Emerging off the Tottenham NSW branch line 4908 & 4911 arrive at Bogan Gate NSW as the sun sets with 22 partially loaded "CHOY" ballast wagons and two "CHTY" ballast ploughs, one either end of the train. The train is bound for Parkes NSW and then Temora NSW.

The "CHOY" ballast hoppers were buily in Victoria during the 1980's for VLine and The Met as the VHMF, VHMY & VZMF series. They were later sold to Great Northern Railroad and reclassed as "GHMF", after GNR folded CFCLA purchased them and reclassed as "CHMF" and "CHOY". They are now owned by Southern Shorthaul Railroad. It has been mentioned, but not confirmed, that some 30 of the hoppers are in fact converted "VHBY" briquette wagons being converted between 1984 & 1986.

Southern Shorthaul Railroad are providing the motive power to the UGLRL ballast train for a works programme on the Tottenham NSW branch line. Large sections of the track were damaged by the November 2022 floods with the track yet to be fully repaired.

The Bogan Gate grain handling facilities were closed after the 2017 harvest, although the 621 metre long Grain Siding is still in use for the storage of ballast trains and track machines from time to time.

Not a lot happens in Bogan Gate these days, although the local pub, opposite the station, was refurbished in 2022 and serves a good lunch with plenty of cold beer on tap. The general store and post office is located in the next street down from the hotel.

The station was opened on the 15th of December 1896 and a signal box added in 1902 next to the station building, both are closed today. The station was closed on the 18th of November 1989 when the last "Silver City Comet" passenger train ran. The signal box lasted a little longer and closed around 2007 when Train Order Working was introduced.

The stationmaster cottage, behind the station was not missed, it was jacked up and sawn in half and taken by truck to another location in Bogan Gate, the current brick house, built by the new owners of the land, replaced it. The yard 50 foot manual locomotive turntable was also removed after steam locomotives were replaced with diesels which do not need turning.

The large GrainCorp terminal was closed after the 2017 harvest, another loss of jobs to the town. Grain still goes by rail but from the Manildra Group terminal at Bogan Gate West.

Despite the population loss and many businesses closing in the town the pub still operates and was recently renovated in 2022, it serves as a community meeting point in the town.

1855hrs on Tuesday 05th of March 2024.

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