Re: Maps

[Craig Haber <albatross@harnessnet.com.au>]

David A. wrote:
> 5) Mont Park Asylum branch, which presumably came off somewhere near
> Macleod.

This line can be readily traced.  I've never seen any photo's of it, but
you can quite easily walk most of the route.  It appears that the line
branched from the up end of Macleod Station (on the alignment of what is
now the platform 3 siding road) - it you look on the walkway behind
platform 3, you see an overhead staunchion suggesting:
a) the line curved away from the station and perhaps did not have a
platform
b) the line was at a considerable higher level than the existing
platform 3 road.

You can sort of trace the contour through the property which is on the
alignment to a point just north of the Cherry St/Wungan St/McNamara Ave
roundabout.  From here it gets easy - the line crosses the road (to the
best of my knowledge, there was no level crossing here - Wungan St dates
from relatively recent times).  The line runs between the roundabout and
the southmost edge of the "Harry Pottage Reserve".  Right near the road
the alignment is on a low embankment (covered in blackberries), then
shallow cutting, shortly further north it crosses a dilapidated bitumen
path (within the grounds of Mont Park), and then climbs on a steep
embankment in a north-westerly direction.  There are several overhead
staunchions present - most chopped off about 3 foot from the ground. 
I've never located the exact finishing point of the line - I lose the
alignment where it crosses a grassed area before crossing the Mont Park
road.  As I recall, there was a small building with a very short
platform type structure - could this have been it?

If you're thinking of checking out this line, do so in the near future. 
The local authorities have been trying to develop the land for years,
it's only a matter of time until they do.  Catch a spark to Macleod,
walk around behind platform 3 and you'll see the first staunchion, then
walk north along McNamara ave to the roundabout.  

Cheers,
Craig.
-- 
Craig Haber
albatross@harnessnet.com.au
Manufacturing Systems Engineer (almost) 
Web Page Designer, Harness Racing, Railways, and Essendon Football Club
fanatic
http://www.harnessnet.com.au/