Girgarre railway line

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Girgarre
Overview
StatusFormer train line
Now Girgarre-Stanhope Rail Trail[1]
Owner
LocaleLoddon Mallee (region), Victoria, Australia
Termini
Former connectionsColbinabbin
Stations4 former stations
History
Opened15 May 1917 (1917-05-15)
Completed15 May 1917 (1917-05-15)
Closed12 October 1987 (1987-10-12)
Technical
Line length23.000 km (14.292 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Route map

km
168.40
Rushworth
169.44
184.08
Karook
189.79
Stanhope
197.20
Girgarre
km

The Girgarre railway line is a closed 23-kilometre (14 mi)[2][3] branch railway line situated in the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. Constructed by the Victorian Railways, it branches from the Colbinabbin line at Rushworth station, and runs north from the town of Rushworth to Girgarre. The line was primarily built to serve the livestock and other farm industries as well as providing a general goods and passenger service to townships in the area.

History[edit]

The line was opened in May 1917,[4][5][6] and closed in 2 stages from March 1975 to October 1987.[4]

Special trains[edit]

  • As part of the 23rd tour, the Better Farming Train visited on 29 August 1928.[7][8]
  • 19 November 1924 - Joined with a train from Colbinabbin to form the Rushworth great picnic train (1300 passengers). It we the longest train, drawn by two engines, that officials had seen at Flinders Street Station.[9]

Stations[edit]

Station Histories
Station Opened Closed Age
Rushworth 1 September 1890 12 October 1987 97 years
Karook 15 May 1917 21 October 1965 48 years
Stanhope 15 May 1917 12 October 1987 70 years
Girgarre 15 May 1917 1 March 1975 57 years

Accidents[edit]

  • 1929 - 28 January - The engine of the mixed train from Rushworth to Girgarre failed at Rushworth.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Girgarre Stanhope Rail Trail – Rail Trails Australia".
  2. ^ Victorian Railways Diagram of Gradients &Curves. Victoria, Australia: Victorian Railways. c. 1927. p. 99.
  3. ^ "VICTORIAN RAILWAYS". Argus. 9 May 1917.
  4. ^ a b "Girgarre line". Vicsig. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Opening of the RushworthStanhope Railway". Murchison Advertiser and Murchison, Toolamba, Mooroopna and Dargalong Express. 18 May 1917.
  6. ^ Harrigan, Leo J. (1962). Victorian Railways to '62. Melbourne: Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board. p. 287.
  7. ^ "BETTER FARMING TRAIN". Shepparton Advertiser. 27 August 1928.
  8. ^ "BETTER-FARMING TRAIN". Age. 30 August 1928.
  9. ^ "RUSHWORTH COMES TO TOWN". Weekly Times. 22 November 1924.
  10. ^ "GOODS TRAIN BREAKS DOWN". Argus. 29 January 1929.