West Footscray station used to be super busy on Saturday afternoons when the Bulldogs played at the Western Oval. The last time I was there, minutes after the Dogs won the 2016 premiership, the station attendant was playing “Sons of the West” over the station PA and all the passengers were singing along.
But if that building was for water, why is there an old water tower near Woolworths. I always thought it must have been to store coal but I don't really know.
@@tigermastr1021 Both the square building tank and round elevated tanks were for steam trains. The point is I doubt they both held water so my guess is that the square building tanks held coal and the round elevated tanks held water.
Welcome back, good to see you producing still! The unit you saw at Albion was a rail tractor (RT25, I believe). There's a few around still, in various locations.
TRAIN MAN; Two things of interest- 1) Ginifer station was actually called Furlong up until 1986. I rode a train to St Albans in 1983 and the station had 'Furlong' signs on the station so whoever told you it was planned to be Furlong but never happened is wrong. It was Furlong until 1986. 2) Diggers Rest was the site of Australia's first ever powered Aeroplane flight. I think it was 1910. The pilot............Harry Houdini!
I would guess that 'strange bulding' at Sunbury is a water tower from the old steam days. It was not unusual for them to be this shape rather than the more common circular tanks.
4:55 that’s a rail tractor, never knew it was there, may need to go take a look one day, and at 12:09, I’m not 100% sure, but could be a water tower, great video, hope to see more in the future
The C class steam engines with a full goods load, for Bendigo, needed to fill with water at Sunbury. And of course there was also the lancefield branch line ( which even went all the way to Kilmore for a while). Those engines too needed to water here. So the building was indeed a water tower.
I keep finding myself following your line tours on 1945.Melbourne so I can see the Historical places that you mention. There are alot of factories and sidings that branch off these lines like the sidings opposite the White City Track. It;'s interesting seeing where all the Original Stabling sidings were like Jolimont, Williamstown etc Keep up the Great work Max
I travelled on this line a lot from 2000-2002 in my uni years, I still recall the open, wind blown down platform with its lone metcard machine which I’d sometime load with 5c pieces just to get a 2hr ticket to reach Sunbury. Great video!
Your video's are great. Love the local history approach. Looking forward to more as you extend the boundaries further out. Maybe some regional stations and long gone country branch lines in the future?
I absolutely love your videos mate. I'm an old rail buff myself and have ridden all the suburban lines a few times over the years. I also built a huge model railway with vic rail loco s and goods and passenger cars. I've sold all that now but please keep any rail content going mate lots of people would love it.
After work I would take the 5:15pm or the 5:45 train from Spencer St Station to Sunbury which was either a DERM or loco hauled. I'd have a meal at the Railway Hotel and return on the 8:30 service. One day I tried to make the 5:15 service and missed it as the tram struggled up Collins St. I caught the 5:45 which was two H class locos and wooden cars which crawled along (it was a hot day) I learned that due to some problem the 5:15 was a bus so it didn't matter if I missed it. When I arrived at Sunbury, I was gratified to see the 5:15 bus from Melbourne arrive. So I beat the substitute bus on a service that left half an hour later.
I also recall this, as I am old enough to know the line as both. For some reason, I remember travelling around 2005 via V/line to Sydenham(Watergardens), from Ginifer (I think). Was this still happening or would this have been just a stop for a service that ended past Sunbury? I know that the line was electrified the year I was born, past St. Albans, but surely V/line didn't need to "continue" the journey.
@@nicholaskolaric343 You most likely did. I don't know much about the West but the same thing happens on the Gippsland line. You can catch the VLine from Flinders to Pakenham. Bit of a cheat for Pakenham passengers so they can travel express on a comfy train. Can only guess the same things happens for Watergardens.
That’s loco you saw at Albion was a RT class (called a rail tractor) which as a tractor engine + main bits combined with a basic cab and flatbed. It had only a hand break as a breaking system but had pipes so air breaks could be connected through the train. You didn’t need any train driving cert and only a drivers licence afaik. It was used for shunting That building at Sunbury looks to be a water tower especially with the spout at the top
Thanks for the information Vincent, how interesting, I didn't know any of that regarding the rail tractor, and the water tower, I should have seen the water spout!
