Jolimont Workshops
Encyclopedia
Jolimont Workshops was a railway workshop operated by the Victorian Railways
beside Jolimont Yard
in inner city Melbourne
, Australia
. Opened in 1917 and dedicated to the maintenance and repair of electric multiple unit
s and locomotives
, it was the first part of the yard to be closed and relocated, with demolition completed in 1994. The site is now part of the Melbourne Park
tennis complex.
of the Melbourne suburban network
, it was the main storage, servicing and maintenance depot for the new fleet of suburban trains. The workshops was erected to the south along Batman Avenues, with the storage sidings located between the running lines. The site had been home to the Princes Bridge locomotive depot built in 1888. This depot had replaced a small engine shed located east of the station of the same name and built in 1859 by the Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company
.
In addition to the maintenance of the suburban multiple unit fleet, the E class
suburban freight locomotives were housed there from their introduction, as steam locomotives were housed at the North Melbourne Locomotive Depot
. The L class
mainline electrics followed on their introduction in the 1950s, but were moved with the diesel fleet to the new South Dynon depot in 1964, and the entire E class fleet followed in June 1968.
Until relocated to Spencer Street, the Victorian Railways housed their railmotors fleet at the depot. By the 1950s they included the AEC
, Leyland
, Dodge, petrol electric
, and 102hp
, 153hp
and 280hp
Walker railmotors.
The workshops had a whistle that signalled the start of the workday, which could heard in the city and surrounding suburbs. Rumored to be a WW2 air raid siren, it was the last industrial whistle in central Melbourne. After the opening of the adjacent Tennis Centre
officials asked for the whistle to be silenced, which was eventually done.
) and west (Flinders Street
) ends. The brick car shed was 109 metres wide, 122 to 183 metres long depending of the section, and was designed to be expanded to a uniform width of 305 metres. The car shed was divided into three separate sections:
A 21 m (68.9 ft) turntable was provided for reversing the cabs of motor cars and driving trailers into the required direction. A carriage wash was also located at the workshops for cleaning the exterior of trains.
(successor to the Victorian Railways
) drew up plans for the closure and decentralisation of the Jolimont Workshops, with new railway facilities to be built around suburban Melbourne
. The original plan included:
Of the proposals, the Nunawading facility was dropped due to protests by local residents. Epping Workshops was the first main facility to open, entering service in 1990. Further expansion of workshop facilities did not happen until the rationalisation of Jolimont Yard
itself in 1997, with a smaller facility built at Bayswater
to replace the abandoned Nunawading facility, while a second was built at Westall instead of that at Oakleigh. Macaulay also gained a light maintenance facility beside the existing stabling yard in 1993. A replacement washing plant and stabling sidings were made operational in Melbourne Yard in May 1995.
The workshops finally closed in April 1993. Track and overhead was removed by November 1993, with demolition of the workshops approved in May 1994, and the inspection and paint shops demolished by August 1994. The land was used to expand the Melbourne Park
tennis centre, with the opening of additional outside courts to the north of Rod Laver Arena
.
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
beside Jolimont Yard
Jolimont Yard
Jolimont Yard was an array of railway lines and carriage sidings on the edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Located between Flinders Street Station, Richmond Junction, the Yarra River and Flinders Street they were often criticised for cutting off the city from the river,...
in inner city Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Opened in 1917 and dedicated to the maintenance and repair of electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s and locomotives
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
, it was the first part of the yard to be closed and relocated, with demolition completed in 1994. The site is now part of the Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open in tennis, which is played annually in January...
tennis complex.
History
Built as part of the electrificationRailway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
of the Melbourne suburban network
Railways in Melbourne
The Melbourne rail network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne under franchise from the Government of Victoria. The network is based on a commuter rail model centred on the Melbourne Central Business District and Flinders Street Station, rather than a rapid transit model, with a focus on...
