Mundaring Branch Railway

The Mundaring Branch Railway is an historical section of the original Eastern Railway main line across the Darling Scarp in the Western Australian Government Railways system.

Name variation
It has had a number of names in WAGR records – including the following:


 * Smiths Mill Line (locality later known as Glen Forrest) after the Eastern Railway was moved to the new line to the north – 1890s to 1920s.
 * The Mundaring Loop, or Mundaring Line – 1930s to 1950s.

There was confusion in the naming of the Mahogany Creek Deviation. The Mahogany Creek railway stopping place was on the Mundaring Branch Railway between Glen Forrest and Mundaring. However the Mahogany Creek Deviation was the incorrect name for the new line that followed the line of the Jane Brook to Mount Helena. It was on the second route of the Eastern Railway constructed of the Eastern Railway (Western Australia) 1880s to early 1890s, and it passed through the Swan View Tunnel, well to the north of the original Mahogany Creek stopping place and the creek itself.

Connections
The Branch commenced at Bellevue Railway Station, moving up the slope to Greenmount. Steep gradients and deviation inclines occurred through to Glen Forrest.

It connected with the newer line at Mount Helena.

Mundaring was the junction point where the Mundaring Weir Branch Railway commenced.

Timetabled passenger services on this branch (until closure in early 1954) tended to terminate at Sawyers Valley.

Closure
Traffic ceased running 1954, the line was not closed by Parliament until 1966.

Following closure, it eventually became part of the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail.

Stopping places and sidings

 * from Bellevue...
 * Greenmount
 * Greenmount Quarry siding
 * Mountain Quarry siding
 * Boya
 * Hudman Road Quarry siding
 * Darlington
 * Glen Forrest (originally Smith's Mill)
 * Statham Brickworks Siding
 * Nyaannia
 * Zamia (highest point on line at 1,007 feet)
 * Mundaring
 * Mundaring Weir line just outside Mundarin railway yard
 * Sawyers Valley
 * then to Mount Helena...