Good to see you back mate! Had a good laugh at the Sydenham brick work at Watergadens! Also the locomotive that’s been left derelict at Albion is a RT, they where used for shunters all over the state for a long time! Also rumor is the old station at Sydenham is to be relocated, second half of that rumor is the Mornington Railway have put in an expression of interest!
Very cheeky mistake they made with the brickworks haha, but I love the character it gives the station! A rail tractor, I should have known, I wonder how many are still in use today 😮 I hope the Mornington Relocation is true, that would be spectacular, and put the building to another important use :)
@@the_train_man The building relocation to Moorooduc was planned, but cancelled due to local opposition from the council. I had been donated by Watergardens shopping Center as they did not want to pay for its up keep
Another really informative vid, Max, and some great historic pix too. A lot has changed in the 20 years since I was there, so thanks for keeping us up to date! Did I glimpse your trusty bike in one shot?!
Great work bro. Welcome back missed seeing your videos been watching your old ones again till you made this one🤣. Would love to see from sunshine onwards and the old mornington line if you could please
Haha, thanks for waiting Jim, my apologies for that! Hopefully I can start posting frequently until end of year exams :) I've filmed a Mornington Line video, and it'll be edited shortly!
@@the_train_man sweet as man looking forward to it. I would still love to come on one of your adventures with you I'm a huge train nut. None the less keep up the amazing work
I work on the railway, major projects and infrastructure. I also live near PuffingBilly. And I swear I have seen you at Tacoma station…. Anyhow, I’ve really enjoyed watching your videos before work, and it’s been great to see a young guy so interested in rail. Well done and keep it up!
Top work fella. Tottenham was my go-to station when I was living in West Footers for a few years. Dodgy as fuck but fun being in amongst all the trainyards.
Fantastic presentation as always. Nice old color pic of the Spirit of Progress with the X class and the Commonwealth Railways GM behind at Mid Footscray too. Looking forward to the Sunshine video too when it is done. The new station certainly doesn't have the problems of the old one, where ferals, (and even not so feral) gathered, fighting and annoying passengers. We hated that station to go to when working in the old VR back in the day, but it improved over time.
Thanks for the comment Brian, great to hear from you again enjoying my videos :) It is certainly a very cool picture, little bursts of history that give a small sense of being there. Sunshine Station does look quite nice today, I filmed there over summer, unfortunately the audio is terrible and I'll have to refilm 😓, but I don't mind, so much history! Certainly some dodgy characters at the station, but that is all across Melbourne haha
@@the_train_man I was going to say, but younger people would not have even heard of this guy...but Frank Sinatra travelled by train from the city to Tottenham a few times in the late 1950's and early 60's. Just him and a a security guy apparently, all very low key and media did not know. Old Frankie used to visit a "fan" who lived in a workers cottage near Tottenham station, every time he visited Australia to perform. (He got to know this fan over a long time from corresponding to each other for years by mail). And Frank S was into trains as well, coincidentally. And Pink uses the train to travel to Brisbane Entertainment Centre whenever she performs in Brisbane. Just likes train travel and not getting stuck in traffic.
Thanks for watching Mark, glad you enjoyed. West Footscray is quite nice in my opinion, and it'll be interesting to see it in full operation in 2025 with the tunnel!
That was Brilliant you asked about the locomotive that was the goods shed at Albion that is called a rail tractor. And the old station at Watergardesn cant be taken down as it is heritage listed lets hope it recieves some renovations. Very nicely done mate.
Thanks heaps Nicholas! A rail tractor 😮, can't say I've heard too much about them, I obviously don't have the advanced knowledge that you and others have. Great to hear about Watergardens too, I should have mentioned it's heritage listing in the video, it's very pretty!
Loved that bit on the old wheat siding near Albion. There's an area or two like that in Ballarat, one of which had a more complete rail tractor than that one sitting in it until 2011 or so - It almost looked like you could turn it on and start shunting wheat trains again! No idea where it went though, wouldn't be surprised if it was scrapped. Those rail tractors are interesting machines by the way, usually they'd literally just be the engine and housing from a tractor, a scratch built cabin and an old steel wagon frame, there were over 50 of them made and they'd usually do the shunting for smaller sidings and country stations. I think SSR uses a few of them for their workshop shunters these days.
