Mt Gambier line
Heywood to Dartmoor opened June 22 1916
Dartmoor to Mt Gambier opened Nov 28 1917
Under the terms of the 1912 Act to build the South Australian and Victorian Border Railways, the Victorian Railway Construction Branch built to Mt Gambier and the S.A. constructing body built from Pinaroo to Murrayville.
Unlike most VR branches where traffic gradually declined as the years went by, the Mt Gambier line got busier and by the 1980s had two decent sized trains every week day. I was lucky enough to work on this line in 1980 when I relieved at Hamilton although all trips were done in total darkness, such was the timetable. A major feature of the line was the impressive wooden bridge over the Glenelg river about half a mile on the Heywood side of Dartmoor. This bridge had been in poor condition for many years and after the Cudgewa line closed a bridge from that line was re-located to rebuild the Glenelg river bridge, this work occured around 1988. Alas, the line was to have no future, when the Ararat to Portland line was converted to Standard Gauge in 1995 the line was orphaned, the official title was "services suspended" April 11 1995, likewise, when the Melbourne to Adelaide was converted to Standard Gauge in 1995 the line from Bordertown to Mt Gambier was left as broad gauge and unable to be used. For photos of Dartmoor see the Ararat to Portland page.
ABOVE: A rather clean looking N 426 heads a passes by Sinclair Siding in December 1965 heading a lengthy train consisting of South Australian and Victorian goods vehicles. The siding appears to have had little recent use. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: It seems that Sinclair didn’t cater for passengers as there appears to have never been a platform at this location. There was a single loop siding with only goods in wagon loads being accepted. December 1965.. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: The Monday goods train from Hamilton to Mount Gambier has J 532 leading another member of the class at Lyon as they are shunting what appears to be a rake of GY wagons. March 1964. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: A Mount Gambier to Hamilton goods being hauled by oil burner J 552 passes through Greenwald as it heads east towards Heywood in February 1966. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: Opened with the 41 km section of line from Heywood to Dartmoor on 20 June 1916 Winnap has retained its original timber platform coping and wooden shelter shed for over fifty years. January 1977. (photo courtesy Neville Gee
ABOVE: Oil burner N 426 heads the Thursday through goods from Portland North to Mount Gambier at Winnap in December 1965. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: Construction photo of the bridge over the Glenelg River near Dartmoor. (SLV collection)
ABOVE: Judging by the lack of ballast, this photo was taken prior to opening. (SLV collection)
ABOVE: The largest and most spectacular feature of the entire line is the Glenelg River Bridge crossing at Dartmoor. N 426 makes a fine sight as it crosses this structure just prior to arriving at Dartmoor Station. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: J 538 heads an ARHS (SA Division) Mount Gambier to Heywood return tour in the vicinity of Dartmoor. Note the South Australian Railways car van behind the loco. 24 April 1966. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
1944 Dartmoor signal arrangement diagram
ABOVE: Dartmoor Station facing towards Heywood as it appeared in October 1970 with the original 250 ft long passenger platform still intact. This was not long before the line was upgraded to a higher standard. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: By January 1977 the line had been rehabilitated along with the station platform having been cut back at the down end and a new van shed erected at the up end. The platform scales have also been removed. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: Dartmoor looking east, Sep 1984. (photo courtesy Noel Bamford)
ABOVE: Neville's final visit on 29 November 1987 saw Dartmoor in a quite rundown and much rationalised state in comparison to the previous photos. BELOW: A view from the station platform along line in an easterly direction shows the water tank remaining, and in the yard are steel girders removed from the Sandy Creek viaduct on the Cudgewa line to rebuild the Glenelg river bridge. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: Another yard end-on view showing many of these girders. The 32 km section of line from Dartmoor to the SA border opened for traffic on 29 November 1917. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: Only a Mallee shed on the recently cut back platform at Puralka remained along with the siding in January 1977. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: Rennick is situated on Victorian South Australian border and has no local habitation. Much of the railway route from Puralka to Kromelite in South Australia passes through plantation pine forests on both sides of the track.
ABOVE: T 326 passes Rennick, the first VR station that up trains encountered, Feb 7 1980. (photo courtesy Geoff Winkler)
ABOVE: The Victoria/South Australia border was a short distance west of Rennick, Feb 7 1980. (photo courtesy Geoff Winkler)
ABOVE: Kromelite has a small settlement and is mostly surrounded by these pine plantations. The line soon passes into open country towards Mount Gambier after leaving this station. January 1977. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE: T 326 sets out 4 SAR cattle wagons at Glenburnie. Feb 7 1980. (photo courtesy Geoff Winkler)
ABOVE & BELOW: T 326 sets out a cement wagon at Murrawa (SA) Feb 7 1980. (photo courtesy Geoff Winkler)
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ABOVE: Rx 56 and J 540 inside the Mount Gambier Loco shed, built for the 1953 regauging. The old shed was on the opposite side of the line and was for 3’ 6” gauge locos with a single VR shed attached on the RH side. (photo courtesy Des Jowett)
ABOVE: T 370 sits on a turntable road while 836 is involved in shunting moves at Mount Gambier in October 1970. (photo courtesy Neville Gee)
ABOVE & BELOW: T 326 arrives at Mt Gambier on No. 7 through goods from Hamilton. This train only ran on Mondays and was due into Mt Gambier at 8.10am but judging by the shadows it was running quite late. In the photo below the train in No. 3 road is T 326's return train, Feb 7 1980. (photos courtesy Geoff Winkler)
ABOVE: T 326 is now on its return train, No. 26 roadside goods to Heywood/Hamilton due to depart at 12.00 noon. and is probably "doing brakes". BELOW: Departing Mt Gambier on its way back to Heywood, Feb 7 1980. (photos courtesy Geoff Winkler)
Mount Gambier Racecourse is situated on the northern side of the Heywood-Mount Gambier Railway adjacent to Murrawa station. Construction of this line had reached the outskirts of Mount Gambier in time for the 1917 meeting and arrangements were made by the Railway Construction Branch at the request of the Mount Gambier Racing Club to enable a special train to run as far as Yahl – the construction name for Murrawa. Commencing with the 1918 meeting, a local train service between Mount Gambier and Murrawa ran before and after the meetings, using carriages off the special train from Victoria. Details of the special trains are from “The Border Watch” Mount Gambier newspaper. The race meeting was held on a Wednesday & Thursday in June for the period covered.
