Didn't think I'd have to say this but I will - If you are going to visit General Motors Station, there is a small but not insignificant chance you may be caught. As far as I am concerned, there have been no accounts of fines or arrests made on people visiting the station, but it is still technically illegal. This video documents everything found at the station, so you will not find much more than what is shown here. Always watch for trains and remember to stay safe.
If I knew you were recording that day, I would've stepped out of work to say hi ahaha, I work at Australia Post just across the fence from General Motors
I was going to comment this myself - you don't want to get spotted there by the train drivers, because they will call the police to go and pay you a visit. Not something you want, because you are trespassing on PTV and General Motors' property
@@RiffRaffMama.I know im a month late but better late than never.. anyways, PTV drivers and train drivers in particular can be very strict I guess, if they see you at GM station they will more than likely dob you in
As a kid I was always fascinated by this mystery station that no train ever seemed to stop at. Every train announcement was "stopping all stations, except General Motors" and I desperately wanted to know why nothing ever stopped there.
The station was working 1973 to 1976, when I worked at GMH. Trouble was, if I missed the 2nd train in the morning (for the white-collar workers) I had to get off at Dandenong station and get a taxi to GMH, because no more trains stopped there in the morning.
GM had a lot more passengers than 11 a day. A lot of factory workers in the area still used it... but didn't really bother to put their metcards through. It's cool seeing it again. Thanks for the video!
@@RiffRaffMama. There was a machine to validate your ticket and to leave but fare evasion was a lot easier back then compared to now, especially if you weren’t going close to the city.
Hi Qazzy! I've really enjoyed your content mate. Idea for new content: Going through the abandoned / repurposed train stations across Melbourne. For example, the Albert Park train station is now a restaurant, or the Fitzroy line which has been long demolished but you can actually walk through the path where the old track once laid. Fun stuff!.
I always wondered about this station and it is amazing for it to be in such reasonable condition. Looks to be some of the more modern techniques for platform construction, which is typically galvanized steel and suspended composite slabs. That should last for a few decades to come. Just have to echo some concerns from another poster though, just be aware that this was technically trespassing in the rail corridor. Despite trains being quite chunky, they do have a bad habit of sneaking up on people. I worked on some rail projects so I can attest to that. You're probably lucky that none of the train drivers that definitely did spot you, were too lazy to radio this in. Having said all that, I am glad you're documenting these slowly vanishing sights but please, be careful dude.
Pretty cool, I worked in Dandenong South for a long time, Dandenong South desperately needs a station (A station on abbots road would be perfect). More than that, dandy south needs pedestrian footpaths and seperated bike lanes. So many people work there, I have no doubt it would be well-used.
@@MuddyM That would also be nice. Either one would be an improvement on the current situation. So many factories in that area, so many workers, and so little public transport.
When General Motors opened (in 1956, as mentioned), there was only a single platform on the down line. The only trains that stopped there were Dandenong trains (the limit of the suburban service) that extended out to General Motors, then returned. The second platform, on the up line, opened in 1975 in connection with the extension of suburban services to Pakenham. It was a late decision, and the platform was still being built when it opened! This is why the up platform is of different construction and in better condition than the down platform. A few regional trains also stopped there for workers travelling from/to Gippsland. And a few passengers coming from Gippsland on those trains were savvy enough to get off there and change to the following suburban train rather than change at Dandenong to go to an intermediate station. Once when I was there, which was before there was _any_ industry on the south side of the line, I saw a passenger get off a train there, go off the up end of the down platform, cross the tracks around where you did, and head off through the fields to the south to who knows where.
Here in the Wellington/Kapiti district across the ditch, there are two disused stations I'm aware of and a disused tunnel. Once of the stations has pedestrian access (sort of) but the main platform area is fenced off. The other one has no access unless you're disembarking a train as the footbridge has been removed. There's nothing much to see of the disused tunnel, unless you know where to look - the portals have been filled in, and there's no public access anyway.
That was interesting. I remember this station back in the days when Holden was producing cars at the Dandenong plant. Also International Harvester had a plant in Dandenong too. Corner of Princes Hwy and South Gippsland Hwy.
this was interesting and hugely depressing all at the same time. I'd always wondered about General Motors Station. It would be wonderful if the station was reactivated (or whatever the correct term is) given how built up and industrialised the area has become. Was there road access from the other side of the line, or would there only be access from the side you managed to access?
Thank you documenting this. And getting yourself through that tall grass field. I remember going to Traralgon in the 1990s and I think the V/Line train stopping there picking up what I assume GMH workers.
This is so cool, I don't live too far from here and I never knew about it! If you and your companion with their bright colours didn't get caught then I'm guessing it's not well-patrolled. Any idea who owns the land? Oh and pro tips if you're worried about snakes: They get their energy from heat so in the colder months they barely move, and if you make an effort to stomp your feet when walking then you won't surprise them, which is when they bite. Stomping gives them a chance to move away too.
