The Cessnock Branch is a private line owned and operated by the South Maitland Railways. Although it did carry passenger trains, it was mainly used to carry coal from the numerous collieries in the South Maitland area. As well as providing sidings for loading, there were a number of branches leading off the line leading to one or more collieries. Being a private railway, it saw the use of steam-hauled trains well after diesel had taken over on the government lines.
Today, the only traffic which currently remains (as of early 2001) is occasional coal trains from the Pelton Colliery to the south of Cessnock. Once double track for the whole length, now only the Up Main is used, with the Down Main lifted in many places.
Cessnock Line:
| East Greta | EGTA | East Greta, Greta |
| North Kurri Kurri | NKK | North Kurri Kurri, Kurri Kurri |
| Weston | WTN | Weston, Chinaman's Hollow |
| Abermain | ABN | Abermain, Chinaman's Hollow |
| Neath | NTH | Neath |
| Caledonia | CDA | Caledonia |
| Cessnock | CNK | Cessnock, Aberdare, Bellbird, Bellbird Heights |