In conjunction with the Colo Vale Village Market the historic Colo Vale Railway Station will be open to the public on September 1.

The open day will allow a glimpse into how the station has functioned during its 92-year history.

According to Jeanette Schofield’s  “Memories of Colo Vale” the village would not have developed when and where it did but for the coming of the railway. 

There were scattered farms in the district before that time but most were closer to the roads.  

From the outset, “Coleman’s Siding” as it was first named when opened on May 1, 1883, was a busy goods centre (it was re-named “Colo Vale” in 1885). 

Produce from the surrounding farms as far as the present Bargo would have been sent to Sydney from there as that was the closest railway station for those farmers. 

Timber from the various sawmills in the area, livestock, wool and other farm produce all made the station a busy place.

The Post Office was located at the station until 1913 when the combined tasks of Stationmaster and Postmaster became too great and the post office was moved to a separate location.

Some steam trains used the line right up to the 1960s but the service was gradually reduced, goods traffic discontinued and stations downgraded until the line was eventually closed to passenger traffic and replaced by buses in 1975. 

After that date there were a couple of “Specials” but in 1988, following the failure of the wooden trestle bridge at Braemar, the line was officially closed.

The station building was restored by the Colo Vale Community Association in 1997 and trains at Colo Vale are now but a memory, but they are remembered fondly by all those who used them.

The Colo Vale Community Association with permission of Transport Heritage NSW invites all interested people to take advantage of a rare opportunity to visit Colo Vale’s historic station from 9.00am to 2.00pm on September 1.