Tri-Gauge at Port Pirie Junction

After the colonization of Australia rivalries by various interest groups associated with the construction of pioneering railways to link the hinterland to the coastal regions could not settle on a uniform rail width.

In Victoria and South Australia it was decided to utilize the Irish broad gauge 5'3" (1,600mm) whereas New South Wales opted for the English standard gauge 4'8½" (1,435mm) that was becoming common in Europe and North America. To make matters worse Queensland and Western Australia felt that it would be cheaper to build their railways using narrow gauge 3'6" (1,067mm) track. Unfortunately South Australia also used this misguided logic to complete the northern parts of their system ending up with both broad and narrow gauge. The final insult to all of this folly was the construction of the last east west link in 1917 between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie with standard gauge rail. This left the preposterous scenario of the traveller between Brisbane and Perth having to change trains eight times, five because of different rail gauges.

In 1937 Port Pirie was linked to Port Augusta by a new standard gauge line and the South Australian broad gauge was extended through from Adelaide. An existing narrow gauge line from Broken Hill via Peterborough meant that Port Pirie then had the dubious honour of being the only place in the world to boast three different working rail gauges and they all converged at a location known as Port Pirie Junction.

It was a hive of activity when I visited there as a young lad in the early 1950's. My uncle, Wally Zanker was a locomotive driver with the Commonwealth Railways. He and Auntie Ruth lived with their family just a short distance from the station at Solomontown. Their son John was a fireman with the South Australian Railways, so there was a strong railway culture at the Zanker household and I spent many happy times holidaying with them.

Getting to Port Pirie from Adelaide was an experience in itself with the usual steam power being one of the mighty '520' class 'Northerns' which would rush the train to its destination in double quick time reaching 70 mph on some sections of the track.

The road bridge over the tracks near the station was a train spotter's paradise. On the standard gauge you could always sight the then new Clyde built GM (EMD) diesel electrics lurking near the servicing depot or working the 'Transcontinental' from Kalgoorlie. Maybe one of the Budd 'RDC's' could be sighted heading out to Port Augusta and through to Woomera. If you were really lucky you might even spot some steam in the form of a 'C' class 'ten wheeler' or even one of the new 'L' class 2-8-2 'MacArthurs'.

On the narrow gauge there was always the sturdy little 'T' class 4-8-0's and later '400' class 'Garratts' hauling ore concentrate from Broken Hill to the smelters and of course there was the broad gauge from Adelaide.

I remember well one early morning visit to the station catching the arrival of a huge freight from Adelaide heading for the transfer yards further down towards Pt. Pirie, it was hauled by one of the majestic 500B class4-8-4 'Palefaces' and it seemed to stretch out for almost a mile in length.

The most significant time for the Junction occurred upon the arrival of the 'East West Express' from Adelaide or the 'Transcontinental' from Kalgoorlie where the passengers had to change trains and have their luggage transferred to continue their journey.

Port Pirie Junction has faded into history now as both the broad and narrow gauges are gone and the standard gauge bypasses the original location by a few kilometres to the east, however it will always remain as one of my most treasured memories.