Thread by @ozbob13

Good Morning Campbellfield North! (Upfield) 😉
Network 1947
victorianrailways.net/vr%20map/vrmap…
North Melbourne to Coburg open 1884
Coburg to Somerton open 1889
Campbellfield North open 1889.
Closed 1903 re-opened 1928 closed 1956
re-opened as Upfield 1965.

Coburg to Somerton section closed July 1903 reopened as far as Fawkner in Dec 1906 for funeral trains.
Full services extended to Fawkner in 1915.
Dec 1920 line to Fawkner electrified.
RM service Fawkner to Somerton 1928 - 1956

Fawkner - Somerton RM
victorianrailways.net/photogallery/s…

BEETLE RAIL MOTOR AT FAWKNER 1954
Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…
Known as the ' Beetle ' AEC rail motors provided the service from Fawkner - Somerton.

Fawkner 1928
victorianrailways.net/signaling/comp…
A rail motor turntable was provided.

26 foot turntable for turning the AEC railmotor used on the Fawkner - Somerton service at Fawkner
Saturday, 26th February 1955
Photo: Andrew Blair
vicsig.net/photo/9547

Some tickets used on the 'Beetle'.
P G Dow collection.
I vaguely remember travelling on the Beetle in the 1950s with my Grandfather. These were the tickets.

BEETLE RAIL MOTOR AT CAMPBELLFIELD
Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…

Tickets for Campbellfield
P G Dow collection
1950s

Rail Motor Train. Campbellfield Station
picturevictoria.vic.gov.au/site/moreland/…

L CLASS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE No.22 LEAVING SOMERTON FOR BROADMEADOWS-ESSENDON 1899
Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…
L22 2-4-0ST built 1860 George England & Co. London.
Last of class scrapped 1906.
Only saddle tanks VR had.

The Rail Motor Train (at Fawkner)
picturevictoria.vic.gov.au/site/moreland/…

Walkers RM at Campbellfield Dec 1955
The turntable at Fawkner was being serviced
victorianrailways.net/photogallery/s…

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Tue 8 Feb 1955 Page 8
'They'll ask minister to keep "Beetle" running'
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…
The AEC rail motors were hard to maintain due to age and the service Fawkner to Somerton was flagged for closure.

LAST RUN FOR BEETLE RAIL MOTOR 1955
Public Record Office Victoria wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS…

The Beetle did carry on for a while longer but in 1956 services ceased. Line was closed.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic Sat 28 Apr 1956 Page 3
' The "Beetle" won't run again—that;s final '
trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/arti…

Line reopened to Upfield (formerly Campbellfield North), after being electrified, to cater for workers at the new Ford factory next to the station in 1959.

Upfield looking towards Melbourne
Weston Langford 4 September 1959
westonlangford.com/images/photo/1…

1963 the line from Somerton to Ford factory at Upfield was converted to dual gauge, a year after the North East std gauge line through Somerton opened. It is now out of use.

Upfield Up Suburban 3-car Comeng 455 M leading
Weston Langford 30 December 1998
westonlangford.com/images/photo/1…

Upfield Transport Alliance community campaign to duplicate, upgrade and extend the Upfield rail line in Melbourne's northern suburbs
upfieldtransportalliance.org

The Upfield line was threatened with closure in the 1990s, and/or possible conversion to light rail.

Flemington Bridge Down 'Save the Upfield Line' Special
J 515 leading 4-car Tait
Weston Langford 10 September 1994
westonlangford.com/images/photo/1…

Upfield Chrysler Siding Up Suburban 7-car Tait 455 M leading
Weston Langford 23 February 1974
westonlangford.com/images/photo/1…

Video:
Metro Trains around Upfield (31/8/18)

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