Talk:Port Pirie railway station (Ellen Street)

Proposal to combine articles
I have been looking at the 4 articles on Port Pirie's stations. Each is rather brief and there are some inaccuracies (or a reference does not actually provide the key point made).

Unless a reader knows something about the subject already, it's difficult to comprehend the way in which passenger stations changed in Port Pirie.

I think a more comprehensive presentation would result from having one article dealing with all of them (with redirects from Ellen Street, Mary Elie Street, Solomontown x 2, and Coonamia station). More photos, a collapsed set of track diagrams (from NRM) and some more references would bolster it.

Comments, anyone? If none, I'll do the work. SCHolar44 (talk) 04:50, 7 August 2019 (UTC)


 * Hi SCHolar44


 * I am not keen on proposals that suggest the combining of articles because the result can be little better than a bulked-up disambiguation page. However, I would support your proposal provided it will result in something much bigger and more useful than the sum of the four existing articles and takes account of the following comments:


 * 1) The new article needs to be about how the rail system fitted into and worked within the Port Pirie urban area and the role of the four stations in respect to this rather the other way around.
 * 2) Port Pirie (Ellen Street) railway station is an article which is capable of being expanded into a much larger article and should be retained as a separate article. This is because the article is currently focused only on the building’s role in the rail system.  There is no discussion about its building form and its historical role in Port Pirie, while its use (since 1972) as a museum operated by the National Trust of South Australia is mentioned in one sentence.  I found three heritage reports on the South Australian Department of Environment and Water website that include content about this building.  These contains additional sources that can be consulted.  Also, the building was listed on the South Australian Heritage Register on 26 November 1981 – there will be a proclamation in the South Australian Government Gazette published on that day which can be cited.
 * 3) Port Pirie (Mary Elie Street) railway station may be an article that can be expanded subject to what can found about its original and current uses.


 * I have some comments re your recent edits of Port Pirie railway station – I will place these on your talk page. Regards Cowdy001 (talk) 10:15, 7 August 2019 (UTC)

No thanks - they're different stations, on different sites, at different times, and mashing them into one article would just be confusing (as attempts at merging distinct topics usually wind up). They just all need a bit of work: there's no reason those new references, track diagrams, photos, etc., couldn't go into the existing articles. This is especially so because some of them are notable buildings as well (one is state heritage listed). An article about railways in the Port Pirie urban area would belong at Railways in Port Pirie, not mashing together perfectly decent station topics. The Drover&#39;s Wife (talk) 05:23, 7 August 2019 (UTC)

Proposal to amend titles of two articles on Port Pirie's railway stations and add two new ones
Thank you for your comments, Cowdy001 and The Drover&#39;s Wife.

I have now prepared substantive upgrades to the existing articles about Port Pirie's passenger railway stations: • Port Pirie (Ellen Street) railway station

• Port Pirie Junction railway station

• Port Pirie (Mary Elie Street) railway station

• Coonamia railway station. I have uploaded Ellen Street and Coonamia; the others are awaiting some references and will be ready soon.

Additionally, I've prepared articles on the two stations not currently covered: • the original Port Pirie station at what eventually became known as Port Pirie South railway yard

• the first Solomontown station (not the parenthetic name for Port Pirie Junction).

The articles need to be named consistently, and I propose them as:• Port Pirie's first railway station

• Port Pirie (Ellen Street) railway station

• Port Pirie (Solomontown) railway station

• Port Pirie Junction railway station

• Port Pirie (Mary Elie Street) railway station

• Port Pirie's last railway station (Coonamia stopping place).

I have already supplemented the disambiguation page to list the 2 additional stations but have not yet implemented the proposed title changes there.

At present I have covered the sequence of changes resulting from gauge changes with a panel titled "Port Pirie's six stations and the 'multi-gauge muddle'", which includes a timeline diagram with reasons for the construction/demise etc. That may be enough; I'll see how things look once the six articles are up.

I'd appreciate your comments. SCHolar44 (talk) 09:13, 7 February 2020 (UTC)

Article names have been changed
Just to report that I have taken "Move" action to amend the titles of the Ellen Street and Mary Elie Street stations articles, as discussed. I have also amended the Port Pirie railway station disambiguation page.

Currently I'm waiting to have the redirect page for Solomontown railway station (to Port Pirie Junction) deleted — it was originated long ago by someone who wasn't aware that there was a station named Solomontown before the PP Junction station, i.e. they are different stations. Unfortunately, an Admin who received my request for speedy deletion knocked it back, and it's in limbo as a "Deletion refused" item. If an Admin reads this, I would be more than happy to repeat the reasons so I can upload the two articles.

Cheers, SCHolar44 (talk) 02:43, 12 March 2020 (UTC)


 * You don't need to have the redirect deleted if you're just going to create an article over the top of it - just go here and do your thing! The Drover&#39;s Wife (talk) 04:04, 12 March 2020 (UTC)


 * Thanks for getting back,The Drover&#39;s Wife. :-)


 * I may be misinterpreting you, but I'm not seeking to create an article over the top of the present one. I want anyone who searches for "Solomontown railway station" not to be redirected to the Port Pirie Junction article but to be taken to the "Solomontown railway station" article I've written (but can't yet upload). This is all because there were two railway stations on the same spot, consecutively: Solomontown, narrow gauge ground-level, 1911–1937 (then demolished); and Port Pirie Junction, platform-level, 3 gauges 1937–1967.


 * I have a bad feeling that the solution is staring me in the face. Please be gentle with me! Cheers, SCHolar44 (talk) 04:34, 12 March 2020 (UTC)


 * Follow the link I just gave you and replace the redirect with your article! The Drover&#39;s Wife (talk) 05:59, 12 March 2020 (UTC)


 * [Sound of heel of hand hitting forehead repeatedly.] Terrific -- thank you!! What a nifty work-around! Done. SCHolar44 (talk) 23:32, 12 March 2020 (UTC)