Although the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner did not become a statutory body until 22 September 1917, the Consulting Railways Engineer who 2 months later became the Engineer - in - Chief had his own correspondence series relating to all Commonwealth Railway matters by 1913. It is a single number system with one run of numbers being in use from 1913 and recorded firstly by the Engineer - in - Chief, then the Acting Commissioner, Commonwealth Railways, followed by the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner and now by the Australian National Railways Commission.
Each file relating to a new subject is given the next consecutive single number, later files on the same subject also being given this same primary number. Files on the same general subject are often given a secondary number of subject significance (which is recorded on the subject index card relating to the primary number). Files are also often split into parts, so that while some files will have only a primary number and a part number, others will have three numbers. The register records the single or primary number only. In two cases, CR5948 "Standardisation of Railway gauges - general" and 7341 "Contracts - general" separate series developed from the primary numbers - that is, correspondence files, single number series with "R.S.D." (Railways Standardization Division) prefix and correspondence files relating to tenders and contracts, single number series with "T" (Tender) prefix.
A prefix "CR" (Commonwealth Railways) is used at times for this series. A few samples of file titles like "Annual report 1961/62" "Legal matters- general", "Works supervised by Mr. Clough at Darwin", "Nilpen Station C.A.R." and "Damage to Engine T 218 at Quorn on 1.10.46" indicates the variety of subjects dealt with
This series also includes a number of drawings. These drawings are predominantly of the Alice Springs yard.
The cream Commonwealth Railway file covers have a green binding. The number of the file is stamped on top right hand corner and on the bottom of the file. The file title and titles of related files with file numbers appear on the front cover. The items are contained in soft top and bottom cardboards, and secured together by a paper binder on a blue linen triangle.
B300 was transferred from South Australia to the ACT in November 2021.
Quantity in agency custody
Approx. 50sh.m. held by CA2105, Australian National Railways Commission Approx.
Previous series unregistered
Correspondence files, multiple number series with an annual prefix
relating to Commonwealth Railways, 1920-1945
Correspondence files, multiple number series relating to Commonwealth
Railways, 1946-?
Subsequent series unregistered
Correspondence files relating to tenders and contracts, single number series with