Good Morning Ararat!
Ballarat - Ararat 1875
Ararat - Portland 1877
Ararat - Serviceton 1887
Ararat - Maryborough 1890
A major regional rail centre with locomotive maintenance facilities. Ararat had a 85' turntable from the late 1930s.
Ararat 1937
The original loco depot was moved to a new location.
This had an 85' turntable with 24 roads around it. There were plans to use H class steam locomotives on The Overland services, but that never eventuated. victorianrailways.net/signaling/comp…
ARARAT TURNTABLE WITH STEAM LOCO A2 CLASS 924 - Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…
c. late 1930s. The large turntable length at 85' obvious.
This was the largest turntable size that VR used. Most mainline turntables were 70', branch lines 53' or 50'.
THE RAILWAY STATION ARARAT c. 1880 viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE5616… via @Library_Vic
Loco left is F 172, the other loco at the platform appears to be another F class 2-4-0. F class were built in the 1870s most Phoenix Ballarat.
Most of the facilities at Ararat were cut back progressively as lines West & South converted to std gauge 1990. Line to Ballarat was closed but reopened 2004. Ararat to Maryborough was reopened in 2018 after a 13 year closure.
The Overland pauses at Ararat January 2020
R Dow
Ararat main platform standard gauge.
The ' Portland dock ' platform 5 3" gauge, this is used by VLine services from and to Ballarat.
R Dow January 2020
Railway Heritage Museum - Ararat
Open Friday and Sunday 1-4pm. Ararat Railway Station. ararat.vic.gov.au/railway-herita…
"The museum’s display is a reminder of the important role the railway played in shaping the region."
Film:
Last Steam and Remnants Ararat & Western Victoria August 1967
Video:
'The Overland departing from Ararat 4th January 2020'
I travelled on The Overland from Spencer Street to Ararat during a visit to Melbourne.
VR F class 2-4-0
No. 98 (pattern engine) built by Beyer Peacock England 1873.
Nos. 126 to 144 (even numbers), and 166 to 184 (even numbers) built Phoenix Ballarat 1876-79.
Subsequently known as F class.
Good Morning Gellibrand!
Gellibrand was an intermediate station on the Colac - Beech Forest - Crowes VR 2' 6" railway. Open 1902 closed 1962. Gellibrand was named after Joseph Gellibrand who disappeared between Geelong and Colac in 1837 while exploring. members.optusnet.com.au/~narrow.gauge/…
Gellibrand signalling and layout diagram 1947 translink.com.au
Originally built with 3 roads, a 4th was added in 1923.
Gellibrand 1922
'The general expansion in traffic led in October 1923 to the laying of an additional loop siding and provision for a goods shed.' victoriancollections.net.au/items/53a7b445…
Was a busy station for inbound and outbound freight.
VR 4-4-0 D class (2nd series) passenger loco wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…
Nos. 82 92 122 242 244 248 250 260 322-344 (even numbers).
Built Phoenix Ballarat 1887-88.
Known as D class. Last scrapped 1928.
AA CLASS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE No.530 AT PERSPECTIVE VIEW AT SPENCER STREET - Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…
VR AA class 4-4-0 passenger locomotive
Built Phoenix Ballarat 1900-1903
Nos 530 to 558, and 562 to 570
Some were renumbered. Last of class scrapped 1932
AA CLASS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE No.548 ON ROYAL TRAIN DECORATED FOR 1901 DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CORNWELL AND YORK VISIT OPENING OF THE AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT CUSTOMS OFFICE ON PLATFORM - Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…
Good Morning Walhalla!
VR 2' 6" narrow gauge railway from Moe to Walhalla 26.5 miles in length. Opened 1910.
Closed Platina - Walhalla 1944, Erica - Platina 1952,
Moe - Erica 1954. At time of construction Walhalla was a major gold mining centre. victorianrailways.net/grades/walhall…
Moe to Walhalla grade profile victorianrailways.net/grades/walhall…
Erica was the highest elevation point above sea level on the line. It was a steady climb from Moe to Erica.
Yallourn branch lines.
Two. The first from Hernes Oak, situated between Moe and Morwell, which was in service from 1922-1955.
Second from Moe and was used between 1953 and 1986.
For a few years both lines were in use.
1930 vrhistory.com/VRMaps/Vic1930…
1960 vrhistory.com/VRMaps/Vic1960…
Yallourn 1953. Both branches in operation. victorianrailways.net/signaling/comp…
Line from Moe left bottom, line from Hernes Oak right bottom. Access was for the loading and transport of briquettes. Some passenger services were provided. Moe - Yallourn sparked 1955.
Yallourn - arrival at Railway Station of steam locomotive Dd 980, probably first passenger train 1922 handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/51132