My favourite patch of coast. I arrived in the 1960s and never thought to see a train go over the trestle bridge. This video brought me to tears. Thanks to them as produced this and put it out there. John Warner, Murrumbateman NSW
True ~ ~ I rode the last ever passenger train from Wonthaggi to Flinders Street Station, because I was a band member of the Wonthaggi Citizens Brass Band, and the towns folk and band Marched from Flinders Street Station to Parlament House, in protest of the closure of the Wonthaggi train line.
Wonderful and rare footage. Thank you for posting and sharing. Those engines sure worked for their living. That has to be one of the most picturesque rail journeys in the world!
Beautiful. Afraid I was part of the gang which took the old rail from the Bass Valley. Krupp steel still in great condition. Perhaps one day someone will have the sense to reconstitute these wonderful lines, if only for the tourist dollar.
I've always said that since 1995, to relive the golden era of the Whontaggi line. But no, it has been going to deaf ears all along. Have you seen the state the track is today? All holed and cracked, unfit to walk or ride a bicycle, should the wheels drop in cracks you'll be catapulted sky high at speed.
One of those lines that'd be fairly popular today if it was reopened honestly, the cheap train fares combined with setting up some decent bus/ride share services for the last mile would make it great for holidaygoers with relatively little changes vs the 1977 iteration of the railway line. The real pipe-dream for a beachgoer/tourist focused line would be to also have some kinda light rail service connecting Anderson to Cowes for Phillip Island and also extending the Wonthaggi line itself a little bit further alongside the Bass Hwy to reach Inverloch.
from wiki Passenger services from Nyora to Wonthaggi were withdrawn on 4 December 1977 with the last train being a 153hp Walker railmotor.[11] By this time the general decline of Victorian branch line network saw services being withdrawn from a number of lines, and the Wonthaggi line closed on 21 November 1978[12][13] when a final goods train returned to Melbourne with staff equipment from stations along the line.
@@xr6lad Yes 'easily' because the right of way is still available with little or no development over it. However the political will also needs to be there and that won't happen for a while.
I grew up fascinated with trains but they were fast disappearing and it was a race against time. Born '63, family road trips out into the country where I would spot country trains always intrigued me. Too young to see steam, except just once shunting at Jolimont, the final mass closures started in around 1978 and it seemed that there would be nothing left. Even Melbourne's suburban network was flagged for mass closure including the Sandringham line where my parents had saved hard to put us nearby a station. I coudln't believe the slow but steady revival in the post-Liberal Hamer and Kennet era and seemingly continuing today. ( Liberal governments would prioritize roads, road consortiums and their contractors and shut down rail at the first chance)
I'm a similar age to you. One of my first memories as cognizant human being was at Bonnie Doon (how's the serenity) c. 1968/9. I must've been about 4 or 5 and we were staying in an old house on the west side of a street that faced north towards the arm of Eildon in Bonnie Doon. I remember being woken up by the distictive sound of what I now know to be an EMD8V567 powered high nosed VR T class loco. I went outside half asleep. I could see the whole blue arm of Eildon Weir and those huge bald hills behind in the morning sunshine. The loco was what I now know, bump shunting GY wagons. The sight and sound of this is one of my fondest memories. It was probably Easter and we would've arrived at night so I was really looking forward to waking up in the morning with my friends and seeing my surroundings. What an alarm clock. I remember the joy I felt took my breath away. It was sensory overload.
I remember the Lonie Report which recommended the end of all passenger services except Geelong. Even the Liberal government knew that would be political suicide. However much of the Lonie recommendations were carried out over the next ten years. Very much the Victorian Dr Beeching who at least retained many services. However the people who did the report had connections to the road industry.
@@darylcheshire1618 ..well, well. How about that? Who would have thought! lol. But it is also on the other side too. And many a Labor Gov move has been ticked off by trade unions is my guess. And wasn't it a NSW Labor Government that tore up the trams in Sydney practically overnight in the late 50s? Very dodgy and planned with strategic precision like Operation Barbarossa!
