Goulburn to Crookwell Rail Trail - Trail Description

Features

This Trail is not developed - It is one of 16 Potential Rail Trails in NSW

This proposed rail trail will link the regional centre of Goulburn with the rural town of Crookwell, to the northeast, a total distance of 57km. 

Goulburn is located 195km south west of Sydney, in the Southern Tablelands region of NSW. It offers many tourism and historic highlights for visitors. Crookwell is centred on farming industries and has an annual Potato Festival. 

The local rail trail committee, together with support from the Goulburn and Crookwell councils, sourced funding in November 2014 to have a feasibility study done to investigate the costs, benefits, and design of a rail trail between Goulburn to Crookwell.  Work to complete the overall rail trail development plan and obtain funding for construction is continuing. 

Description

The rail trail when constructed will pass through farming land and hilly terrain as it makes its way firstly across the Wollondilly River in Goulburn and then onto Crookwell. 

The abandoned railway crosses the Great Dividing Range to reach Crookwell (altitude 890m) The 57km line from Goulburn opened in 1902, and operations ceased in 1985. In addition another line branched off from Roslyn to Taralga which closed in 1957. 

The local Goulburn Crookwell Rail Trail group are advocating the creation of a rail trail along this route. At the Crookwell end, the Goulburn Crookwell Heritage Railway Inc. is proposing to run rail trolleys but the terrain would also permit a rail-side trail on that part of the route. 

Background Information

The Crookwell branch lies in the central south of the state. It starts in the city of Goulburn and heads north-west to Crookwell.

The line was built at the urging of local farmers, who needed a reliable way to get their produce to market. The terrain around the line is quite hilly, and roads were frequently cut during bad weather. During its lifetime, the line carried passengers, stock, general goods, iron ore and superphosphate. By the 1970s, traffic had declined considerably, and by the mid-1980s the line was unprofitable. The last train ran on 25th August 1985.

In November 2001 the Goulburn Crookwell Heritage Society gained accreditation to run tourist rail trikes and similar vehicles over the line. Their operations are currently based at the Crookwell end of the line. 

Links

For further information on development of Rail Trails in NSW, click NSW trail info

For the Crookwell Potato Festival, click here

October 2020

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.