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Mt Barker Junction
The brick station here today was built in 1943 and is no longer in use. The main standard gauge
line between Melbourne and Adelaide bypasses the platform on the northern side of the
yard.You might note that the track alongside the platform at one time had three rails - more of that
later!
But lets look back in history - click on each of the camera logos
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At the turn of the century
the elevated signal box
was a feature
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Bluebird Railcars
cross early one Saturday
morning in 1968
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The Junction; then was quite a substantial station with an elevated signal box and waiting room
on the present platform, a shelter shed on an island platform opposite and a forest of signals
on high masts. A turntable and single track engine shed were located on the southern side at
the Adelaide end of the yard
The shed was dismantled in 1904 and re-erected at Pinnaroo, whilst the buildings on the main
platform were demolished and replaced with today's brick building in 1943. The station was
closed and the island platform demolished in the early 1980s.
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![[IMAGE]](logos/haebich.gif)
As noted earlier when SteamRanger took over at Mt Barker there were originally three rails on the platform track.
SteamRanger trains trains stood on the two outer rails which are 1600mm apart or "broad gauge".
All SA Railways tracks in this area were
originally broad gauge and it was possible for through trains to operate from Adelaide to Victor
Harbor The inner two rails are 1435mm apart or "standard gauge". 
When the main line was converted both gauges were installed along the platform to allow
passengers from Adelaide the ability to interchange to SteamRanger's broad gauge trains, to
allow standard gauge track machinery to park off the main line and perhaps to allow future
extension of the standard gauge to Mt Barker.