Dubbo Tracker Riley Cyclepath extension - Trail Description

Features

Great news!  This trail has now been completely sealed along the entire length

A short but exciting trail next to the disused Dubbo to Molong Railway Line. Close up views of an old railway trestle viaduct and huge concrete and steel railway bridge. Ride across the beautiful Macquarie River, with huge river red gums and abundant native bird life. Close to the famous Western Plains Zoo and historic Dundullimal Homestead.

The new bridge is complete, and the trail is also finished and was made open to the public over the Easter break.  The trail was officially opened by the local member Troy Grant in May 2012.

Extra Options

• Visit the famous Western Plains Zoo
• Visit the restored Historic Dundullimal Homestead
• Ride the entire Tracker Riley Cyclepath alongside the river
• Stop at the zoo or Dundullimal for a refreshing coffee and cake
• Check out the other railway bridge on the north side of town as you ride under it

Description

Access Points

• Macquarie St & Margaret Cres junction
• Dundullimal Homestead
• Western Plains Zoo

Western Plains Zoo to Dundullimal (3km)

• Take the sealed path that follows the Obley Rd South from the Zoo
• A little bit of an uphill push after crossing small bridge
• Turn left at the gate into Dundullimal, you then have the option of going to the right to Dunndullimal, or straight ahead towards the river.

Dundullimal to Macquarie St (1.5km)

• Leaving Dundullimal, rejoin the cycle path and head north east towards the river.
• Follow the path across the river and alongside old rail line to Macquarie St.

For further information and maps, contact the Dubbo Visitor information centre.

Background Information

The Molong- Dubbo railway line is a closed railway line in western New South Wales, Australia. It branched off of the Broken Hill railway line at Molong and paralleled the Main West line before rejoining it at Dubbo. The line was designed with gentler grades than the steeper section of the Main Western line via Wellington, but this resulted in it taking a meandering course (131km in length for a point-to point distance of 85km).

The line is particularly scenic, and comprised several steel bridges and some significant engineering works. The New South Wales Government Railways had intentions for it to become the mainline to Dubbo. The line was approved in 1916, but the First World War saw its construction delayed until 1920. It opened in 1925 with expectations of high traffic as ten crossing loops and significant attended passenger station facilities were provided. It never reached its full potential however.

Passenger services were operated by CPH type rail motors between 1932 and 1974, with the occasional diversion of other mainline trains over the line. The rail motor was withdrawn in September 1974 along with many other branch services during a nation-wide fuel crisis. The line saw considerable local grain haulage however, but the general freight downturn in the 1980s, the opening of the Ulan line, and a transfer of some local grain haulage to road transport by the State Rail Authority saw the line's demise, and it was truncated north of Yeoval in 1987 with the remainder officially closed in 1993

Links

For further information, or to report damage or problems:

Dubbo City Council

www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au

To view a copy of the Dubbo cycleways map click here

April 2012

To advertise your rail trail support business on this page, please click here.

Contact Us About This Trail

Email or click here: nsw@railtrails.org.au.