TommyTwobats I think it was the idea of Joseph Cahill Premier of NSW to scrap Sydney trams.But it wasn’t just decided then, the tram system was allowed to get rundown by “a succession of governments” after WWII
It is now part of the (scenic) rail trail for pedestrians and bicycles. I ride it twice a week - it is indeed one of Victoria's hidden gems. The rail trail currently goes from Anderson to Wonthaggi but is planned to be extended northwards, following the old rail alignment, to join up with the Great Southern Rail Trail (previously the South Gippsland line - a Kennett government closure) at Nyora. The rail trail is also being extended at the other end to Cape Paterson and Inverloch.
Beethoven's 6th or Pastoral symphony would've been more appropriate for this bucolic setting, particularly the part of the 1st movement where they're leaving the city. Like Stairway to Heaven, Bohemian Rhapsody and Piano Man I always hope to never ever hear the 5th ever again. Besides, it's hardly his best - subjectively of course. I suppose it could've been Mozart's Turkish Rondo or Beethoven's utterly dreadful Fur Elise Muzak style, ergh ergh ergh. Excuse me while I go and sick up.....
I have a digital upgrade of all that and more on the Wonthaggi line to edit and post some day. Maybe I can put it to the tune of - When the saints come marching in?
@@blueblood5297 More likely I'd leave the music off these days though. Unfortunately we only had silent film in those times so any music added is just a mutable extra
@@reidgck fair enough not knocking the great footage you have done a great job my mother was saying was there a different train as she remembers the old rattler but she thought it was different to that train she is 67 if that helps
My favourite patch of coast. I arrived in the 1960s and never thought to see a train go over the trestle bridge. This video brought me to tears. Thanks to them as produced this and put it out there. John Warner, Murrumbateman NSW
True ~ ~ I rode the last ever passenger train from Wonthaggi to Flinders Street Station, because I was a band member
of the Wonthaggi Citizens Brass Band, and the towns folk and band Marched from Flinders Street Station to Parlament House, in protest of the closure of the Wonthaggi train line.
what retarded morons decided to close this beautiful railway? *sigh*
Wonderful and rare footage.
Thank you for posting and sharing.
Those engines sure worked for their living.
That has to be one of the most picturesque rail journeys in the world!
I used to ride that Wonthaggi train every single month for years.
Beautiful. Afraid I was part of the gang which took the old rail from the Bass Valley. Krupp steel still in great condition. Perhaps one day someone will have the sense to reconstitute these wonderful lines, if only for the tourist dollar.
I've always said that since 1995, to relive the golden era of the Whontaggi line. But no, it has been going to deaf ears all along. Have you seen the state the track is today? All holed and cracked, unfit to walk or ride a bicycle, should the wheels drop in cracks you'll be catapulted sky high at speed.
Terrific montage! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
That's some classic footage!
If reconstituted this could be one of Australia's best and most scenic tourist lines.
The wait at Nyora platform at nighttime was freezing.
One of those lines that'd be fairly popular today if it was reopened honestly, the cheap train fares combined with setting up some decent bus/ride share services for the last mile would make it great for holidaygoers with relatively little changes vs the 1977 iteration of the railway line.
The real pipe-dream for a beachgoer/tourist focused line would be to also have some kinda light rail service connecting Anderson to Cowes for Phillip Island and also extending the Wonthaggi line itself a little bit further alongside the Bass Hwy to reach Inverloch.
Classic VR branch atmosphere. Thanks for sharing.
Great to see old footage like this. The memories are kept alive of this line. Great work.
it's weird seeing trains that used to run on a line you see and ride along, I used to see this line all the time, just without trains
from wiki Passenger services from Nyora to Wonthaggi were withdrawn on 4 December 1977 with the last train being a 153hp Walker railmotor.[11] By this time the general decline of Victorian branch line network saw services being withdrawn from a number of lines, and the Wonthaggi line closed on 21 November 1978[12][13] when a final goods train returned to Melbourne with staff equipment from stations along the line.
And then the idiots covered the tracks with dirt and made it as a walking track. Idiot! 😫
@@mickcarson8504 The tracks can easily be replaced and reinstated in the future if required as VicTrack still owns the easement
@@mikevale3620 easily ? lol. Okay.
@@xr6lad Yes 'easily' because the right of way is still available with little or no development over it. However the political will also needs to be there and that won't happen for a while.
Love watching this - thanks for putting it on UA-cam
i was based at Korumburra for few weeks and had the pleasure of doing that trip.
Amazing scenery.
