Koo Wee Rup - Strzelecki Line - Info And Historical Photos?

KEG · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:05 pm

Hey All,

I know there have been previous threads on the short-lived Strzelecki line here, and I've looked at them all. One in particular came VERY handy before I did a trip that way myself to discover what remained - was pleased to find some remaining embankment, etc. At the same time, I discovered the condition of the Leongatha line is FAR beyond being re-openable with minor work (as can be evidenced by the photos I took - link at the bottom of my post.

Anyhow, I post today asking if anybody possibly has any further info on the Strzlecki line. I've got quite an interest in seeing any photos of stations, sidings, track, locos, etc on the line. Unfortunately, when I did my trip, I found most locations along the line, and followed the right-of-way almost in it's entirety, but lost it after Triholm - thus missing the "legendary" view from the turntable site in Strzelecki... This is something I would travel the distance just to see - that, and the Strzelecki station grounds.

For photos of my trip, click here. The first 11 photos are of Tooradin, the rest are beyond Koo Wee Rup on the Strzelecki line. If anyone has any questions about any of the photos or would like high-resolution copies, don't hesitate to ask.

note: the site is hosted on my home server, please be patient Very Happy

Deep Throat · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:35 pm

There has been a book written on the history of this line called Steam to Strzelecki, written in the early 1990's.

Anonymous - and proud of it.

574M · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:44 pm

Nice selection of photos.

Looks nice and green down there. Did you have any maps to guide you?

Broadgauge · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:08 am

Nice Pics!

The book in question is indeed called Steam to Strzelecki, the author is Merilyn Ramsay and it was published in 1991.
It is well worth a look and can be found in a few different libraries.

Wal Larsen also wrote a chapter about the line in his book "Change hear for!"

MOM · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:53 am

Here is a Army survey Map from 1928 that might give you info you don't have.

KEG · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:31 pm

Thank you all for your replies - I'm going to search around for that book. MOM, you've cleared up something that had been bugging me - that is, where the railway went in Strzelecki! To the best of my knowledge, it came toward the main road at right angles (as seen in the map), but then I didn't know where. Now I see it took a 90 degree curve to the south, along Wild Dog Valley Rd. Just wondering - you don't possibly have a higher resolution copy of that map? Would be greatly appreciated.

574M, when I was searching around prior to taking the trip, I came across this thread on here. It was pretty useful.

One thing I am still quite uncertain of, though, is the location of the station grounds in Strzelecki. Also, any further photos of the locations would be awesome Smile

MOM · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:46 pm

Try this link and let me know.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2936840058_2f61a90332_o.jpg

otherwise IM me your email and I'll send you the 1.3mb file.

Bree76 · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:18 am

Great shots, thanks for sharing Very Happy

Trace and I have done this line also and taken a number of shots. Strzelecki itself is the most difficult station to track down without a map, and I don't think it was until the third or fourth visit there that we actually found the true site! The other part that has me stumped is the alignment between Bayles and Catani; not sure whether it ran alongside the road, behind the drain, or what.

Brionnach

Brionnach (aka Andrea Ross)
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This is my cat Tashy. Help her on her quest for more cat food.

penov · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:44 am

Hi Bree - Re Bayles to Catani - In JOM's report printed from KEGs post above-- in 2nd para ( "this" thread.) you will note JOM reports that it was on the north side of the canal.

MOM · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:03 am

It's actually very visable when your on location.
Perhaps you where looking the wrong way?

Bree76 · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:28 am

Thanks penov and MOM for pointing that out.

Brionnach

Brionnach (aka Andrea Ross)
^~^
(o o)~~~
=^= )___
(_(__(__)____)
This is my cat Tashy. Help her on her quest for more cat food.

MOM · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:47 am

Here are 2 different map scans of the Stez station.
Some you may have gone looking in Stez for it and after a lot of hair pulling, may have decided that no remains remained.
Strez as now mapped is actually South Strez. perhaps you where looking around the wrong area?
Strez Station location as mapped 1928:

Strez as mapped in 1972

Did you work out where the station was. If not look at the pointer.

I've had a few request for HD scans.
Unfortunetly, I don't possess a scanner so it's macro photos from the Nikon only. These maps are very anciet and some heavily creased. As a consequence they don;t give great res when copied as an entire sheet. However, if there is a particular area that your interested in (within acouple of miles), then the detail is superb.

KEG · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:56 am

Wow, this is all really helpful. Thanks for the email MOM - will have a look in detail later. Got a much better idea of where to look now. Might plan a trip out there sometime in the next month or two.

Cheers
Chris

AclassGunzel · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:35 pm

Thanks MOM! I'll have to pop out there too and have a look around!

B 67 · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:42 pm

I'll see if I can scan my maps when I have the time. I traced the whole line back when I lived at Longwarry in the 80s. Took quite a few photos too, including the bridge that was at Triholm at the time.
I was also lucky enough to get to see Merrilyn Ramsay's manuscript and copies of the VR maps and diagrams of the line (most of which don't appear in the book) before it was published too. So I suppose that was a bit of a headstart in tracking down Strzelecki station site and turntable too. Still, if you can find a copy of the book, there's a good description of how to locate it and the rest of the line too.

B 67

*Most consistantly ignored Railpage Australia™ poster - 1977
*Best username incorporating a B class number between B 66 and B 68.

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