Yarra Valley Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service type | Tourist service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Operational tourist services from Healesville to Tunnel Hill, relaying track to Yarra Glen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Yarra Valley Tourist Railway (1988–Current) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former operator(s) | Healesville Railway Cooperative (1984–1990) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | Yarra Valley Tourist Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Healesville Tunnel Hill | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stops |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 3.970 km (2.467 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service frequency | 60 minutes from 10am to 4pm Sunday, Public Holiday and Wednesday during School Holidays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) used | Healesville | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track owner(s) | Yarra Valley Tourist Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Yarra Valley Railway is a heritage railway operating on a section of the former Healesville railway which operated between Lilydale and Healesville in the Yarra Valley area northeast of Melbourne, Australia.
The Lilydale-Melbourne railway was extended from Lilydale to Yarra Flats (now known as Yarra Glen) on the 15 May 1888 with intermediate stations at Coldstream and Yering. Part of the structure included a long timber viaduct with 502 openings near Yarra Glen, spanning the Yarra River and the adjacent flood plains. The extension of the line from Yarra Glen to Healesville required a 1 in 40 (2.5%) climb into a 154.4 metre tunnel with a corresponding descent at nearly the same grade. The Healesville Station opened on 1 March 1889 with an intermediate station at Tarrawarra.
Traffic on the line included timber, livestock, milk and dairy products. Early timetables included regular goods services specifically for transporting milk.
The last regular steam passenger service was hauled in August 1964. From this time until closure of the line in 1980 passenger services were run using Rail Motors, initially with Walker railmotors but due to degrading track quality the Walkers were replaced by Diesel Electric Railmotors (DERMs) from 1978 onwards. After 9 December 1980 no services operated beyond Coldstream and the Healesville-Coldstream section of the line was officially closed to all traffic on 10 March 1983. The Healesville Railway Cooperative was established in 1984 to reopen the line and in 1985 was granted an 'Order In Council' for this section by the Victorian State Government [1] to operate the line as a tourist railway. It was partially reopened as far as Yarra Glen for tourist charter services in 1986 following major bridgework. However, these services ceased by 1990 when the Healesville Railway Cooperative merged with the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway, who began running trolley services on the Healesville-Yarra Glen section.
During the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 Yarra Glen station came under ember attack and two timber trestle bridges near Tarrawarra were burnt down in a fast-moving grass fire.
Following a track renewal and bridge reconstruction campaign, on 17 July 2010 the official launch of the Walker Railmotor service occurred with the first passenger train service to leave Healesville Railway Station in over 30 years.
Yarra Valley Railway (physical track) | |
---|---|
History | |
Commenced | 1985 |
Opened |
|
Completed | 1990 |
Reopened |
|
Closed |
|
Technical | |
Line length | 12.982 km (8.07 mi) |
Number of tracks | Single track |
Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) |
The Yarra Valley Railway currently runs a railmotor service from Healesville station to a temporary terminus at the back of the Tarrawarra Estate Winery on Sundays and public holidays, crossing the Watts River, under the Donovans Road overbridge and through the historic tunnel. The Railway is also presently rebuilding the 5 miles 48 chains (9.0 km) section from this temporary terminus to Yarra Glen station, including the reconstruction of the Yarra Glen and Tarrawarra stations and the replacement of 14 timber trestle bridges within this section.
There are plans to also run Saturday services with the soon to operational DERM. After the line is restored to Yarra Glen, the Tarrawarra to Healesville Section will temporarily close to allow for extensive track maintenance. [2]
Station | Opened [3] | Closed [3] | Age | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yarra Glen | 15 May 1888 || 9 December 1980 || data-sort-value=33,810 | 92 years |
| ||
1985 || 1989 || data-sort-value=1,461 | 4 years |
| |||
1993 || 1994 || data-sort-value=365 | 12 months | ||||
Tarrawarra | 15 May 1889 || 15 March 1981 || data-sort-value=33,541 | 91 years |
| ||
1988 || 1989 || data-sort-value=365 | 12 months |
| |||
1992 || 1994 || data-sort-value=730 | 24 months | ||||
Healesville | 1 March 1889 || 12 September 1980 || data-sort-value=33,432 | 91 years |
| ||
1990 || || data-sort-value=12,053 | 33 years |
|
The railway is in possession of a number of locomotives and carriages, including the following:
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
J516 | 1954 | Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire | Stored | Victorian Railways J class coal-burning steam locomotive. Was plinthed in a park in Greensborough from 1975 until being acquired by YVTR in 1990. Stored at Healesville for possible future restoration. [4] | |
J541 | 1954 | Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire | Overhaul | Victorian Railways J class oil-burning steam locomotive. Privately owned by a group including the YVR and some of its members. Stored at a number of locations (including Healesville) until 2003, when it was moved to the Puffing Billy Railway for restoration. After restoration, it was loaned to the Victorian Goldfields Railway, where it entered traffic on 5 September 2007. [5] Left VGR in late 2011 for Newport Workshops for an overhaul for preparation to return to Healesville. | |
T341 | 1956 | Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales [6] | Stored | Victorian Railways T-class diesel-electric locomotive. Acquired by the YVR in the 1980s. Used on the railway till 2004. Transferred to Seymour for restoration to Mainline condition and made available for hire in 2008. Stored at South Dynon out of use 2012. Returned to Healesville on 14 May 2014. Presently stored awaiting repairs. | |
W250 | 1960 | Tulloch Limited, Rhodes, New South Wales [7] | Operational | Victorian Railways W-class diesel-hydraulic locomotive. | |
Y109 | 1963 | Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales [8] | Stored | Victorian Railways Y-class diesel-electric locomotive. Formerly owned by El Zorro and re-numbered Y145, it was acquired by the YVR in early 2014. Moved from store at Camperdown to Healesville on 13 May 2014. Will be restored to blue and gold livery as Y109 in the future. | |
Y135 | 1965 | Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales [8] | Stored | Victorian Railways Y-class diesel-electric locomotive. Transferred from Korumburra to Healesville on 1 August 2019. |
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RM 22 | 1948 | Walker Bros. | Operational | 153 hp Walker Railmotor. | |
RM 55 | 1928 | Newport Workshops | Under Restoration | Diesel Electric Rail Motor. Transferred from Korumburra to Healesville on 1 August 2019. | |
58 MT | 1952 | Martin & King | Stored | Walker Rail Motor Trailer. | |
64 MT | 1952 | Martin & King | Stored | Walker Rail Motor Trailer. |
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RT 17 | Unknown | Newport Workshops | Stored | ||
RT 53 | Unknown | Newport Workshops | Operational |
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 BW | 1914 | Newport Workshops | Stored | ||
32 BW | 1914 | Newport Workshops | Stored | ||
34 BW | 1914 | Newport Workshops | Stored | ||
35 BW | 1914 | Newport Workshops | Stored |
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
68 ZLP | 1967 | Newport Workshops | Stored | ||
24 ZF | Newport Workshops | Stored |
The Yarra Valley Railway currently runs on a section of track from Healesville to the Tarrawarra Tunnel. The rest of the line between the stop board outside the Tarrawarra Tunnel exit and Yarra Glen is currently being restored.
