Barry Beach railway line

Last updated

Barry Beach
General information
Line(s)Barry Beach branch
Platforms1
Tracks1
Other information
StatusClosed
History
Opened2 April 1969
Closed30 June 1992
Services
Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Barry Beach Junction  Barry Beach line Terminus
  List of closed railway stations in Victoria  

Barry Beach in Australia was a railway branch line that opened on 2 April 1969 to service the oil fields in Bass Strait. [1] During the existence of the branch line, twice or occasionally thrice weekly diesel fuel supplies were delivered to the Barry Beach Marine Terminal in order to serve the large ocean vessels that serviced the Bass Strait oil rigs south of Corner Inlet. [2] The oil train was not the only main source of freight transported beyond Leongatha as the once or at times twice weekly superphosphate goods freight trains serving nearby farming communities and townships would usually combine in a mixed goods train configuration. The Esso-Mobil Barry Beach oil rail freight service operated until the closure of the South Gippsland line beyond Leongatha on 30 June 1992 and the branch line itself was eventually dismantled in 1994. The oil fields in Bass Strait are still active with ocean ships still transporting the oil drilled from the still active Exxon-Mobil Marine Terminal at Barry Beach situated in Corner Inlet.

The terminus was the southernmost mainland section of Australia's linked railway tracks. The branch line to Lavers Hill and Crowes, at the Melba Gully Road, went slightly further south, but did not link to the mainline Victorian network as it was a narrower gauge.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Victoria</span> Overview of rail transport in Victoria, Australia

Rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. The network consists of 2,357 km of Victorian broad gauge lines, and 1,912 km of standard gauge freight and interstate lines; the latter increasing with gauge conversion of the former. Historically, a few experimental 762 mm gauge lines were built, along with various private logging, mining and industrial railways. The rail network radiates from the state capital, Melbourne, with main interstate links to Sydney and to Adelaide, as well as major lines running to regional centres, upgraded as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Southern Rail Trail</span>

The Great Southern Rail Trail is a 109-kilometre rail trail from Nyora to Welshpool in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Sections of the trail are flat or gently undulating trail through lush dairy farmland, areas of remnant bush and lowland scrub. There is a big climb on the section between Loch and Leongatha. The section between Fish Creek and Foster climbs past Mount Hoddle and goes through dense forest with occasional magnificent views of Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet.

The South Gippsland railway line is a partially closed railway line in Victoria, Australia. It was first opened in 1892, branching from the Orbost line at Dandenong, and extending to Port Albert. Much of it remained open until December 1994. Today, only the section between Dandenong and Cranbourne remains open for use. The section of the line from Nyora to Leongatha was used by the South Gippsland Tourist Railway until it ceased operations in 2016. The section from Nyora to Welshpool, with extension trail to Port Welshpool and a portion of the former line at Koo Wee Rup, have been converted into the Great Southern Rail Trail.

The South Gippsland Railway was a tourist railway located in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It controlled a section of the former South Gippsland railway line between Nyora and Leongatha, and operated services from Leongatha to Nyora, via Korumburra, the journey taking about 65 minutes.

Clyde was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, the station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in 1993. All that remains of this station now is the platform mound, however the track is still in reasonable condition.

Koo Wee Rup was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in July 1993. The station remains partly intact with the platform and goods shed intact, however the track one kilometre on each side of the station platform has been dismantled, and replaced by a concrete pathway for bicycles and recreational use. Koo Wee Rup was also the junction of the branch line to Strzelecki. The establishment of the pathway has effectively removed any likelihood that the railway will be rehabilitated. It can also be seen as being the start of a rail trail on the railway reserve, stretching back to Cranbourne, which will block future rail transport options for people in Cranbourne East, Clyde, and surrounding areas.

Lang Lang was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station operated until the closure of the line between Cranbourne Station and Leongatha Station in 1993. This station remains partially intact with its platform and signals still in reasonable condition, the track along this section is still in reasonable condition.

Nyora is a railway station on the former South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch railway station</span> Railway station in Victoria, Australia

Loch is a railway station on the former South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station was then part of the South Gippsland Tourist railway, after passenger operations on the line ceased after Cranbourne station in 1993, until 2016, when the railway shut down. It is located on the Great Southern Rail Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korumburra railway station</span> Former railway station in Victoria, Australia

Korumburra is a heritage listed railway station on the former South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Passenger operations on the line ceased beyond Cranbourne station in July 1993. The station was part of the South Gippsland tourist railway between 1994 and 2015 but is no longer in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leongatha railway station</span> Railway station in Victoria, Australia

Leongatha is a railway station in the town of Leongatha, Victoria on the former South Gippsland railway line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.

Meeniyan was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria. The station was opened during the 1890s and operated until 1992 when the line to Barry Beach servicing the oil fields in Bass Strait was closed. The line was dismantled and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail.

Buffalo was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria. The station was opened during the 1890s and operated until 1981 when the line to Barry Beach servicing the oil fields in Bass Strait was closed. The line was then dismantled and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail. All that remains at Buffalo is a Pivot Shed, platform mound and a buffer stop. The line to Barry Beach was later dismantled in 1994 and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail, to Foster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fish Creek railway station</span> Former railway station in Victoria, Australia

Fish Creek was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria. The station was opened during the 1890s and operated until 1992 when the line to Barry Beach servicing the oil fields in Bass Strait was closed. The line was then dismantled and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail. Fish Creek contained a rather extensive goods yard, all of which now has been demolished. The remaining platform is still in good condition.

Foster was a railway station on the South Gippsland line in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The station was opened during the 1890s operated until 1992 when the line to Barry Beach servicing the oil fields in Bass Strait was closed. The line was dismantled and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail.

Bennison was a railway station on the South Gippsland line, in South Gippsland, Victoria. The station was opened during the 1890s, and was closed to all traffic on 1 August 1973, at a time when many other stations and lines were closing around Victoria. The line was closed in 1991, at the same time as the line to Barry Beach, servicing the oil fields in Bass Strait, was closed. The line was then dismantled and turned into the Great Southern Rail Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yarram railway station</span> Former railway station in Victoria, Australia

Yarram was a railway station on the Woodside railway line. The railway opened to Yarram on 8 February 1921. After the 1940s it was the only station on the Woodside line to remain open, effectively making it the terminus station of the South Gippsland line. It closed during the late 1980s, along with Alberton and Welshpool stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tocumwal railway line, New South Wales</span> Former railway line in New South Wales

The Tocumwal railway line is a closed railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The line branched from the still open Junee – Hay line at Narrandera station and then headed south west to Tocumwal station where there was a break-of-gauge with the Victorian Railways Goulburn Valley line from Shepparton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nyora</span> Town in Victoria, Australia

Nyora is a town in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, approximately 84 kilometres (52 mi) south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Shires of Baw Baw, Cardinia and South Gippsland local government areas. Nyora recorded a population of 1,644 at the 2021 census.

References

  1. Vincent Adams Winter (1990). VR and VicRail: 1962–1983. p. 205. ISBN   0-9592069-3-0.
  2. "Operations, South East - Welshpool". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)): page 161. May 1992.

38°42′21″S146°23′21″E / 38.70583°S 146.38917°E / -38.70583; 146.38917