Hamilton–Koroit railway line

The Hamilton-Koroit Line was a branch line running south west from the Portland Main Line at Coleraine Junction near the town of Hamilton, to the town of Koroit, where it joined the Port Fairy line. Opening in 1890, the line was 84 kilometers long and completely single track apart from at stations. Since closure in 1977, the track has been completely removed and reserve rights mostly sold as well, with very little trace of railway left.[1]

Hamilton-Koroit Line
Overview
Type	V/Line passenger service
Status	Closed
Former connections	Portland and Port Fairy lines
Stations	10
Operation
Opened	1890
Closed	1977
Technical
Line length	84 km
Number of tracks	1 (now removed)

History

The entire line was opened on 22 August 1890 with the purpose of transporting produce and timber from Victoria's south into the port at Portland and through the rest of Western Victoria. Initially, the line had two separate connections to the Ararat–Portland line, with a secondary branch existing between Penshurst and Dunkeld. However, this short-lived section was closed to traffic on 24 March 1891, and was eventually ripped up.[2]

Most of the trains that ran on this line were carried mixed traffic, and usually ran from Melbourne to Koroit via the Port Fairy Line, before continuing to Hamilton. Declines in both passenger and freight traffic caused smaller stations along the line to close during the 1950s and '60s,[1] and eventually the line was closed completely on 12 September 1977 along with the Dennington–Port Fairy section of the Port Fairy line.

Koroit-Hamilton Line railway line
Portland line at Coleraine Junction continues towards Hamilton 355 km Tottington 347 km Tabor (Croxton East) Penshurst-Dunkeld Line to Dunkeld 336 km Penshurst 324 km Purdeet 316 km Minhamite 305 km Hawksdale 298 km Woolsthorpe 288 km Warrong continues towards Koroit Port Fairy line at Koroit Junction

References

1. "Koroit-Hamilton Line". www.vicrailstations.com.
2. "Koroit to Hamilton". www.victorianrailways.net.