| YEAR | DATES | SPECIAL VICTORIAN TRAIN | LOCAL TRAIN |
| 1917 | 20-21 | From Hamilton | None, line not complete |
| 1918 | 19-20 | None a/c Influenza epidemic | 11-50am 12-50PM |
| 1919 | 18-19 | None a/c Influenza epidemic | 11-45am Thurs only |
| 1920 | 16-17 | From Hamilton | 11-30am 12-30pm |
| 1921 | 15-16 | From Hamilton (see notes) | 11-45am 12-30pm |
| 1922 | 14-15 | From Hamilton | 11-50am 12-50pm |
| 1923 | 13-14 | From Hamilton | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1924 | 18-19 | From Hamilton | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1925 | 17-18 | From Hamilton | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1926 | 16-17 | From Hamilton | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1927 | 15-16 | From Hamilton | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1928 | 20-21 | From Hamilton | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1929 | 19-20 | From Warrnambool | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1930 | 18-19 | From Warrnambool | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1931 | 17-18 | From Warrnambool | 12 noon 12-40pm |
| 1932 | 15-16 | From Hamilton | 12-30pm |
| 1933 | 14-15 | From Hamilton | 12-30pm |
| 1934 | 13-14 | From Hamilton | 12-30pm |
| 1935 | 19-20 | From Hamilton | 12-30pm |
| 1936 | 17-18 | From Hamilton | 12-30pm |
| 1937 | 16-17 | None shown | None shown |
| 1938 | 15-16 | None shown | None shown |
| 1939 | 14-15 | None shown | None shown |
| 1940 | 19-20 | None shown | None shown |
| 1941 | 18-19 | None shown | Bus 18th 12-50 19th *** |
| 1942 | Race meeting cancelled due to WW 2 | ||
| *** Train cancelled by VR. |
MOUNT GAMBIER – MURRAWA LOCAL RACE TRAINS
FARES: First and Second Class fares are shown for the years 1918 until 1922.
1918 – 1921 Return fares 11 Pence First class; 8 Pence Second Class
1922 Return fares 1 Shilling & 2 Pence First Class; 10 Pence Second Class
Commencing in 1923 there was only one fare of 1 Shilling Return which was reduced to 10 Pence Return from 1931 until the end of the service.
The train returned to Mount Gambier after the race meeting usually around 5pm, often with two trips.
In 1941 the local train was advertised to run on the Thursday only but was cancelled by the V.R. and reported in the newspaper of June 17.
GENERAL
The Railway Construction Branch arranged for the rails to be laid to Yahl (Murrawa) and the platform ready for the 20th June 1917. VPRS 425 Unit 683 Corres. 4244.
The “Border Watch” did not give the originating Victorian station for this train, referring to it as “the Victorian train”. The “Hamilton Spectator” for 11th June advertised the train departing there at 6-50am Wednesday and departing Mount Gambier at 7-15pm Thursday.
Murrawa was opened as a Temporary Staff Station in 1929 and 1931 as follows:
A 1378/29 on 19 and 20-6-29 for S 2934/29 and S 2935/29;
A 1150/31 on 17 and 18-6-31 for S 2016/31 and S 2017/31;
It may have been opened in other years but the above are the only recorded dates.
(These Circulars are in the A.F.U.L.E. collection at the University of Melbourne Archives)
Due to the Influenza Epidemic in 1919 and the restrictions on Interstate travel, the Racing Club was aware of the reduced attendance and takings, so lowered the value of the prize money for each event. The carriages for the special local train were most likely worked over to Mount Gambier on the goods trains. From 1938, there was an Air service using DC 2 and DC 3 aircraft serving Mount Gambier and numerous bus operators advertising their services to Mount Gambier from Victoria
The Victorian specials conveyed both passengers and horses, with passengers from Portland connecting at Heywood.
The special departed Warrnambool at 3pm on the Tuesday in 1929 and 12 noon Tuesday in 1931.
The 1926 special departed Hamilton at 7am on Wednesday.
The Victorian special departed Mount Gambier on the Thursday evening. (7-15pm in 1921)
D.Jowett 14-4-2012
BELOW: On Sunday 13-9-1953 a fast goods derailed near Kiata resulting in both the Overland services from Melbourne and Adelaide that night running via Mount Gambier where they crossed. Newspaper article in the Naracoorte Herald 14-9-53. The Victorian train was hauled by two B class through to Mount Gambier. (Thanks to Des Jowett for information and newspaper cuttings)
BELOW: Here is a better quality copy of the photo from the paper. (photo courtesy The Overland Museum collection)
