The Melbourne end of the line (near the centre) stopped at the City Terminus on Flinders street, at the end of Queen Street
Work began on laying the railway in March 1853 under the supervision of the company's Engineer-in-Chief James Moore. Four locomotives, together with rolling stock, were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company, of the United Kingdom, but because of manufacturing delays the first locomotive had to built locally. Robertson, Martin & Smith, a local foundry and engineering company, built a small makeshift locomotive to the design of the railway company's engineer in ten weeks at a cost of £2,700. Its trial run was only three days before the railway's opening.[1]
Opening
The line, inaugurated on 12 September 1854, was the first in Australia to be steam-powered. A train is pictured here arriving at the company's City Terminus at Flinders Street.
The line was opened on 12 September 1854. It ran for 4.2 kilometres (2.6 miles) from the "City Terminus" on the site of present-day Flinders Street station, crossing the Yarra River via the Sandridge Bridge, to Sandridge (now Port Melbourne). According to the Argus newspaper's report of the next day, "Long before the hour appointed ... a great crowd assembled round the station at the Melbourne terminus, lining the whole of Flinders Street". Lieutenant-GovernorCharles Hotham and Lady Hotham were aboard the train, which consisted of two first-class carriages, one second-class carriage and, next to the locomotive, an open third-class carriage holding the band of the 40th Regiment.[2][1]
The line has an established place in Australian history: it was the first in Australia to operate with steam locomotives.[1] However, the locomotive at the opening was not the first steam locomotive in Australia: a makeshift locomotive hastily made from a ballast wagon and the boiler, cylinders and mechanism from a pile driver started service on 30 May 1854, hauling ballast wagons during the remaining 15 weeks of track construction and hauling regular scheduled trains when the usual locomotive was withdrawn after major breakdowns.[1]
The trip took 10 minutes, none of the later stations along the line having been built. On arriving at Station Pier, on to which the tracks extended, the train was hailed with gun-salutes by the warships HMS Electra and HMS Fantome.
Subsequent history
By March 1855, the four engines ordered from the UK were all in service, with trains running every half-hour. They were named Melbourne, Sandridge, Victoria, and Yarra.
Looking towards Port Melbourne from the Swallow Street level crossing, the railway signals have been removed and have been replaced with signals resembling traffic signals for the trams
The line was closed on 10 October 1987, three months after the closure of the St Kilda railway line. The last service departed the station at 18.03,[4] with freight services to Montague continuing until 16 October of the same year.[4] The line reopened as part of the Melbourne tram network on 18 December 1987.[5][6]
Melbourne tram route 109 now operates on the converted track. The section from Southbank Junction to Port Melbourne was converted to light rail, requiring the conversion from broad gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) used by the Melbourne rail network to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge tram track, as well as reducing the overheadvoltage from 1,500 VDC to 600 V DC required for the trams. Additionally, low level platforms were built on the sites of the former stations to accommodate the trams which contained steps to street level. Low floor trams have since been introduced to the route.
^ abcdHarrigan, L.J. (September 1954). "Centenary of the Melbourne-Sandridge Railway". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin. Vol. 5 (new series), no. 203. Redfern, NSW: Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. p. 101. ISSN 1449-6291.
^"Inauguration of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway". The Argus, Melbourne. No. 2294. Melbourne. 13 September 1854. p. 5.
^"Light Rail Vehicles". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. February 1983. p. 20.
^ ab"Traffic". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. January 1988. p. 22.
^Chris Banger (March 1997). "Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 77–82.
^"Traffic". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). January 1988. p. 22.
