Kerang–Koondrook Tramway

The Kerang–Koondrook Tramway was an Australian private railway of 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge, running from the state-owned Victorian Railways network Piangil railway line at Kerang to the Murray River town of Koondrook, with intermediate stations at Yeoburn, Hinksons, Teal Point and Gannawarra.

Kerang-Koondrook Tramway
Overview
TypeVic
StatusClosed
Stations4
Operation
Opened1889
Closed1976
Technical
Line length13.94 mi (22.43 km)
Swan Hill-Koondrook rail ticket 1977

Construction of the 13.94 mi (22.43 km) long line was initiated by the Shire of Swan Hill in 1887,[1] under the terms of the Tramways in Country Districts Act 1886, which allowed local governments in country areas to construct tramways, with financial assistance from the Victorian government, to a limit of £2,000 a mile.[2][3] The tramway was opened in 1889.[4] On 31 December 1898, the Shire of Swan Hill was renamed the Shire of Kerang.[5] By 1920 the tramway's construction had cost £39,229.[6] Ownership of the tramway was transferred to the Victorian Railways on 1 February 1952 and it was officially closed on 3 March 1981.[7]

A description of a journey on the railway in 1938 is contained in an article in the March 1971 edition of the Australian Railway Historical Society "Bulletin".[4]

In its later years, passenger services on the line were run by a 102hp Walker railmotor, paid for by the Victorian Education Department, to convey school children. That service was withdrawn on 16 December 1976. A railfan farewell special, with a train hauled by T356, ran on 20 November 1977.[8]

References
  1. "The Koondrook Tramway". The Argus (1887-11-04). Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. "Tramways in Country Districst Act" (PDF). Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  3. "Tramways in Country Districts". The Argus (1887-09-03). Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. Bakewell, Guy, A Broad Gauge Tramway, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, March 1971, pp. 49-55
  5. "Kerang Shire". Victorian Places. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  6. Australian Bureau of Statistics - Year Book Australia, 1920
  7. Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society, Victorian Division), March 1990 (Vol. 18 No. 3)
  8. https://www.railpage.com.au:80/photos/22044?force=true
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