Railpage

 

Line through Marong

About this thread
 
    •   Search thread   Image gallery
      ScottAus Station Master

    Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    Hi all,

    I often drive through Marong near Bendigo, two very well kept level crossings but judging by the rails very little train activity. Can anyone let me know what passes through on that line?
    Posted: 19 May 2013 19:18

    Sponsored advertisement

      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    Nothing at the present time.  The line has been washed away on the Inglewood side of the line around 1km from the junction wit the line from Maryborough.  

    A great example of victoria not maintaining infrastructure damaged in the 2011 floods.

    Regards
    Brian
    Posted: 19 May 2013 19:25
      ScottAus Station Master

    Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    Interesting, thanks Brian.

    So despite a non functioning line the crossings are so well maintained that you could expect a train at any time. What was it used for and it cannot be missed if it has been closed since 2011.
    Posted: 19 May 2013 20:02
      NOELWB Locomotive Driver

    Hi all,

    I often drive through Marong near Bendigo, two very well kept level crossings but judging by the rails very little train activity. Can anyone let me know what passes through on that line?
    ScottAus
    The line has not been used since damage caused by the January 2011 floods. I believe there is extensive and expensive bridge damage between Marong and Inglewood. Trains using the northern section of this line are now diverted from Inglewood to Maryborough rather than Bendigo.
    Posted: 19 May 2013 20:16
      NOELWB Locomotive Driver

    Interesting, thanks Brian.

    So despite a non functioning line the crossings are so well maintained that you could expect a train at any time. What was it used for and it cannot be missed if it has been closed since 2011.
    ScottAus
    The line north of Inglewood is still used for grain trains. The line between Eaglehawk and Inglewood on which your level crossings are located, was extensively used during the RFR works on the Bengigo line. Grain trains from the Swan Hill line ran in push/pull mode up to Inglewood and then across to Maryborough.
    Posted: 19 May 2013 20:48
      ScottAus Station Master

    Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    So really no use for it for now.
    Posted: 19 May 2013 21:00
      Galron Chief Commissioner

    Location: Werribee, Vic
    So really no use for it for now.
    "ScottAus"


    Except that you cant get from the north west into bendigo/echuca/etc at present. Not that there is much call for that traffic at present, although i imagine it is the shorter route to melbourne from the north west
    Posted: 19 May 2013 22:53
      NOELWB Locomotive Driver

    Except that you cant get from the north west into bendigo/echuca/etc at present. Not that there is much call for that traffic at present, although i imagine it is the shorter route to melbourne from the north west
    Galron
    The line could be used to divert all freight off the Bendigo line, but to do that efficiently a triangle link line would need to be provided at Eaglehawk and Inglewood and the the damaged line/bridges repaired. From memory (which may be faulty) the relatively high level bridge at Bridgewater was repaired imediately after the floods but the damage further north has not been repaired.
    Posted: 20 May 2013 10:42
      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    So really no use for it for now.
    ScottAus

    Other than it would provide redundancy in the network which is always a good thing.

    Also what ever happened to the boort goods?

    Regards
    Brian
    Posted: 20 May 2013 11:56
      Carnot Minister for Railways

    Waterwheel mill at Bridgewater provided significant traffic for the line in years gone by.  It was also a popular line for running short heritage tours from Bendigo in the 1980s (often to Inglewood and back).

    The last time I can remember it being used was in October 2008 when Steamrail ran a tour to Wycheproof with R761 and two diesels.  R761 and T356 split from the consist at Wyche and ran to Bendigo with the coal wagon in tow (R761 tender first).  R761 was turned at Bendigo before leading back to Melbourne.  (It's on Youtube)

    So it's quite possible that R761 was the last loco to use the line and symbolically did so looking back upon it waving goodbye... Sad
    Posted: 20 May 2013 11:57
      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    Is there any reason why waterwheel could not receive grain again via rail?
    Posted: 20 May 2013 12:06
      Carnot Minister for Railways

    Is there any reason why waterwheel could not receive grain again via rail?
    bevans
    It went bust in 2000 (John Elliott saga).  Laucke Flour Mills now run it.  I vaguely remember something about a tussle over govt subsidies and transport many years ago...
    Posted: 20 May 2013 12:17
      Campaspe Junior Train Controller

    Carnot might be right about the last train details, as the line between Eaglehawk and Inglewood was booked out of service on Thursday, 12 November 2009.

    Regards

    Campaspe
    Posted: 20 May 2013 15:14
      Gman_86 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Melton, where the sparks dare not roam!
    So really no use for it for now.
    ScottAus
    You seem to be rather eager to see this specific piece of infrastructure removed. Do you mind if I ask why?
    Posted: 20 May 2013 16:04
      ScottAus Station Master

    Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    You seem to be rather eager to see this specific piece of infrastructure removed. Do you mind if I ask why?
    Gman_86
    Oh pure curiosity, I am relatively new to the area and was just confused where you see very well maintained rail crossings and unused tracks.
    Posted: 20 May 2013 18:20
      Daryl Junior Train Controller

    Location: Carrum Downs
    I think of "Yes Minister" with the new hospital with 500 staff but has no patients. "it was the best run hospital in the country".

    The level crossings are probably maintained by VicRoads (I'm only guessing that)

    I was told about the Daylesford line in the year or so before it was closed that VR maintained the track near the level crossings for the track circuitry so ride quality was terrible until the train approached a level crossing.
    Posted: 22 May 2013 17:25

    Sponsored advertisement

    •   Search thread   Image gallery

    Subscribers: wurx

    Display from:   

    Quick Reply

    We've disabled Quick Reply for this thread as it was last updated more than six months ago.

      Reply