Melbourne's best railway line?

Flagstaff · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:25 pm

Recently we did a simliar forum regarding the best and worst stations, now lets see which railway lines people like the best.

This should work if enough people vote.

Any comments or suggestions regarding my thread are welcome as this is my first time.

Riccardo · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:50 pm

I don't mind these sort of polls if people comment sensibly. Saying "which line" is a bit ordinary as it is rare for a whole line to have a characteristic you like, and anyway, what are the characteristics that people like?

For example, South Yarra to Caulfield is a study in elegant and well considered early 20thc architecture, while the section from Caulfield to Dandenong is a complete disaster.

Similarly Eltham to Hurstbridge is a beautiful semirural branchline while some of the section from Heidelberg to Clifton Hill is just plain awful.

Maybe we could do the poll as "section of track" and see what people think.

The ones I would put up are:

FTG-Belgrave (singletrack, hilly, forested)

Greensborough Hurstbridge (single track, semi rural)

Baxter to Stony Point (good old fashioned VR branchline)

Royal Park to Coburg (bluestone, 19thC built environment)

Hawthorn to Camberwell and West Richmond to Victoria Park (London-like elevated embankment with views onto 19th century workers housing and light commercial)

Mordialloc to n of Kananook (evokes Dutch railways with seaside running, multiple trackage in parts and completely flat)

Brighton Beach to north of Hampton (similar)

Newport to Werribee and Hallam to Pakenham (fast, edgeurban or semirural mainline running)

City Loop (you can have a temporary fantasy that mistakes Melbourne for having a decent rail system while you are in the City Loop)

Flagstaff · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:30 pm

I wanted to see which line people favoured, regarding the entire line as to which was best to travel to.
Than-you for your comment, I beleive that this question is a better question to ask, however I cannot change the poll Question so a new thread should be opened with the poll based on your idea,
Do you want to do the honours of opening the thread?

joffie · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:59 pm

Cameron, they are all crap Mr. Green

Seriously, I hate the epping line. Stations too close. Takes forever.

Love the bit from Box hill to camberwell on an express Cool

Dandenong to Pakenham is nice and fast

Werribee express route is good, also the bit from newport to laverton via the 3 stations.

and the list goes on Very Happy

Photo's here
http://joffie.fotopic.net/

Railfan9949 · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:23 pm

Hurstbridge line.. for the use of the old fashion staff and ticket system! Very Happy

Belgrave line.. as the line starts from a inner city to the outer burbs finally ending in the foot hills! Plus it also terminates just outside another VR's preserved treasure.. the 2'6'' line! Very Happy

Newport to Werribee.. a great place to watch freight trains both in Broad and Standard Gauge! Very Happy

I. Hon
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YVTR volunteer member
CMRS member

'to another railfan no explanation is necessary, but to you, no explanation is possible' - late David P Morgan

Comments made are that of my own..

bradless · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:44 pm

My favourite is the Frankston Line.

I dont know what is so good about it. I just think its the best line. I proberly like it because i take the train on that line.

http://bradless6a.fotopic.net/
It gets updated every now n then. I just forget to change the date on this

http://bradless.fotopic.net

PalmerEldritch · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:59 pm

I have only travelled on a few elctrified lines (Pakenham, Cranbourne, Epping, Upfield, Glen Waverley, Sandringham and Sydenham) but I would have to say that I enjoy travelling on the Sydenham line the most.

I love staring at all the sidings, branches and tracks that make up this line, seeing all the freight cars at the Tottenham yards. Look one way you see the North Melbourne yards, South Dynon, Albion-Jacana loop, look another you see Willy and Werribee branch off at Footscray, look past Sunshine you see the Melton line branch off, sidings at Albion, for me travelling along the Sydenham line is like taking a step back in time and seeing the relics of Melbourne's industries. Plenty of country and freight action as well.

I was impressed catching the 9.00am from Holmesglen to the City, by how many stations it ran through express, it was a very quick ride!

Although I am bored somewhat by the Pakenham line, as it constitutes about 95% of my train trips, I still enjoy the speeds attained from Dandenong outwards and the way the semi-rural portions of the landscape look at those speeds!

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ShaunDXB · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 6:13 pm

I haven't travelled on many lines, but I enjoy travelling on the Sandringham, Frankston, City Loop and Alamein lines. I voted for the Frankston line because it has a bit of everything.

Railfan9949 · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:07 pm

Well the Frankston line is pretty good as you are pretty close to the beach in a section of the line!

And inside a Hitachi with the window down.. you can smell the beach! Very Happy

I. Hon
PBPS volunteer member
YVTR volunteer member
CMRS member

'to another railfan no explanation is necessary, but to you, no explanation is possible' - late David P Morgan

Comments made are that of my own..

Nexas · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:14 pm

The Werribee line has gotta be my favourite, passing various freight yards and sidings in the inner stages, then heading south through the mixed residential and industrial areas, until Newport. Next comes the massive oil refinery, just before the curve south onto the single line via the residential bayside suburb of Altona, before rejoining the main line at Laverton, where the train speeds up on the 115km/h bi-directional track to Werribee.

Here are two pics of the refinary I was talking about (and some trains), copyright of rodsrailpage.fotopic.net
http://rodsrailpage.fotopic.net/p5966326.html
http://rodsrailpage.fotopic.net/p5966327.html

Sandringham is also a favourite of mine, but not as good as Werribee. Sandringham is unique in that the majority of the line is on an embankment, seperating it from the residential suburbs below, before arriving at Brighton Beach where there is the sudden curve left along the beach past the New Street Swing Gates to Hampton and Sandringham.

The Upfield line is good too, passing under City Link until Flemington Bridge, then through Royal Park, and the inner northern suburbs. Riding through the Cemetary at Fawkner is good also.

---------------------

Now for the lines I don't really like...

Pakenham/Cranbourne - Too long, straight, and boring.

Lilydale/Belgrave - Too boring until the outer stages.

Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
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Flagstaff · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:04 pm

My favourite would be the Werribee line - The express route makes it interesting, but also I like the non-express route through Altona where the railway line is in between a road.
The Hurstbridge and Belgrave are good too - Belgrave, because of the scenic route accross the mountains. Hurstbridge, because of the non-built up countryish effect.

ShaunDXB · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:13 pm

Nexas · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:22 pm

I hate this "express route" crap people always talk about, it's not the "express route", it's the main line.

Would you say the V/Line trains running via that line are running via the "express route", or the Freights as well? No, you people wouldn't.

(Thats just me being picky though Laughing

)

Views expressed by me are strictly my own, not of my friends, employer, or anyone else, unless otherwise stated.
*Back at RP for a limited time only*

Mickelaar · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:08 pm

Hurstbridge i like the best.. although i live near strathmore station... i dont know, i just like it... but the city loop is pretty cool.... comming from brisbane, an underground section is almost unheard of, bar the works over the last 10 - 15 years that now sees the city section partly underground

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xxxxlbear · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:22 pm

Seeing as though I could only vote for 1, my 1st, or gold, choice went to Frankston-Stony Point. Love the trip for the feel, the Vr branch line feel, and the fact it ends up within a cooee of the water and a quite a cool kiosk!
UFG-BEL gets my silver vote for going through the dandenongs, and being quite pretty countryside, the smell of the air is wonderful, and it joins up with PBR.
Lastly, FSS-Willaimstown for passing through some wonderful shopping strips like Yarraville and Willaimstown, and for some great views of the Newport Workshops, carriages, engines etc.