The Sunbury Station is the Terminus for the electrified services, but there is another station on the Sunbury line that not too may people knw about. Salesian College 'Rupertswood' has(had, not sure if it still exists) its own station that used to be serviced by V/line up until the late 80's and early 90's.
Hope to see Melbourne showgrounds line and info on the old Flemington bridge station love these videos learning so much about the place I lived for more the 50 years by a bright young lad
The "strange building" @12:10 is a disused water tower, now much rusted out. Surprisingly, it isn't one of the funnel shaped water towers more commonly seen around the suburbs. Also odd is the fact that it is made from steel and not concrete. Great video by the way!!!!
My Great Grandfather taught at Keilor Road Station Primary School. My Father worked at Olympic Cables in Tottenham and used to get the train to and from White City.
One very early short lived station you missed was Holden. Holden opened on 1 January 1860, and closed on 31 December 1860. It was near Holden road on the present south boundary of Diggers Rest with Plumpton and Calder Park to the south. Lots of early stations were disasters being so little used.
Wow, my apologies John, I clearly didn't dig far enough, I had no idea of this station's existence, if I did, it would of certainly made an appearance in the video. Thanks so much for letting me know, how fascinating!
@@the_train_man very hard to film it for you. Still out in the middle of nowhere with I doubt anything left after closing over 160 years ago. Even more difficult than the Hatherly one I was surprised you knew about. Vicsig line guides usually pretty good on what once existed.
Also a single platform at the back of Calder Raceway used during racing events there, it disappeared in the early 1980's and was in the general area where the Calder Park Stabling Yard is located today.
@@pvda64 my understanding was that passengers for the Calder Park race trains just climbed down onto the ballast like old railfan trips. Heard numerous references to the trains from when they were run and advertised by Calder Park owner Bob Jane for big race days. But never heard of going to expense of a platform. If you had experienced a platform or can point me to any photos or references then I would be pleased to learn more.
@@pvda64 closest description I got was from RailPage : In the old VR days, early 1970's, they used to run a T Class & BPL cars to the thunderdome, when it was called the Calder Raceway. People would literally jump down on to the tracks from the train and walk to the adjacent race track. Was from someone old and interested enough to remember. I remember the services stopped due to the amount of vandalism from the users not having to pay for the service. A free train, to users indirectly anyway.
Oh I've been looking forward to this. Like the Werribee line video this brings back memories, living in St Albans as a very young kid I have vague memories of travelling into the city on it. Then to (the old) West Footscray with my nan coming back from the city, and then finally to and from Watergardens with my mates in 2015 and 16. Like always, a great video. P.S glad you mentioned Regional Rail Link, coming soon in a future video folks. Edit: I assume Sunshine & Footscray will be covered under the RRL video? Makes sense. Great to see you back, Max.
Another great presentation and it was nice to see things as they are now after having driven on this track for years on Loco' hauled trains, railmotors, and sparks. I am now retired and enjoyed seeing it again. Lance Adams. Yea.
The unknown object? A water tank for steam engines. The train would re-fill the boiler water from them, as the tank would slowly re-fill from a bore pump, or mains supply somewhere. Well done on another good video!
Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed 😁😁 As for the water tank, how interesting, I kind of guessed in my head that it might be that, but of course, I didn't have the true understanding of its function. My next learning will have to be on the operation of steam locomotives in general, my lack of knowledge is embarrassing for 'the train man'. Thanks again 👍
@@the_train_man As a research piece, have a look at what steam engines did in the metropolitan system - I'm curious. In South Australia, we had steam for 80 years in the regions, before switching to diesels. Problem is that became the default position until only recently.