Another railway line closed by the Hamer Government in 1978.The Mansfield line closed a year earlier,in 1977!.
I grew up fascinated with trains but they were fast disappearing and it was a race against time. Born '63, family road trips out into the country where I would spot country trains always intrigued me. Too young to see steam, except just once shunting at Jolimont, the final mass closures started in around 1978 and it seemed that there would be nothing left. Even Melbourne's suburban network was flagged for mass closure including the Sandringham line where my parents had saved hard to put us nearby a station. I coudln't believe the slow but steady revival in the post-Liberal Hamer and Kennet era and seemingly continuing today. ( Liberal governments would prioritize roads, road consortiums and their contractors and shut down rail at the first chance)
I'm a similar age to you. One of my first memories as cognizant human being was at Bonnie Doon (how's the serenity) c. 1968/9. I must've been about 4 or 5 and we were staying in an old house on the west side of a street that faced north towards the arm of Eildon in Bonnie Doon. I remember being woken up by the distictive sound of what I now know to be an EMD8V567 powered high nosed VR T class loco. I went outside half asleep. I could see the whole blue arm of Eildon Weir and those huge bald hills behind in the morning sunshine. The loco was what I now know, bump shunting GY wagons. The sight and sound of this is one of my fondest memories. It was probably Easter and we would've arrived at night so I was really looking forward to waking up in the morning with my friends and seeing my surroundings. What an alarm clock. I remember the joy I felt took my breath away. It was sensory overload.
I remember the Lonie Report which recommended the end of all passenger services except Geelong. Even the Liberal government knew that would be political suicide. However much of the Lonie recommendations were carried out over the next ten years. Very much the Victorian Dr Beeching who at least retained many services. However the people who did the report had connections to the road industry.
@@darylcheshire1618 ..well, well. How about that? Who would have thought! lol. But it is also on the other side too. And many a Labor Gov move has been ticked off by trade unions is my guess. And wasn't it a NSW Labor Government that tore up the trams in Sydney practically overnight in the late 50s? Very dodgy and planned with strategic precision like Operation Barbarossa!
TommyTwobats I think it was the idea of Joseph Cahill Premier of NSW to scrap Sydney trams.But it wasn’t just decided then, the tram system was allowed to get rundown by “a succession of governments” after WWII
Existing,that is!.
Good job, Thank you for your information.
RM22 was the first railmotor I drove.
That trestle is tourist gold if ever a light rail line was laid for say a couple kms either side of it
It is now part of the (scenic) rail trail for pedestrians and bicycles. I ride it twice a week - it is indeed one of Victoria's hidden gems. The rail trail currently goes from Anderson to Wonthaggi but is planned to be extended northwards, following the old rail alignment, to join up with the Great Southern Rail Trail (previously the South Gippsland line - a Kennett government closure) at Nyora. The rail trail is also being extended at the other end to Cape Paterson and Inverloch.
There seemed to be some good loads there, I wonder why they closed so early?🤔
The line should still be open today,with the then Hamer Government closing the line in 1978,instead of Vline coaches servicing the district nowadays!.
Would this been 1977 ?
Beethoven's 6th or Pastoral symphony would've been more appropriate for this bucolic setting, particularly the part of the 1st movement where they're leaving the city.
Like Stairway to Heaven, Bohemian Rhapsody and Piano Man I always hope to never ever hear the 5th ever again.
Besides, it's hardly his best - subjectively of course. I suppose it could've been Mozart's Turkish Rondo or Beethoven's utterly dreadful Fur Elise Muzak style, ergh ergh ergh. Excuse me while I go and sick up.....
Good footage bad music it's like I was on hold to a power company
I have a digital upgrade of all that and more on the Wonthaggi line to edit and post some day. Maybe I can put it to the tune of - When the saints come marching in?
@@reidgck would be more enjoyable but maybe you can find local period-correct music
@@blueblood5297 More likely I'd leave the music off these days though. Unfortunately we only had silent film in those times so any music added is just a mutable extra
@@reidgck fair enough not knocking the great footage you have done a great job my mother was saying was there a different train as she remembers the old rattler but she thought it was different to that train she is 67 if that helps
@@reidgck Definitely would like to see more of the Wonthaggi line.
The line should still be open today,with the then Hamer Government closing the line in 1978,instead of Vline coaches servicing the district nowadays!.