port, melbourne, railway, line, former, railway, line, melbourne, australia, opened, september, 1854, that, light, rail, line, instigated, melbourne, hobson, railway, company, carry, passengers, arriving, victoria, station, pier, alleviate, high, cost, shippin. The Port Melbourne railway line is a former railway line in Melbourne Australia opened in September 1854 that is now a light rail line It was instigated by the Melbourne and Hobson s Bay Railway Company to carry passengers arriving in Victoria at Station Pier and to alleviate the high cost of shipping goods using small vessels up the Yarra River to Melbourne The line s conversion to light rail occurred in 1987 it is now served by tram route 109 Port MelbourneOverviewStatusConverted to tram route 109Connecting linesSt Kilda lineServiceTypeMelbourne suburban serviceHistoryOpenedSeptember 1854ClosedOctober 1987TechnicalNumber of tracksDouble track Contents 1 Construction 2 Opening 3 Subsequent history 4 Conversion to light rail 5 Line guide 6 Notes 7 References 8 Background readingConstruction Edit The Melbourne end of the line near the centre stopped at the City Terminus on Flinders street at the end of Queen Street Work began on laying the railway in March 1853 under the supervision of the company s Engineer in Chief James Moore Four locomotives together with rolling stock were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company of the United Kingdom but because of manufacturing delays the first locomotive had to built locally Robertson Martin amp Smith a local foundry and engineering company built a small makeshift locomotive to the design of the railway company s engineer in ten weeks at a cost of 2 700 Its trial run was only three days before the railway s opening 1 Opening Edit The line inaugurated on 12 September 1854 was the first in Australia to be steam powered A train is pictured here arriving at the company s City Terminus at Flinders Street The line was opened on 12 September 1854 It ran for 4 2 kilometres 2 6 miles from the City Terminus on the site of present day Flinders Street station crossing the Yarra River via the Sandridge Bridge to Sandridge now Port Melbourne According to the Argus newspaper s report of the next day Long before the hour appointed a great crowd assembled round the station at the Melbourne terminus lining the whole of Flinders Street Lieutenant Governor Charles Hotham and Lady Hotham were aboard the train which consisted of two first class carriages one second class carriage and next to the locomotive an open third class carriage holding the band of the 40th Regiment 2 1 The line has an established place in Australian history it was the first in Australia to operate with steam locomotives 1 However the locomotive at the opening was not the first steam locomotive in Australia a makeshift locomotive hastily made from a ballast wagon and the boiler cylinders and mechanism from a pile driver started service on 30 May 1854 hauling ballast wagons during the remaining 15 weeks of track construction and hauling regular scheduled trains when the usual locomotive was withdrawn after major breakdowns 1 The trip took 10 minutes none of the later stations along the line having been built On arriving at Station Pier on to which the tracks extended the train was hailed with gun salutes by the warships HMS Electra and HMS Fantome Subsequent history EditBy March 1855 the four engines ordered from the UK were all in service with trains running every half hour They were named Melbourne Sandridge Victoria and Yarra The line was taken over by the Government of Victoria in 1878 to become part of Victorian Railways The line was electrified in the 20th century Conversion to light rail Edit D class Melbourne tram on route 109 at Port Melbourne The former railway station building housed a medical centre and restaurant Looking towards Port Melbourne from the Swallow Street level crossing the railway signals have been removed and have been replaced with signals resembling traffic signals for the trams Along with the St Kilda railway line the conversion the line to light rail was first announced on 13 January 1983 by the Victorian state government with cost estimates at the time of around 6 million 3 The line was closed on 10 October 1987 three months after the closure of the St Kilda railway line The last service departed the station at 18 03 4 with freight services to Montague continuing until 16 October of the same year 4 The line reopened as part of the Melbourne tram network on 18 December 1987 5 6 Melbourne tram route 109 now operates on the converted track The section from Southbank Junction to Port Melbourne was converted to light rail requiring the conversion from broad gauge 1 600 mm 5 ft 3 in used by the Melbourne rail network to 1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gauge tram track as well as reducing the overhead voltage from 1 500 V DC to 600 V DC required for the trams Additionally low level platforms were built on the sites of the former stations to accommodate the trams which contained steps to street level Low floor trams have since been introduced to the route Line guide EditBold stations are termini Port Melbourne railway lineLegend City Loop Flinders Street City Loop Sandridge Bridge over Yarra River Queensbridge Street Kings Way Clarendon Street Tram route 96 Tram Stop St Kilda line Tram route 96 West Gate Freeway Southbank tram depot Montague Street Montague northbound Montague southbound Ingles Street North Port Bridge Street Graham southbound Graham northbound Graham Street Railway Crescent Swallow Street Beach Street Port Melbourne Princes Pier Station PierNotes EditReferences Edit a b c d Harrigan L J September 1954 Centenary of the Melbourne Sandridge Railway Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin Vol 5 new series no 203 Redfern NSW Australian Railway Historical Society New South Wales Division p 101 ISSN 1449 6291 Inauguration of the Melbourne and Hobson s Bay Railway The Argus Melbourne No 2294 Melbourne 13 September 1854 p 5 Light Rail Vehicles Newsrail Australian Railway Historical Society February 1983 p 20 a b Traffic Newsrail Australian Railway Historical Society January 1988 p 22 Chris Banger March 1997 Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960 Newsrail Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division pp 77 82 Traffic Newsrail Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division January 1988 p 22 Background reading EditSandridge Railway Trail rail map notes and history failed verification Victorian Railways 1950s map PDF Victorian Railways Resources Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Port Melbourne railway line amp oldid 1118121444, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
