The Stawell to Grampians railway was first used in 1882. Built to transport stone from the Mt Difficult Heatherlie “Grampians freestone” quarry to Stawell for local use and transport to Melbourne and elsewhere. Last train 1942 officially closed 1949.
vrhistory.com/VRMaps/Vic1930…
The railway was sometimes referred as a 'tramway'. Light rail was used, 50lb, compared to the usual 60lb or better for most VR branch lines.
Line profile Stawell to Grampians
victorianrailways.net/grades/grampia…
Picnic trains from Stawell were run on occasion in the early days.
A regular timetabled passenger service was not provided.
Illustrated Australian News Wed 25 Nov 1885 Page 203
'PICNIC TO THE GRAMPIANS'
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…
Stawell, Grampians line junction in 1982
Mark Bau
wimmera-w-b-w.blogspot.com/2013/02/railwa…
Note the light rail.
When the line closed most of the rail was lifted, sleepers left in place.
Survey Camp, Grampian Freestone Quarries c. 1880
SLV
slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/s…
Heatherlie quarry
"Some of the more notable buildings in Melbourne that used stone from the Heatherlie Quarry are the old GPO building, Parliament House, Melbourne Town Hall and the Harbour Trust Building."
araratadvertiser.com.au/story/6405911/…
Some rail and trolley at the Heatherlie Quarry
wimmera-w-b-w.blogspot.com/2013/02/railwa…
The line was opened in 1882 and was initially run by the public works department - who used the stone from the quarry, taken over by Victorian Railways in 1905.
Heatherlie Quarry is an educational place to visit. It's located 5 minutes from a campground and less than 20 minutes from Halls Gap.
grampiansguide.com.au/explore-locati…
Various remnants of the line remain today.
Former rail bridge
smoke.com.au/~ic/walks/heat…
Stawell Railway Station and rail yards c. 1922
William Boyd
Museums Victoria Collections collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/795848
Three double slips in line!
Stone blocks up to 11 tons were moved on the line.
(1 ton = 1,016 kg).
The Grampians railway now forms the Grampians Rail Trail
railtrails.org.au/trail?view=tra…
Section of the former railway walking track at Heatherlie
wimmera-w-b-w.blogspot.com/2013/02/railwa…
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