Re: Second rate Melbourne stations

["John Wayman" <trecker@bigpond.com>]

Mobiltown is remembered on Broderick Smith's Album "Last train to
Mobiltown", named after a track on the album,

Cheers
John Wayman

David Langley <del@ancc.com.au> wrote in message
3725C5E6.20F4D682@ancc.com.au">news:3725C5E6.20F4D682@ancc.com.au...
> Christopher_Martin GORDON wrote:
>
> > : > There used to be a few train that terminated there, it even has some
points
> > : > not sure where they are controled from, but not used in a long time
> >
> > : The points are controlled from General Motors.
> >
> > And the last time they were used?
> >
> > : > One wonders how much longer General Motors will stay, after all
there
> > : > are no other special stations left. (Whitecity, Mobiltown all gone)
> >
> > : Excuse my ignorance/youth, but I was only born in 1980. What was
Whitecity for?
> > : When did Whitecity/Mobiltown close?
> >
> > I think White City, Mobiltown, Paisley and Galvin all closed
> > around the same time (early 1980's)
> >
> > I though Whte City was for some sort of tyre or cable place, but
> > not sure (since I was only born in 1979)
> >
> > White City was only about 700 m past Tottenham
>
> As my son describes me as an old bugger I will add my two bobs worth.
(They were
> before your time also).
>
> A 15 lever interlocking frame was provided on 18 Nov 1956 in the downside
building.
> This was in conjunction with duplication between Dandenong and Narre
Warren. The last
> use of General Motors signal box will most likely be when those four wheel
briquette
> wagons were last shunted into Heinz Siding. General Motors (like others
mentioned
> opened to serve nearby industry) in this case it was General Motors
Holdens (GMH),
> was also opened on this date as a passenger station. There had previously
been a
> staff locked siding serving nearby factories opened on 26 September 1952
and known as
> International Harvester Siding. General Motors was for most of its life
not
> accessible to the general public, you could go there by train but there
was no public
> access to nearby roads. A Signalling Record Society visit had to obtain
permission
> from GMH to go through their plant and we were accompanied by a security
guard.
>
> White City (9.8km) was opened on 11 Nov 1927 as Coursing Platform and was
renamed
> White City on 25 Aug 1929. The crossover and signalling for terminating
trains
> (worked from Tottenham 9.1km) was provided at the same time and was still
mechanical
> signals, 3 pos sigs coming on 25 Aug 1929. I'm not sure about the
coincidence of the
> renaming with the provision of 3 pos signals. Any theories?
>
> Mobiltown was as its name suggests originally to serve the Mobil refinery
but it was
> also quite accessible to the public. Opened on 9 Oct 1953 as Standard Oil
Platform
> being renamed on 1 Jun 1954. It is thought to have closed on 29 Jan 1985
but would be
> grateful if anyone can confirm this.
>
> Paisley and Galvin were actually more in the league of public platforms
although both
> were near to refineries. Paisley was opened on 14 Oct 1929 and Galvin on
22 Aug 1927.
> Both closed on 14 April 1985 when the electrified line from Westona to
Laverton was
> opened.
>
> Another station that at first was for a local industry was Upfield which
opened on 17
> Aug 1959 to serve the Ford Motor factory. It was nearly on the site of
North
> Campbellfield which closed on 5 May 1956 along with the railmotor service
between
> Fawkner and Somerton. At first there was only a sparse service I think
just a couple
> of trains a day but gradually the service improved to what it is today.
>
> David Langley.
>