 1931 as an unattended gate.

The HMS Nabreekie Mobile Naval Air Base and a large army camp defense storage and warehouse facility were located near Meeandah railway station during World War II; the army camp remains today as the Damascus Barracks.[3]

In 1988, part of the Pinkenba line was electrified; however, only as far as the earlier Eagle Farm station. Diesel-hauled passenger services in stainless steel carriages infrequently operated passenger services through Meeandah. All passenger services on the line were suspended on 27 September 1993 by the Goss Labor Party government's rationalisation of the state rail network with the suspending or closing of unprofitable and underutilised rail lines.

Current status

All that remains of Meeandah railway station today is its original low-level platform.

Replacement bus service

The bus stop for the replacement TransLink bus service (303) is immediately beside Meeandah station in Kingsford Smith Drive.

  • Sign advising that buses replace trains
  • The station in 1899

See also

References
  1. Potter, Ron. "Place Names of South East Queensland". Piula Publications. Archived from the original on 30 May 2002. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  2. Hallam, Greg (2005). Brisbane's Biography (Steamtrain Sunday). QR Limited.
  3. Dunn, Peter (9 June 2003). "Army Camp at Meeandah, Brisbane during WW2". Retrieved 25 November 2007.
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