Royston Power Station

Royston Power Station is the location of these two photos, one taken at the power station and the other a short way along the tramway. My two friends and I were very fortunate to have been able to ride the haulage car up from the foot of the Rubicon Power Station, alongside the pipeline, then along the aqueduct on the small scooter electric vehicle. There was also a larger, two bogie vehicle that resemble a conventional tramcar, but was only used for bigger work, also battery operated.

In this photo, the operator, on the left, is connecting the batteries to the scooter after disconnecting from the charging system. The dork on the right is a very young Geoff Baxter wearing a raincoat that was the height of fashion at the times, as where the Wellies.

From the collection of Michael Brudar

An unfortunate shot of 3 arses, caught by Mike as the rest of us were re-railing the scooter after a minor derailment.

From the collection of Michael Brudar

 More recently, Ron Welsh's son Daniel contributed the following 3 photos taken from a point very close to the power station. In the first shot, you can see the siding off the main line to the room in the basement of the power station where the little scooter used to be stored. The next shot is taken in the opposite direction and the shots of the skips are also in the same area.



Photo by Daniel Welsh

Photo by Daniel Welsh



Photo by Daniel Welsh

 

Noojee Line Bridge Number 6

Noojee Line Bridge Number 6. Quite close to Bridge 5, it is on a slightly curved alignment. It appears to be around 13 openings, of conventional trestle bridge construction with longitudinal timber beams and transverse timber deck. No trace of this bridge remains.

Taken from the Up end, this photo appears to have been taken quite some time after the bridge was built, possibly after the 1939 bushfires, judging by the relatively scrub free ground.

Photo from PROV. Contributed By Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Possibly taken at the same time as the other photo, this time from the Down , evidence of the bushfire may be demonstrated by the stump in the foreground. Bridge 5 can be clearly seen a short distance away in the background.

Photo from PROV. Contributed By Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Bridge 6 is shown completely intact at the time of the photo in about 1962. I was present when the photo was taken.

Photo by Michael Brudar

Noojee Line Bridge Number 5

Noojee Line Bridge Number 5. This bridge was similar to Bridge 6 but a little longer at around 18 openings. It was essentially straight, whereas Bridge 6 was slightly curved. No trace of this bridge remains.

This map shows the position of the bridges, superimposed on an old Land Survey Map. Note there is a bogus bridge shown just on the Warragul side of Bridge 4, and Bridge 7 is drawn on the map in the wrong place.

Bridge 5 under construction with the deck being added and the approaches not yet in place.

Photo from PROV. Contributed By Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Bridge 5 shortly after completion.

Photo from PROV. Contributed By Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Another view of Bridge 5, it appears to be still under construction although close to completion.

Photo from PROV. Contributed By Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Bridge being rebuilt after being burnt during the 1939 bushfires.

Photo from PROV. Contributed By Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Bridge 5 was burnt out by fires subsequent to the closure of the Nayook-Noojee section, possibly during the late 50s. This is all that remained.

Photo by Michael Brudar

Noojee Line Bridge Number 3

Noojee Line Bridge Number 3. The third bridge in the sequence, this one crossed the Main Neerim Road. It was demolished following the closure of the line and the re-alignment of the road. No trace exists, except the ROW forms two driveways today, one either side of the road.

This map shows the position of the bridges, superimposed on an old Land Survey Map. Note there is a bogus bridge shown just on the Warragul side of Bridge 4, and Bridge 7 is drawn on the map in the wrong place.

Showing the bridge under construction across the Main Neerim Road.

Charles H Perrin, Museum Victoria, Record No. MM069440.

Noojee Line Bridge Number 1

Noojee Line Bridge Number 1. There were seven magnificent bridges on the Warragul - Noojee line, and for this reference they are numbered from 1 to 7 from the Warragul end of the line. There are varying degrees of remains of these bridges, from Not A Trace to the well-known preserved Bridge 7. This one is the first of the group, and also the smallest and it fits into the Not A Trace left category. I am indebted to Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier for collecting the images of the Noojee bridges.

This map shows the position of the bridges, superimposed on an old Land Survey Map. Note there is a bogus bridge shown just on the Warragul side of Bridge 4, and Bridge 7 is drawn on the map in the wrong place.

So far, this is the only photograph I have of this bridge, probably because it was not all that outstanding compared to the others.

From the Collections of Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier

Bridge off Grays Road Creswick

The bridge off Grays Road Creswick. Ron Woods writes: This three-span brick structure still exists under the Ballarat - Maryborough line.

This brick arch bridge serves a dirt road, but with three possible ways through.

From the collection of Ron Woods

Wombat Timber Trestle

Wombat Timber Trestle. Ron Woods writes: Somewhere around the mid-1960s, a friend and I chanced upon this timber trestle, which was just on the Ballarat side of Wombat station (to the right of the photo), on the long-closed Newlyn - Daylesford line.  This is a good example of "take a photo when you can" - we were surprised to find that, just a month later, it had been demolished, leaving not a trace.

The position of this bridge is approximate, as there is nothing to indicate its position any longer.

From the collection of Ron Woods

Two further photographs of this trestle taken by Des Jowett on October 23, 1955

Photo by Des Jowett

Photo by Des Jowett

Warrenheip Road Bridge

Warrenheip Road Bridge. Ron Woods writes: This is the only photo I have that shows the original bluestone bridge on Warrenheip Road at Warrenheip.  It was replaced by the present concrete structure a short time later.  As well as the bridge, it shows S303 + S3?? on an up goods train some time during 1969.