I have seen the station myself,but wasn't game to try and go beyond that fence. Unfortunately, the opportunity to re-open it may have been lost as that section of land in the film is about the only spare ground not built on now. The station itself is largely obscured from the north side by large warehouses and on the south side of the track, I think the land is an Australia Post site. I was thinking if there was sufficient carparking nearby, it would give rail commuters the option of not having to park at Dandenong or Hallam stations. Nice work and thanks for showing a clearer view of the station than I saw
do a vid on Werribee Racecourse station.....it was used until 1995 it was horrid & only used for the Werribee Cup, which used to be the last chance for a horse to qualify for the Melbourne Cup
In Queensland he have some abandoned station, most famous being Tennyson being located near the moolabin narrow gauge pacific national yard and many more include old Mayne station located under the inner city bypass road and nyanda station located just north of Salisbury station next to the road that leads into the steel place located under Beaudesert road but also there’s alot of stations being upgraded like, burpengary, banyo, buranda, morningside, rocklea, Dutton park, yeronga and Bundamba but if the golden circle factory shuts down, bindha station might be next to be abandoned like that pineapple train Siding there
Whilst I can't condone trespassing on the railway, it is interesting to see the station close up as most trains travel through there at 80 kph or higher making it hard to see the detail. However, on one occasion I was on an Up V'Locity that was going slow behind a spark so could see some details. One of these was the remnants of the station's mileage carved into the concrete platform coping on the down platform. Some numerals had been eroded over time, but others were quite distinct. I paused your video at several points but couldn't see the numbers clearly. It is surprising that the site hasn't been cleaned up during the many, many shutdowns that have occurred due to LXRs and the power upgrades for the HCMTs. Presumably that footbridge has been assessed as structurally safe. The building once housed a signal box that controlled access to a siding that ran on the down side (and can be seen in the opening scene with workers alighting from the train) and provided access to a number of factories. Some remnants of this can still be seen going all the way back to a buffer stop near the South Gippsland Hwy overpass.
"One of these was the remnants of the station's mileage carved into the concrete platform coping on the down platform." First, I'm not aware of station mileages ever being carved into concrete platform coping. I thought that only happened with the older bluestone block platform copings. Second, the down platform doesn't have a concrete coping. It's wood.
@@PJRayment Indeed virtually all the coping on the Down platform is wood, except for a concrete section in front of the former signal bay to bridge the gap where the rodding and wires came out as seen at 6:22 in the video. Most of the mileages I've seen are in bluestone but there are a few examples on country stations where its carved into concrete or even the brick platform face under the coping.
General Motors, Paisley, Watergardens & Werribee Racecourse are really the only abandoned stations around the metro region (if we discount south Melbourne & Albert park)
@@QazzyTransportthey are automated public toilets. They have them at Altona station, Middle Gorge and Hawstowe keep your eyes peeled for one there are tons in the city😅
@@TheUnlabeledXtrapolis always damp and smelly. Floor always wet and covered in soggy toilet paper. The music is annoying and I always feel dirty after using them. They are meant to be self cleaning but all they do is spray everything with water. Traditional toilets cleaned by council workers are much nicer to use. Just my opinion.
You show a still of an abandoned station earlier in your video, well its not the one near Dandenong. Its the site of the old Paisley station near Mobil refinery on the melb to werribee line. Just saying!
Hello, MTM Track Force Protection Coordinator here. You’ve filmed yourself trespassing in the MTM rail corridor and also over live rail - in a dangerous area I might add. By uploading this you may have encouraged others to do the same, and risk their lives. You’ve also incriminated yourself and your friend. This video will be forwarded to MTM’s NSS and Vic Police for evidence, as we take is very seriously. Regards, rail safety.
@@jamesperkins191In no way does that constitute a legal disclaimer, and in no way does it change the legality of what’s been done. Trespassing is trespassing. And we’re sick of cleaning up the messes
Do the squatters have a social worker or anything? I agree it's dangerous, casualties of train accidents are traumatic for all involved, but it's they who are in danger most of all
@@jamesperkins191 Squatters tend to be less of an issue for revenue services, because they tresspass on structures and not live rail. They try to remain undetected. Metro infrastructure has a significant population of adult and child homeless, particularly on the inner suburban lines. “The children of Flinders”, as they’re known. They manage not to put themselves on live rail - most of the time. There is a social support network available for them. Trespassers over live rail are the major issue. Suicidal persons, and clueless persons such as the OP of this video. They have no comprehension of the dangers and financial cost to rail and passengers, even at the mere report of a trespass.
I appreciate the interest on the abandoned station. However, what you guys have done is extremely dangerous. The track speed at that location is 115 km/h. No driver expect expects trespassers in the area. Snakes and the condition of the station is nothing compared to impact by a train at full speed. For those who don't know. Entering in a rail corridor is dangerous, illegal and punishable by law. Every year approx 40 people hit and killed by a train accident, in Victoria. Please do not attempt/ encourage your followers to do dangerous things. Hope your interest in rail grows. Stay safe.
The station is on a very straight section of track, and you can easily see oncoming trains. We were always very careful when crossing. There are much more dangerous pedestrian crossings on the network that are situated around curves, unlike here where we were crossing straight track. Crossing a road is likely a lot more dangerous than this. This is technically illegal, however many people have done this and there has been no account of someone being arrested for it. There is even an entrance you can take by walking from the level crossing at Progress Street where you can reach the station without encountering a single fence or sign prohibiting you from doing so. There are lots of cases of unfenced track across the Melbourne network where trespassing can't be enforced. I appreciate your concerns however.
