Mansfield railway line
{{Short description|Former railway line in Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Mansfield
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| status = Former train line
Now Great Victorian Rail Trail
| locale = Hume (region), Victoria, Australia
| start = {{rwsa|Tallarook}}
| end = {{rwsa|Mansfield|v}}
| continuesfrom =
| continuesas =
| connectinglines = Tocumwal (Seymour line)
| formerconnections= Alexandra
| stations = {{ubl|16 former stations|1 former siding}}
| routes =
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| open = {{Start date|1883|11|16|df=y}}
| yearcommenced =
| yearcompleted = {{Start date|1891|10|6|df=y}}
| close = {{End date|1978|11|8|df=y}}
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| owner = {{Plainlist|
- Victorian Railways (VR) (1883–1974)
- VR as VicRail (1974–1978)
}}
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| linelength_km = 121.042
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| tracks = Single track
| gauge = {{Track gauge|1600 mm}}
| old_gauge =
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| minradius = {{convert|15|chain|m|order=flip}}
| maxincline = {{Incline|40}}
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| elevation = {{convert|1302|ft|m|order=flip}}
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| map = {{Mansfield railway line|inline=yes}}
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}}
The Mansfield railway line is a closed {{convert|121|km|mi|0|adj=on}} branch railway line situated in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia. Constructed by the Victorian Railways, it branched from the Seymour line at {{rwsa|Tallarook}} station, and ran east to {{VICcity|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.{{cite web |title=Mansfield line |url=https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/line/mansfield |website=Vicsig |accessdate=2023-01-06}}
The first stage of the line was opened from {{VICcity|Tallarook}} to {{VICcity|Yea}} in 1883, being extended in stages from 1889 though {{VICcity|Molesworth}}, {{VICcity|Cathkin}}, {{VICcity|Merton}} and {{VICcity|Maindample}}, to reach {{VICcity|Mansfield}} in 1891.{{cite journal |journal=Newsrail |title=Tracks Across the State |first=Sid |last=Brown |year=1990 |pages=71–76 |publisher=Victorian Railways Historical Society (Victorian Division)}} A 7-kilometre-long branch was opened from Cathkin to {{VICcity|Koriella}} in 1890, being extended another 7 kilometres to {{VICcity|Alexandra}} in 1909.
The line was a result of a decade of local lobbying, and provided improved access for agricultural products from the region to Melbourne markets.{{cite web|url=http://home.vicnet.net.au/~manshs/mansfield.htm |title=History of Mansfield |author=Mansfield Historical Society |publisher=home.vicnet.net.au |accessdate=2008-06-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522150355/http://home.vicnet.net.au/~manshs/mansfield.htm |archivedate=22 May 2006 }} 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 {{VICcity|Bonnie Doon}}, which was rebuilt in 1955 as part of the enlarging of the reservoir.{{cite web |url=http://www.railtrails.org.au/news/news.php3?feature_bonnie_doon_052000&/states/vic/northern.htm |title=Rail Trails News - Old Railway at Bonnie Doon |publisher=railtrails.org.au |accessdate=2008-06-04}}
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 {{VICcity|Yarra Glen}}, which was rerouted via {{VICcity|Whittlesea}} after road upgrades had been carried out.{{cite journal |journal=Newsrail |title=Rail Passenger Service Withdrawals Since 1960|first=Chris |last=Banger |year=1997|pages=77–82 |publisher=Victorian Railways Historical Society (Victorian Division)}}
The line was closed on 8 November 1978, along with the branch line to Alexandra. It was quickly dismantled following closure, preventing any chance of tourist services from operating along the line, despite some interest being shown.{{cn|date=August 2023}} Many bridges along the line were also removed with only the abutments and piers remaining.{{cite web
|url=http://www.vicrailstations.com/Mansfield/Mansfield.html |title=Mansfield Line |publisher=vicrailstations.com |accessdate=2008-06-04}} The trackbed has since been re-used for the 134-kilometre Great Victorian Rail Trail.{{cite web |url=http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=27 |title=Goulburn River High Country Rail Trails - Trail Description |publisher=railtrails.org.au |accessdate=2008-06-04 }} Construction of the trail was funded by the federal government and local councils.{{cite web|url=http://www.railtrails.org.au/news/news.php3?news&261&%2Fnews|title=$14 million Project Announced to Complete Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail (Vic)|publisher=Railtrails Australia|date=29 April 2009}}
Stations
| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+ Station Histories !Station !Opened !Closed !Age ! scope=col class=unsortable | Notes | |||
| {{rwsa|Tallarook}} | {{TAC2|18 April 1872}} | ||
| {{rwsa|Trawool}} | {{TAC2|16 November 1883 | |25 July 1977}} | Formerly Traawool |
| {{rwsa|Granite}} | {{TAC2|15 December 1892 | |1 December 1951}} | Formerly Falls Siding / Falls Creek Siding / Trawool Falls Siding / Wright & Cons Siding |
| {{rwsa|Kerrisdale|v}} | {{TAC2|16 November 1883 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Homewood}} | {{TAC2|16 November 1883 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Yea}} | {{TAC2|16 November 1883 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Cheviot}} | {{TAC2|12 November 1889 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Molesworth}} | {{TAC2|12 November 1889 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Cathkin}} | {{TAC2|10 June 1890 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Yarck}} | {{TAC2|10 November 1890 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Kanumbra}} | {{TAC2|10 November 1890 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Merton}} | {{TAC2|10 November 1890 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Woodfield}} | {{TAC2|7 May 1891 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| {{rwsa|Bonnie Doon}} | {{TAC2|7 May 1891 | |8 November 1978}} | Formerly Doon |
| {{rwsa|Maindample}} | {{TAC2|7 May 1891 | |8 November 1978}} | |
| Phosphate Coys Siding | {{TAC2|15 January 1920 | |29 January 1957}} | |
| {{rwsa|Mansfield|v}} | {{TAC2|6 October 1891 | |8 November 1978}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.vicrailstations.com/Mansfield/Mansfield.html Photographs of stations along the Mansfield line]
- [http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=27 Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail]
{{Victorian Railway Lines|branch}}
Category:Closed regional railway lines in Victoria (state)
Category:5 ft 3 in gauge railways in Australia
Category:Railway lines opened in 1883
Category:Railway lines closed in 1978
Category:1883 establishments in Australia