In recent years when they have used a fire engine to top up a tender it can take more than 40 minutes and yet with the large diameter pipe one of these tanks could top up the water in less than 10 minutes often less than 5 depending on how much water was used. If you look at the size of the storage it had enough to fill a number of steam engines in a row without running out of water. Having it on the platform meant that a train could be being topped up while the passengers were detraining minimizing the time lost to "engine requirements".
Cheers for upload dude, Solid work. I still remember the level crossing after Keilor Plains Station. The tracks went through a round about and caused crazy congestion haha Hey thanks for the history lesson.
7:09 Maybe it might be worth mention Melbourne bound V/line train used to use a separate platform on the other side of the Main road for many years, and it was a set down only, not picking up any passenger
UP country trains stopped at Platform 1 which was on the north side of the Main Rd crossing opposite the original terminus platform for suburbans sparks which was demolished when the then new station was built on the south side of Main Rd to reduce rail crossing gate closures. Platform 2 was for DOWN country trains and the occasional terminating spark if Platform 3 was occupied which was the normal terminus platform. The platform numbering in the video is incorrect.
Sure has changed a lot, especially since the wider overpass was built in the 70's. There was no access for cars directly between Buckley St and Sunshine Rd then. Cars used to enter Geelong Rd and stop at traffic lights outside the Rising Sun Hotel. Separate traffic lights to the main part of Geelong Rd. When they turned green, drivers would drive from the pub over to Sunshine Rd and vise-versa. You could drive over the bridge and turn directly into Williamstown Rd beside the pub then, and also the reverse. The signal box at West Footscray controlled the level crossing until it was removed in the late 1920's. The signal box had a gabled roof. When the wider bridge was built in the 70's, the gabled roof was removed and a flat iron roof constructed in its place. The new bridge covered most of the box. Box was there all that time until demolished to make way for the regional rail link.
4:54 that is a v/line tangerine rail tractor. the rail tractora were used all throughout victoria and could still haul a lot of wagons so they made shunting very easier because of its size and strength.
Years ago, Footscray Station was near Napier St behind the police station and courthouse. I've a pic of it somewhere with the station in the background. Middle Footscray Station was just west of Nicholson St. Napier St was grade separated around 1958. Temporary tracks were laid down closer to the Town Hall. Not sure when those two amalgamated though Footscray was re-built around 1910, as far as I know. I've also seen an old map which had Middle Footscray just east of Victoria St. I remain unsure whether your pic of the old Middle Footscray was at Nicholson St or Victoria St. I've also heard of a claim that West Footscray was originally east of Geelong Rd though haven't been able to source a photo or map of it at that location. When the goods lines from Tottenham to South Kensington were created in the later 1920's along with the Bunbury St tunnel, the suburban Lines at Footscray and some distance west of it were re-created some metres south of where they were, not taking into consideration any further slewing due to the recent regional rail link addition. The original rail path was excavated to lead to the tunnel. In the 70's I was at Tottenham station one afternoon intending to take a train into the city. On the down line, a train did not stop there, stopping only at White City, then via a crossover it returned to Tottenham. Only train I ever saw stop there. People have suggested to me that trains did the same in the mornings to drop workers off to that area. Jack Ginifer had passed away not too long prior to the new station being given his name. The old building at Sunbury that you're curious about, I'll take a guess and suggest it was used as water storage for steam locomotives. Prepared to be corrected.
I have somewhere paper timetables from the late seventies where White City only had a few trains stopping there in peak hours. Presumably for workers in the major Olex Cables factory that lived near convenient stations along the line. I think the 1910 development of Footscray station was when the two separated stations were closed. MMBW plans from the 1890s show detailed drainage plans that show the Napier Street station plan view matching the outline of an early photo of Footscray 'suburban,' station as Napier Street station before the new combined one replaced the earlier ones. Film on RU-vid shows passengers walking of the familiar multi track wooden footbridge around 1910.
There was effectively two Footscray Stations, one on the Ballarat/Bendigo (present Sunbury) line near Nicholson St and the other at Napier St on the Geelong (Werribee) line.
@@johnd8892 correct, any workers wishing to travel towards the City had to first jump on a St Albans bound train to Sunshine and change to a city bound one.
