Cobram Terminus

toxation · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:38 am

Hi,

I was hoping that some of you may be able to help me out with any photos at all of trains at the Cobram terminus, from any vintage.

I would also like in particular, if possible, pictures of the R class visiting Cobram in 1998-1999-2000. (Not sure which year, it was around this time.)

I am about to begin building an HO scale layout of the terminus (with cattle yard siding, packing siding, goods siding, turntable siding and station platform etc) and require pictures of the packing shed, goods shed and goods crane, if people have them.

I know that;

#Up until about 1960-70, the passanger service was handled by a Railcar connecting a passanger train in Numurkah.
#This passanger service was then taken over by a VR livery T class and matching carriages, with appearances by VR liveried S class diesels
#The passanger service was closed sometime in the late 70s
#Service began again in 1983, headed by V/LINE "Tea Cup" livery B64 and tangerine carriages
#Service was regularly headed by V/LINE N class diesels
#The last train to visit Cobram was (I think) the J515 and vintage train in 2001 (again not sure about date) for National Water Week, taking students from Cobram Consolidated School for a trip to Strathmerton.
#The Cobram line from Strathy was Victoria's first continuous stretch of track.
#Safeway and the Moira Shire were dissallowed to remove track from the reserve due to "Future Plans"

Safeway was built in 2003, and requested to use the land currently occupied by the railway (2 tracks) for Safeway Use. Frieght Australia, the operator at the time, refused.

The Moira Shire, at the same time, requested to have Dillion Street, from Broadway Street, north of the station and railway, extended accross the railway reserve (3 tracks) to meet up with Punt Road, south of the reserve. This was denied, as it would "Dramaticall decrease the allowable length of any train, goods or passanger, that may be at a prolonged rest within the terminus".

Any and all information would be a great help.

Thanks,
Tox.

John of Melbourne · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:30 am

toxation · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 11:18 am

I should have explained it better. The line from Strathy to Cobram was Victoria's first track that had no expansion joins and fishplates in it, with all of them welded together.

John of Melbourne · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:42 pm

Brewza · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:54 pm

It was also the only part of the Goulburn Valley trunk to be constructed for 115km/h running. I have photos of the station dated 2003. They may be of some assistance to you.

Railfan-Firearm Owner-Gordon Setter Owner-Amateur Photographer-Chaser's war on everything fan-Patriotic Australian

Roll on forever-N471

Riccardo · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:39 pm

Do you know when it was built, and why this technology was applied there first? I suppose my other question is whether the pax trains in later years were actually doing 115km/h - it is a high speed for a branch line

What freight was running in later years, or was it only passenger trafffic?

If you need to get in touch, drop a comment at the Transport Textbook or on my blog.

toxation · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:23 pm

Brewza, thanks for the offer, but I have recent pictures of it. I live here.

In answer to the speed question. I don't understand why it would have such a high speed. That particular length is only 15 kilometres long! Frieght hasn't been to Cobram in my lifetime (18 years).

As for when it was built. The line came to Cobram originally in 1888. I assume the upgrades to allow for 115k/h where carried out before the passanger service reopened in 1983.

Further more, the track to Cobram is all heavy gauge. As I said above, an R class made a visit some time in 1999, 2000.

Brewza · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 7:58 pm

I have a picture Out of Train Hobby's Micheal Scrader's Collection. Only one, dated 1977. If your interested, PM me and we'el discuss it.

Railfan-Firearm Owner-Gordon Setter Owner-Amateur Photographer-Chaser's war on everything fan-Patriotic Australian

Roll on forever-N471

sooty · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 6:41 pm

I know this topic is a bit old, but I live in Cobram and can help you out if you are still doing this project.
The last train to Cobram was in 1994 was either an A or a B class.
There are still three tracks in the yard and a few removed points from the construction of Safeway in 2003 and were not put back together.
Moira Shire is currently discussing with Victrack as what to do with the line. A lot of people here are pushing to have it reopened again but chances are slim. Especially now there are quite a few trees in the middle of the track. The semaphore still stands at Strathmerton and the freights still run to Tocumwal.
The station still stands for an art gallery and is the V Line bus stop.
If you want any other infor or photos I'll gladly help you out.
I think the railmotor that used to run the line was a DERM but I can't guarantee it.
Regards,
Damien

sooty · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 6:43 pm

I also forgot to mention that there was definitely no trains running into Cobram as a tourist event after 1996. There have been a few heritage trips to Tocumwal by steam though.

Flatop · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:08 pm

We did a special with RM58 a few years ago now. Took 2 tries as the first attempt was stoped by a local who decided to drive out in front of the DERM. Yes we hit her just out of Shepperton.

VRfan · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:09 pm

DRC43 & a BRS ran to Cobram in 1998 on an ARE tour. (Also went out to Dookie). IIRC it's the last train to actually use the line.

James Brook

Victorian Railfan Website
http://vr.railpage.org.au/

Australian Bulldogs for MSTS!

sooty · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:14 pm

There you go, I stand corrected, my apologies.
Wish I had have seen the DRC up this way. Too bad the track is in need of such a huge cleanup before anything comes back this way.

toxation · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:50 pm

Hey Damien.

My name's Nick, we met when you came to have a look at the S class.

The last revenue train left Cobram in October of 1993, hauled by an A class.

The last train departed from the station in 1999, it was a water week special, although who it was run by I have no idea.

I'm quite aware of the situation between the Moira Shire and VicTrack. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Courier last week.

I had also written to some other people about it too. It's no wonder I never received a reply until that particular letter was published.

I saw while I was home last that yeah, the points directly behind Safeway have been mutilated. However, they weren't like that after it was built. It has happened since.

I have also seen in recent pics that a rail has been removed just after the junction at Strathy.

Dad has told me that the sleepers along the platform landing were once concrete, but were removed and replaced with wooden ones. I can't understand the logic there. Must have been a part of the mid 80s rationalisation or some rediculous excuse.

Ask Leon when you're at work, he used to have the two turntable halves in West's field out on the Murray Valley Highway, used them as ramps for vehicles to get up onto trucks.

sooty · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:15 pm

Hi nick,
great to hear from you. thats correct about the points. They got taken out by the delivery trucks passing round Hydies.
The rails along strathy station have been taken out but as far as I know the track past the signal is still joined.
I kept the article out of the courier you wrote, all we need now is other people to send in similar letters. Apparently the group involved with the removal of the old houses on entry into town want the rails removed as they are "an eyesore" and need to be taken away... pfft rubbish!

We still have the turntable parts in our yard yes. I have been down there re aranging it and pulling out all the pulleys and wheels and stuff.
Apparantly the site of the turntable is where the dealership is now.