, it was the main storage, servicing and maintenance depot for the new fleet of suburban trains. The workshops was erected to the south along Batman Avenues, with the storage sidings located between the running lines. The site had been home to the Princes Bridge locomotive depot built in 1888. This depot had replaced a small engine shed located east of the station of the same name and built in 1859 by the Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company
Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company
The Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. The company opened a line from Princes Bridge railway station in Melbourne, Australia to Punt Road and South Yarra in 1859, Prahran in 1859 and Windsor in 1860, connecting with the St Kilda and Brighton...
.
In addition to the maintenance of the suburban multiple unit fleet, the E class
Victorian Railways E class (electric)
The Victorian Railways E class was a class of electric locomotive that ran on the Victorian Railways from 1923 until 1984. Introduced shortly after the electrification of the suburban rail system in Melbourne, Australia, and based on the same electrical and traction equipment as Melbourne's early...
suburban freight locomotives were housed there from their introduction, as steam locomotives were housed at the North Melbourne Locomotive Depot
North Melbourne Locomotive Depot
North Melbourne Locomotive Depot was the main location for maintenance of the Victorian Railways steam locomotive fleet based in Melbourne. Located in the middle of the Melbourne Yard precinct in the suburb West Melbourne near North Melbourne railway station, the site is now occupied by the...
. The L class
Victorian Railways L class (electric)
The Victorian Railways L class was a class of mainline electric locomotive that ran on the Victorian Railways and its successor V/Line from 1953 until 1987...
mainline electrics followed on their introduction in the 1950s, but were moved with the diesel fleet to the new South Dynon depot in 1964, and the entire E class fleet followed in June 1968.
Until relocated to Spencer Street, the Victorian Railways housed their railmotors fleet at the depot. By the 1950s they included the AEC
AEC railmotor
The AEC railmotor was the Victorian Railways of Australia's first successful railmotor. They were introduced in 1922 and until 1925 a total of 19 AECs were built....
, Leyland
Leyland railmotor
The Leyland railmotor was introduced by the Victorian Railways in 1925 after the success of the A.E.C. railmotor the Victorian Railways wanted to build a more powerful and comfortable railmotor...
, Dodge, petrol electric
Diesel Electric railmotor (VR)
The Diesel Electric Rail Motor was a railmotor operated by the Victorian Railways of Australia.-History:...
, and 102hp
102hp Walker railmotor
The 102hp Walker railmotor was a type of diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix"...
, 153hp
153hp Walker railmotor
The 153hp Walker railmotor were a diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix"...
and 280hp
280hp Walker railmotor
The 280hp Walker railmotor were a diesel railcar operated by the Victorian Railways in Australia.After the Second World War, the Victorian Railways undertook a major rebuilding program known as "Operation Phoenix"...
Walker railmotors.
The workshops had a whistle that signalled the start of the workday, which could heard in the city and surrounding suburbs. Rumored to be a WW2 air raid siren, it was the last industrial whistle in central Melbourne. After the opening of the adjacent Tennis Centre
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open in tennis, which is played annually in January...
officials asked for the whistle to be silenced, which was eventually done.
Facilities
The workshops had a main carshed, with tracks leading into it at both the east (RichmondRichmond railway station, Melbourne
Richmond is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Richmond. It is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 1.-Facilities:...
) and west (Flinders Street
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
) ends. The brick car shed was 109 metres wide, 122 to 183 metres long depending of the section, and was designed to be expanded to a uniform width of 305 metres. The car shed was divided into three separate sections:
- The workshop and fitting bays were each 183 by 18 metres in size, with four tracks and three inspection pits. For the handling of bogieBogieA bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s under overhaul there were 24 short traverse tracks and pits. Two 25 tonne cranes were installed in the lifting bay, and two 15 tonne electric cranes were provided in the workshop bay.
- The inspection and running bay was 122 by 37 metres in size, and had nine tracks all with inspection pits.
- The painting and varnishing bay was 122 by 32 metres in size, and had five tracks, all equipped with overhead platform level with car floors for the use of workers.
A 21 m (68.9 ft) turntable was provided for reversing the cabs of motor cars and driving trailers into the required direction. A carriage wash was also located at the workshops for cleaning the exterior of trains.
