Bowmans railway station was located at the junction of the Balaklava-Moonta railway line and the Adelaide-Port Augusta railway line in the town of Bowmans, South Australia.
History An isolated horse-drawn and gravity operated tramway was built to deliver grain from the plains east of Port Wakefield in the areas of Balaklava, Halbury and Hoyle's Plains (now Hoyleton) to that port. The line was converted into a steam railway and extended to Kadina and Wallaroo in 1878. Bowmans railway station was opened in 1870. It was named after E. and C. Bowman who were well known pastoralists and led the estate along which the railway passed.Names of South Australian Railway Stations with meanings and derivations Bowmans town a link to 1840s start of pastoral family's properties push to top of Spencer Gulf in South Australia It became a junction with the opening of a new railway line from Salisbury to Snowtown and Redhill. That line was later extended from there to Port Pirie in 1936. Facilities at the station included a timber clad station building, crossing loop, watering facilities and refreshment rooms with a triangle at the Balaklava end of the station yard.
The Port Pirie line was constructed as broad gauge and the Moonta line was constructed as narrow gauge. This problem was solved when the Moonta line was converted to broad gauge on 1 August 1927.Redhill Railway Opening 15 August 1925
Transfer to Australian National, closure and demolition In 1978, the station and all associated infrastructure was included in the transfer of South Australian Railways to Australian National. The Port Pirie line was converted from broad gauge to standard gauge in 1982 and Bowmans gradually lost its importance.Rail Agreement (Adelaide to Crystal Brook Railway) Act 1980 Government of Australia The last passenger trains to stop at the station were passenger trains from Adelaide to Port Pirie which ceased in the early 1980s. The broad gauge line through Bowmans closed on 4 April 1984 . The line was later removed and a lot of the station's infrastructure and lands were sold off by the state government.
Present day The disused railway platform is the only evidence of the station remaining as of now.Bowmans.Port Wakefield. All that is left of the large railway station and refreshment rooms at Bowmans The alignment of the southern entrance to the station was converted into a spur to service the Bowmans Rail intermodal terminal.[https://www.bowmansrail.com.au/ Bowmans Rail
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