This bridge was replaced for road safety reasons. The road approach on the north side had a very sharp bend right at the bridge, and a motorist travelling toward the bridge from that side was looking at the side of the bridge until reaching it.  The bridge was fairly narrow and the bluestone sides prevented motorists from seeing vehicles coming toward them.  Consequently, it was the scene of many head-on collisions.  At the time there was no active preservation movement to prevent the bluestone bridge being demolished, although there are similar bridges between Warrenheip and Geelong, including at Navigators and Lethbridge, so any preservation attempt may have failed in any case.  The present bridge is closer to the camera and on a different angle, and the northern road approach is now on a sweeping bend with good visibility.

From the collection of Ron Woods

Rubicon Timber Haulage

Rubicon Timber Haulage in the Rubicon forest, thought to be in the Rubicon River near the foot of the existing pipeline feeding the Rubicon Power Station.

A log can be seen at the foot of the haulage to the right, while the horses that will haul it to the main tramway head are watering in the river.

From the collection of Michael Brudar

Rubicon Timber Tramway

Rubicon Timber Tramway, a view along the road between Alexandra and Rubicon. One of the two Kelly & Lewis diesel locomotives is shown in charge of the train. The photo is from a collection of the official photographer for the shire. Note that the geographical position is only approximate. The date would be post 1938 when the Kelly & Lewis locomotives were introduced to replace the original steam locomotives.

An interesting photo because the log wagons are loaded with milled timber, suggesting the movement is away from the mill.

From the collection of Michael Brudar

Noojee Line Bridge - Number 2

Noojee Line Bridge Number. This bridge has been well documented, as it was a departure from normal VR design, in having 3 tower piers in the centre, supporting the 4 steel spans, Each tower was a free-standing structure made up of 12 piles at the base. This bridge was the longest of the Noojee group, but at 87 feet, not quite as tall as Bridge Number 4, which shared the same type of  construction. Extensively burnt out by bushfires and other allegedly malicious deeds, there is little left of this bridge. I hope to walk into this bridge in the not too distant future and photograph the remains.

It appears construction has only just begun when this photo was taken, probably 1916-1917. Only four trestles have been erected at the Down end.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

By now considerable progress has been made, a good part of the Up end has now been erected, and it looks like the first of the tower piers has been started at the Up end.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Now a little further on, the tower piers are well under way and the deck appears to be in place at the Up end.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A view from higher up the hill showing the recently completed bridge.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

From below track level, showing the completed bridge.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

View from the Up end looking towards Noojee.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A VR V Class locomotive on an Up train.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A W Class locomotive on a ballast train, not long after completion of the bridge.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Goods train, circa 1934, heading Down towards Noojee.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

An Up goods headed up by a K Class. The train mostly consists of milled timber.

Photo by Wal Larsen. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Close up view of the tower piers, likely taken during construction as temporary stays are still in place.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

View from the top of the hill behind Bridge 2, towards the end of its life. The encroaching trees and scrub in the valley are a portent of vegetation to come. The site is now completely overgrown.

PROV, Museum Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Back on December 19, 1962, Michael Brudar and I hiked into this bridge, and four others, to obtain photos of the remains. The remains of the burnt remains can clearly be seen, however the area is now completely overgrown with vegetation.

Photo by Michael Brudar

Noojee Line - Bridge Number 4

Noojee Line Bridge Number 4, was a twin to Bridge Number 2, using the same method of construction, with the central spans supported by tower piers, It has a shallower fall of land beneath it, but qualifies as the tallest bridge on the line, at 100 feet in the centre. Unfortunately many of the available photos are not the best in terms of quality.

A good shot of the bridge in a clear landscape, as often happens after a bushfire.

Public Records Office Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Similar shot from a higher viewpoint, at track level.

Public Records Office Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Photo taken just after the 1939 bushfires, showing the down end severely damaged by fire.

Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

One of several taken during construction, showing the central steel spans over the tower piers being installed.

Public Records Office Victoria. Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

Higher angle view of a slightly earlier period before the steel spans were in place.

Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

A better shot of the steel span installation process.

Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

One of the tower piers with Charles Perrin on the extreme right hand side. Perrin was the Engineer-In-Chief of the Victorian Railways Construction Branch and responsible for the design of this bridge.

Contributed by Mark Tregoning and Andrew Collier.

The original of this photo was taken by Alf Coope, resident of Noojee, and shows the last Up passenger train on the Nayook-Noojee section. It was taken on March 3, 1954. The train was taking Noojee people to Warragul to see Queen Elizabeth who was arriving at Warragul by train from Sale that day. Shortly after this, the bridge was (allegedly) deliberately destroyed by fire.

Photo by Michael Brudar copied from an original by Alf Coope

Puffing Billy Belgrave in 1962

The Puffing Billy Station at Belgrave was relatively new at this time, and the small engine shed adjacent to the station was the only locomotive accommodation. The kids playing on the track would be a no-no these days.

Looking down on the Belgrave station and the activities.

 

Families and kids having a good time around the train, unlikely to happen these days. Note the Harris train at the new Belgrave station in the background.

Noojee Line - Bridge Number 7

Noojee Line Bridge Number 7 is the best known bridge on the line, primarily because it managed to escape some of the bushfires and has been undergoing gradual restoration. However it was not the largest bridge on the line, Bridge 2 has that distinction. It is now the tallest surviving all-timber railway bridge in Victoria, at 20.5 Metres in height.

This map shows the position of the bridges, superimposed on an old Land Survey Map. Note there is a bogus bridge shown just on the Warragul side of Bridge 4, and Bridge 7 is drawn on the map in the wrong place.

This photo taken during construction is thought to show Bridge Number 7.

Ground level view looking up at deck.

Shot from Down end looking back towards Warragul.

Shot from Up end

Wide shot of bridge.

Bridge 7 in an interesting view, completely intact, but before the road into the site was constructed and the bridge was promoted as a tourist attraction. The lack of a safety fence across the bridge would give authorities apoplexy today.