Shunters
The workshops were assigned a variety of different shunting locomotives for use in the yard:- Two Swing DoorSwing Door (train)Swing doors, more commonly known as "Dogboxes" or "Doggies" are a wooden bodied Electric Multiple Unit train that operated on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
motor carriages, numbered 113M (single ended) and 156M (double ended) and modified with dual pantographs. 113M was used as shunter from at least 1926 and 156M was used as a temporary parcels coach from 1923, both cars continuing in this use until about 1990.
- A V classVictorian Railways V class (diesel-hydraulic)The Victorian Railways V class was a single locomotive class that consisted of only V56. It was built as the shunter for the Jolimont washdock to move the suburban sets through the washdocks. It had a top speed of 16 km/h although it was limited to 1 km/h when shunting through the...
diesel hydraulic locomotive, numbered V 56 and used for hauling suburban trains though the carriage wash.
Demise
By the mid 1980s the Metropolitan Transit AuthorityMetropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)
The Metropolitan Transit Authority was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated suburban passenger trains,trams and buses in Victoria, Australia. It was set up under Section 15 of the Transport Act 1983 and commenced operation on 1 July 1983...
(successor to the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
) drew up plans for the closure and decentralisation of the Jolimont Workshops, with new railway facilities to be built around suburban Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. The original plan included:
- Epping WorkshopsEpping railway station, MelbourneEpping is a railway station in Melbourne, Australia, located in the suburb of Epping, on the Epping railway line. Classed as a Premium Station, it is in Metcard Zone 2...
: - maintenance and repair area for 6 three car sets
- lifting jacks for a 3 car set
- acid wash and steam cleaning pit
- depot for 120 train crew
- stabling for 13 three car trains, in single train sidings
- Nunawading:
- maintenance area for 10 three car sets
- lifting, washing and steam cleaning pit
- depot for 83 train crew
- stabling for 12 six car trains, in single train sidings
- Oakleigh
- inspection and repair facilities
- lifting, washing and steam cleaning pit
- depot for 65 train crew
- stabling for 15 three car trains, in single train sidings
- Newport Workshops
- repair facilities for 7 three car sets
- lifting, washing and steam cleaning pit
- depot for 132 train crew
- stabling for 15 six car trains, in double ended two train long sidings
- Carrum
- Extend and reconstruct existing sidings
- depot for 26 train crew
- Mordialloc
- Construction of an additional 100m long siding
- depot for 18 train crew
- Macaulay
- new main line crossover
- depot for 50 train crew
Of the proposals, the Nunawading facility was dropped due to protests by local residents. Epping Workshops was the first main facility to open, entering service in 1990. Further expansion of workshop facilities did not happen until the rationalisation of Jolimont Yard
Jolimont Yard
Jolimont Yard was an array of railway lines and carriage sidings on the edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Located between Flinders Street Station, Richmond Junction, the Yarra River and Flinders Street they were often criticised for cutting off the city from the river,...
itself in 1997, with a smaller facility built at Bayswater
Bayswater railway station, Melbourne
Bayswater is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Bayswater, on the Belgrave railway line. Bayswater is classed as a Premium Station and is in Metcard Zone 2.-Facilities:...
to replace the abandoned Nunawading facility, while a second was built at Westall instead of that at Oakleigh. Macaulay also gained a light maintenance facility beside the existing stabling yard in 1993. A replacement washing plant and stabling sidings were made operational in Melbourne Yard in May 1995.
The workshops finally closed in April 1993. Track and overhead was removed by November 1993, with demolition of the workshops approved in May 1994, and the inspection and paint shops demolished by August 1994. The land was used to expand the Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open in tennis, which is played annually in January...
tennis centre, with the opening of additional outside courts to the north of Rod Laver Arena
Rod Laver Arena
Rod Laver Arena is a tennis stadium that is part of the Melbourne Park complex located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and has been the main venue for the Australian Open in tennis since 1988, replacing the ageing Kooyong Stadium...
.