With the closure of the rail maintenance support role in 2005, the local State Mine Railway organisation took interest in the Eskbank railway station, goods shed, locomotive depot and precinct and now leases the area. Over the last 7years a very careful, detailed and approved gradual restoration of Eskbank has being underway restoring some of the aspects of the precinct.
With the full restoration, tidying up and preservation of the Eskbank railway station area, this will allow people to see the historic station as it once was during the 1882-1925 period.
The long term plans are for the Lithgow State Mine Railway (LSMR) to act as a tourist railway link connecting with the Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre (ERHC) and vice versa. This will hopefully see a proposal which will see steam trains depart Eskbank precinct and travel to State Mine Railway location and back with tourists onboard.
Here is a map showing the currently leased Eskbank railway precinct area outlined in red as a guide including Eksbank railway station, the goods sheds and Eskbank locomotive depot.
TOURISM POTENTIAL
By restoring Eskbank back to its original status and making it tourist friendly, it will open up untapped potential for more tourism for Lithgow to gain from domestic and international visitors. The local benefits could see local businesses getting more spending time in Lithgow and people visiting the local shops as a result.
WANT TO HELP US?
To become actively involved with either the LSMR or the ERHC project, you need to become a member of the LSMR which then allows you access to the sites and working bees. Please see our membership page on this link.
(This webpage has being created for ERHC by Phil Buckley).
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