Rocky Ponds railway station was a regional railway station located on the Main Southern line, serving the Southern Tablelands town of Galong. The station was moved from its first location when the railway line was duplicated in the 1910s.
History The first Rocky Ponds station was opened in March 1877 when the Main Southern railway line was extended from Binalong to , though a platform for passengers was not provided until 1 September 1880.Main South railway line NSWrail.net, accessed 21 May 2025 The station was named for the nearby Rocky Ponds Creek.Rocky Ponds (1st) railway station NSWrail.net, accessed 21 May 2025
On 23 May 1887, a railway guard named Thomas Moloney was thrown from a train and over a railway bridge located near Rocky Ponds station, breaking his neck. His body was found three hours later, and an inquest into the event deemed his death an accident.MELANCHOLY RAILWAY ACCIDENT Goulburn Herald (NSW: 1881–1907). Trove, National Library of Australia. 26 May 1887. p.2, accessed 21 May 2025
As part of duplication works from 1915 to 1916, a junction branching from the main line was constructed south of Galong railway station called Galong Temporary Junction, and another called Rocky Ponds Temporary Junction was constructed north of Cunningar. This deviation allowed a double track line to be constructed but meant that the original Rocky Ponds station would no longer be used. The original station was closed on 16 April 1916, and the new station built on the deviation was opened on the same day.RAILWAY CHANGES IN SOUTH The Sun (Sydney, NSW: 1910–1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 17 April 1916. p.4, accessed 21 May 2025Rocky Ponds railway station NSWrail.net, accessed 23 May 2025
On 30 June 1948, the South-West Mail train derailed near Rocky Ponds station due to a break in the rail on the line. Four passengers were killed and twenty others were injured. The derailment recorded the first railway fatalities in New South Wales since the Murulla rail accident in 1926.RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR HARDEN The Corowa Free Press (NSW: 1875–1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 2 July 1948. p.3, accessed 23 May 2025DERAILED TRAIN The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842–1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 30 July 1948. p.3, accessed 23 May 2025
Rocky Ponds was closed to passenger services in March 1975, and the station was subsequently demolished. No trace of the station remains extant.
Description Before the construction of the passenger platform, the first station only consisted of a watertank and siding where trains could pass each other along the single-track line.OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO MURRUMBURRAH The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW: 1871–1912). Trove, National Library of Australia. 17 March 1877. p.245, accessed 22 May 2025
The second station consisted of two brick side platforms with small wooden station shelters located on each platform. Two tracks ran through the station, with no siding provided at the new location.
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