Mansfield
Overview
StatusFormer train line
Now Great Victorian Rail Trail
Owner
LocaleHume (region), Victoria, Australia
Termini
Connecting linesTocumwal (Seymour line)
Former connectionsAlexandra
Stations
  • 16 former stations
  • 1 former siding
History
Opened16 November 1883 (1883-11-16)
Completed6 October 1891 (1891-10-06)
Closed8 November 1978 (1978-11-08)
Technical
Line length121.042 km (75.212 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Minimum radius300 metres (15 chains)
Highest elevation397 metres (1,302 ft)
Maximum incline1 in 40 (2.5%)
Route map
km
Up arrow
Seymour line
to Southern Cross
90.22
 Tallarook
90.43
Right arrow
Seymour line
to Seymour
101.22
 Trawool
103.77
 Granite
109.69
 Kerrisdale
119.55
 Homewood
128.35
 Yea
133.94
 Cheviot
Cheviot tunnel
145.56
 Molesworth
149.99
 Cathkin
150.25
Left arrow Alexandra line
155.96
 Yarck
163.35
 Kanumbra
174.88
 Merton
184.08
 Woodfield
189.79
 Bonnie Doon
197.20
 Maindample
208.49
 Phosphate Coys Siding
211.07
 Mansfield
km

The Mansfield railway line is a closed 121-kilometre (75 mi) branch railway line situated in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia. Constructed by the Victorian Railways, it branched from the Seymour line at Tallarook station, and ran east to Mansfield. The line was primarily built to provide a general goods and passenger service to settlements in the area.

History

The line was opened in six stages from November 1883 to October 1891, and was closed in November 1978.[1]

The first stage of the line was opened from Tallarook to Yea in 1883, being extended in stages from 1889 though Molesworth, Cathkin, Merton and Maindample, to reach Mansfield in 1891.[2] A 7-kilometre-long branch was opened from Cathkin to Koriella in 1890, being extended another 7 kilometres to Alexandra in 1909.[2]

The line was a result of a decade of local lobbying, and provided improved access for agricultural products from the region to Melbourne markets.[3] The line was quite scenic, and included a 200 m tunnel near Cheviot and a viaduct over an arm of the Lake Eildon reservoir in Bonnie Doon, which was rebuilt in 1955 as part of the enlarging of the reservoir.[4]

By the mid-1970s, the track had deteriorated beyond Yea and, after March 1977, the majority of passenger services were run by buses. The last regular passenger service to Mansfield, on 28 May 1977, was operated by 280hp Walker railmotor 91 RM. It was replaced by a bus service via Yarra Glen, which was rerouted via Whittlesea after road upgrades had been carried out.[5]

The line was closed on 8 November 1978, along with the branch line to Alexandra.[2] It was quickly dismantled following closure, preventing any chance of tourist services from operating along the line, despite some interest being shown. Many bridges along the line were also removed with only the abutments and piers remaining.[6] The trackbed has since been re-used for the 134-kilometre Great Victorian Rail Trail.[7] Construction of the trail was funded by the federal government and local councils.[8]

Stations

Station Histories
Station Opened Closed Age Notes
Tallarook18 April 1872 || || data-sort-value=55,422 | 151 years
Trawool16 November 1883 || 25 July 1977 || data-sort-value=34,219 | 93 yearsFormerly Traawool
Granite15 December 1892 || 1 December 1951 || data-sort-value=21,534 | 58 yearsFormerly Falls Siding / Falls Creek Siding / Trawool Falls Siding / Wright & Cons Siding
Kerrisdale16 November 1883 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=34,690 | 94 years
Homewood16 November 1883 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=34,690 | 94 years
Yea16 November 1883 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=34,690 | 94 years
Cheviot12 November 1889 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=32,502 | 88 years
Molesworth12 November 1889 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=32,502 | 88 years
Cathkin10 June 1890 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=32,292 | 88 years
Yarck10 November 1890 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=32,139 | 87 years
Kanumbra10 November 1890 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=32,139 | 87 years
Merton10 November 1890 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=32,139 | 87 years
Woodfield7 May 1891 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=31,961 | 87 years
Bonnie Doon7 May 1891 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=31,961 | 87 yearsFormerly Doon
Maindample7 May 1891 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=31,961 | 87 years
Phosphate Coys Siding15 January 1920 || 29 January 1957 || data-sort-value=13,529 | 37 years
Mansfield6 October 1891 || 8 November 1978 || data-sort-value=31,809 | 87 years

References

  1. ↑ "Mansfield line". Vicsig. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Brown, Sid (1990). "Tracks Across the State". Newsrail. Victorian Railways Historical Society (Victorian Division): 71–76.
  3. ↑ Mansfield Historical Society. "History of Mansfield". home.vicnet.net.au. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  4. ↑ "Rail Trails News - Old Railway at Bonnie Doon". railtrails.org.au. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  5. ↑ Banger, Chris (1997). "Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960". Newsrail. Victorian Railways Historical Society (Victorian Division): 77–82.
  6. ↑ "Mansfield Line". vicrailstations.com. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  7. ↑ "Goulburn River High Country Rail Trails - Trail Description". railtrails.org.au. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  8. ↑ "$14 million Project Announced to Complete Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail (Vic)". Railtrails Australia. 29 April 2009.
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