The Yarra Valley is the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately 240 km (150 mi) east of the Melbourne central business district and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay. The name Yarra Valley is used in reference to the upper regions surrounding the Yarra River and generally does not encompass the lower regions including the city and suburban areas, where the topography flattens out, or the upper reaches which are in inaccessible bushland. Included in the Yarra Valley is the sub-region of the Upper Yarra Valley which encompasses the towns of the former Shire of Upper Yarra in the catchment area upstream of and including Woori Yallock. The Yarra Valley is a popular day-trip and tourist area, featuring a range of natural features and agricultural produce, as well as the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.
Healesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Healesville recorded a population of 7,589 in the 2021 census.
Yarra Junction is a town in Victoria, Australia, 55 km (34 mi) east from Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Yarra Junction recorded a population of 2,875 at the 2021 census.
Burnley railway station is the junction for the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines in Victoria, Australia. It serves the inner eastern Melbourne suburb of Burnley, and it opened on 1 May 1880 as Burnley Street. It was renamed Burnley on 1 September 1882.
Lilydale railway station is the terminus of the suburban electrified Lilydale line in Victoria, Australia. It serves the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Lilydale, and opened on 1 December 1882 as Lillydale.
Yarra Glen is the city-end terminus of the Yarra Valley Railway, which operates over part of the former Healesville railway line.
Tarrawarra was a station on the former Healesville line between Yarra Glen and Healesville stations, in Victoria, Australia. The station opened in 1889 and closed along with the line in December 1980. In the 1970s, timetables showed that the station was a flag stop because of the small number of passengers using the station.
Healesville is a railway station in Victoria, Australia. Formerly the terminus of the Healesville railway line, it is currently the principal station of the Yarra Valley Railway.
The Melbourne rail network is a passenger and freight train system in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The metropolitan passenger rail network is centred on the Melbourne CBD and consists of 222 stations across 16 lines, which served a ridership of 99.5 million over the year 2021-2022. It is the core of the larger Victorian railway network, with links to both intrastate and interstate systems.
Coldstream is a closed railway station, located in Station Street, Coldstream, Victoria, Australia, on the now-closed Healesville greater-metropolitan line.
The Warburton railway line just outside Melbourne, Australia, was a railway branching off from the Healesville line at the present terminus, Lilydale.
The Gippsland line is a railway line serving the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland regions of Victoria, Australia. It runs east from the state capital Melbourne through the cities of Moe, Morwell, Traralgon, Sale and terminating at Bairnsdale.
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.
The Healesville railway line, in Melbourne, Australia, was the non-electrified continuation of the suburban Lilydale line, extending into the Yarra Valley. The line closed in the 1980s, but a heritage railway group, the Yarra Valley Railway, is working to retain part of the line between Yarra Glen and Healesville.
Yering is a closed railway station, located up from Macintyre Lane, Yering, Victoria, Australia, on the now-closed Healesville line. The station was opened on 15 May 1888, when the partly-completed line was opened as far as Yarra Glen. The station was closed on 9 December 1980, when passenger train services ceased on the Healesville line. The line was not officially closed until 10 March 1983.
Tarrawarra is a locality in Victoria, Australia, 45 km north-east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Tarrawarra recorded a population of 81 at the 2021 census.
The Diesel Electric Rail Motor (DERM) was a railmotor operated by the Victorian Railways of Australia.
The family of Walker railmotors were a type of diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.
The Noojee railway line is a closed railway line in Victoria, Australia. Branching off from the Gippsland line at Warragul station, it was built to service the timber industry in the upper Latrobe River area, transporting timber as well as providing a general goods and passenger service to townships in the area. The final section of the line between Neerim South and Noojee traversed increasingly hilly terrain and featured a number of large timber trestle bridges. Extensively and repeatedly damaged by bushfires over the years, the line was closed in the 1950s and dismantled. The last remaining large trestle bridge on the line has been preserved and has become a popular local tourist attraction.
Victoria has only ever had about 10 tunnels on its railway network, with some others on private narrow gauge tramways. This is due to the relatively easy terrain through which most of the lines were built.