Been looking forward to this one for ages! Can't wait for the Hurstbridge, Mernda, Upfield and Craigieburn lines (then that's pretty much the entire network minus a few less common ones such as Stony Point, Melton and Flemington Racecourse (still wanna see those ones though)).
Thanks for watching Samuel, hopefully I did the line justice :) Hurstbridge and Mernda will be next, and then Upfield will soon follow. I am yet to film Craigieburn, but that'll be released by the end of the year too :). I plan to film the Stony Point, Melton and all the V-Lines next year, with Flemington Racecourse maybe in September!
Loved it, very informative as always! Exceptional job. I'd love to travel to Sunbury on the train one day, and definitely again when the Metro Tunnel opens (which will be pretty easy since I live on the Pakenham line). Great to hear, I await with eager anticipation. I also noticed you didn't include Footscray in any videos yet, are you going to do a separate video on it or have you already uploaded one? Would love to see one on both Footscray and North Melbourne (which I assume will be in a future video as well).
Footscray and North Melbourne are both receiving separate videos as I focus on the 'big stations of Melbourne' haha. The audio when I filmed these videos is rather shocking, however I'll see what I can salvage!
Sydenham station was due to be moved to the Mornington railway but strong local opposition stopped that move. No plans however have been made for the use of the station building. The rail tractor at Albion has also been mentioned. There were many different types of rail tractors used for various light railway/tramways around the state. As far as I’m aware, the RT’s were the only rail tractors employed by the Victorian Railways. They were mainly used for shunting and there’s a couple which even survive in service.
There is also a 1920s era Fordson powered rail tractor in the railway museum near North Williamstown station. Victorian Railways also made use of actual rubber tyred tractors with a big steel buffing plate on the front to push around a wagon. Used to see these in use at the South Kensington flour mills sidings from the train well into the sixties.
@@FloydBromley seems the VR ones were not photographed enough to make it into the web, but some similar UK ones are shown and discussed here www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/43440-farm-tractors-as-shunters/page/3/ Might have photos in old VR newsletters. East to drive over the rails in a yard without being limited by the track and cheaper than an RT.
You must be congratulated on the research and clever presentation of your findings. Get that rogue fang fixed and you might be in for a mainstream career in other related spheres as well.. It is so refreshing to see a young man so enthusiastic and well researched on such an interesting topic. Best wishes for your bright future. Regards Brian M
Diggers Rest station in the early seventies, about a minute in , serving the Sunbury pop festival held at a Diggers Rest farm : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-e8sp3wfisLw.html A T class locomotive and PL cars was pretty standard for outer urban trains just beyond the electrified system from the later fifties into the early eighties. Although called the Sunbury festival it was really at Diggers Rest but that was a less marketable name.
At 4:52 not quite a locomotive but an RT rail tractor introduced around sixty years ago for very light shunting duties to lower costs of shunting single wagons.
Ah, my knowledge is indeed terrible, thanks for clarifying John. Seems like a pretty innovative rail tractor back in the day, hopefully one day I can see one that continues to run, or in good condition!
Another great bit of history, Max. I particularly love all the old pictures of the stations and the crossings. I'm always fascinated by the no- longer-used sheds, signal boxes, stations and warehouses by the lines. I often think they railways should put them up for sale or for rent as residences, because they just sit there wasting space. Train lovers like us should get first options of course. What do you think?
Thanks for watching mate. I love the idea of repurposing the disused sheds, signal boxes etc. of our railways, a great idea from you. I'm all for it if these aren't situated too close to stations, it would be weird to have someone living there, but I agree that the space should be reused, especially to save these historic buildings from demolition!
Albion Station is going to be rebuilt,and strangely enough,there is not a mention of White City station ( between Tottenham and Sunshine,which closed in 1981.)
Thanks for the interesting video :) I would have liked you to have shown more maps of the line (I had to open Google Maps in another window). I would also have preferred a chronological approach so I could see how the line grew over time.
Thanks for reminding me : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-e8sp3wfisLw.html A T class locomotive and PL cars was pretty standard for outer urban trains just beyond the electrified system Although called the Sunbury festival it was really at Diggers Rest but that was a less marketable name.
