140 years of VR to Sunbury.

["Roderick Smith" <rodsmith@werple.net.au>]

Although the opening was in January, public services to Sunbury commenced
on 10.2.1859.

An RNV group is celebrating the event on Wed.10.2: join for all or part of
the program.

Afternoon activities: do it yourself.

12.00: Spencer St & environs.  Admire the Batman Hill plaque on the
retaining wall (Flinders St extension); Grand Central Hotel (former VR
administrative offices, 20 years younger than the Sunbury railway);
platforms 2, 3, 4 & the concourse at Spencer St station (part of the layout
dating way back), opening drink at Tracks bar, inspection of the Remand
Centre corner (site of Railway Club Hotel).

13.00: Lunch, Railway Hotel North Melbourne (Chifley Bistro - named after a
driver who became Prime Minister).

Catch a Williamstown train.  The current North Melbourne station is much
newer than the Sunbury line.  It is hard to believe that the original line
ran on an embankment across a swamp.  Admire the original bluestone bridge
over Maribyrnong River (originally Saltwater River).

14.30 Williamstown.  Quick glimpse of the delicenced Station Hotel.

15.00 Junction Hotel, Newport (Newport was a junction in 1859 - VR and
G&MR).

15.30 Railway Hotel, Yarraville.

16.00 Station Hotel, Footscray (much newer.  Railway Hotel, on the up side
of the Williamstown line at the down end of the current Footscray station,
was demolished in the mid 1960s to make way for the Telecom building).


Main tour:
Board the 17.17 or 17.48 down Sunbury (at Spencer St or at Footscray).
At Sunbury: observe recently-altered layout.
Dinner: Lemon Tree bistro, Sunbury (up side of railway, up end of station,
former Railway Hotel).
Standby: Royal Hotel.
Return on the 19.37 ex Sunbury.

Options: down by a later train, back on the20.35 up.

-- 
Regards
Roderick Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor