Re: Maps

[David_Arblaster@nospam.dse.vic.gov.au (David A.)]

On 3 Sep 1997 01:12:41 GMT, "Matthew" <matthew.bromley@fpa.asn.au>
wrote:

>Where can I find, on the web or elsewhere, maps which show the routes of
>old disused train lines in the Melbourne metropolitan area ?
>
>Also does any one know when the last train ran on the line that goes near
>Princes Park thru to Fitzroy?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Matthew

An old VR route map of the time the railways were in use will show the
routes and stations but wont help you that much if you are trying to
locate the exact site of any remains.
Following disused railways spring to mind -

1) Inner Circle, as noted by you.  Part of the site of the Fitroy
goods yard is still extant (well, it's not yet occupied by anything
else yet) and there is part of a footbridge there if I remember right.

2) The Outer Circle.  There is still track on the northernmost portion
between Fairfield and the APM mill, and a loop on the site of Fulham
Grange station (which ironically was the first part of the Outer
circle to close after opening).  The Chandler highway bridge over the
Yarra is an impressive reminder of this line.  East Kew goods yard has
been alterred by land fill and the underbridge near the Harp of Erin
pub was all but filled in (this was about 10 years ago so who knows
what remains of it now).  Between the site of Deepdene and Camberwell
there are impressive cuttings and road overbridges - this has now been
turned into a bicyle track.  When I went throgh it I wished I had
brought a machete with me !

Between Alamein and Oakleigh there is little to see, although part of
the formation near hughesdale is now a reserve.

3) The legendary Rosstown Railway from Oakleigh to Elsternwick.  The
route of this can clearley be seen from the shape of the nearby
streets in the Melways directory.  The same goes for the outer circle.

4) Springvale Cemetary.  The start of this is shown on my melways,
although I've not been to see what is there.

5) Mont Park Asylum branch, which presumably came off somewhere near
Macleod.

6) Epping - Whittlsea.  There is quite a lot of this to be seen from
the road.

7) More obviously Port Melbourne and St Kilda were both heavy rail
before they were light.

Depending on how you define Metropolitan Melbourne there are others
further afield - Lilydale - Healesville and Lilydale Warburton
probablty come into the same category as Whittlesea.  The Healseville
line is intact and is being restored between Healesville and Yarra
Glen, while there is much to see of the Warburton line.  

Baxter to Mornington is probably classed as part of greater Melbourne
these days also.  Some presevation effort going on there too, but not
from the original station, which is now a supermarket I think.  Unsure
of the other details.  Hastings - Red Hill is too rural to qualify.

I am sure there are some other lines, especially industrial sidings
and so forth that I have missed.  Others with more knowledge than I
might chip in with those.  Just how extensive were the Massey Ferguson
sidings at sunshine ?  They had their own locomotive after all.

David A.


David_Arblaster@dse.vic.gov.au  | David Arblaster,
mercury@netspace.net.au         | Melbourne, Australia
"What does it mean when a man unearths an ancient urn but buries
 his thermos flask in the process ?"  Michael Leunig