Railway Tunnels in Victoria, Australia
Encyclopedia
Victoria has only ever had about 10 tunnels on its railway network, with some others on private narrow gauge tramways. This is generally due to the relatively easy terrain through which the lines ran.
Cheviot Tunnel was built for the extension of the Mansfield railway line from Yea and is located near Limestone where the line crosses the Black Range at McLoughlin’s Gap roughly half way between Yea and Molesworth. It was built in 1889 by contractors by Kenny Bros. as part of the Yea to Cathkin section at a cost of £88,661/2/11, but construction was delayed by accidents.
Tarrawarra Tunnel was built on the Healesville line, when the Lilydale-Melbourne railway was extended from Yarra Flats (now known as Yarra Glen) to Healesville. A 1 in 40 (2.5%) climb to the 154.4 metre tunnel and corresponding descent was requried Healesville Station. The section of line through the tunnel opened on March 1, 1889 with trains to Healesville and an intermediate station at Tarrawarra.
South Geelong Tunnel, was built as part of the extension of the Geelong line towards Colac running underneath the edge of the town centre between McKillop and Ryrie Streets for a distance of 422 metres. Construction commenced on October 15th 1874, by contractors Overend and Robb. It is 426m long with typical horseshoe shape constructed of bluestone and brick. The first train ran though the tunnel on January 13th 1876 and official services commencing 4 February the same year. Its steep grade limitied haulage loads and sometimes requried assistance from a Bank engine
.
The similar Portland harbour tunnel was constructed in 1877 in Portland, Victoria
to link the main harbour with the railway, running under Bentink Street and emerging at the base of the shoreline cliffs. This line was later closed and a loop line constructed around the town to the new breakwater harbour.
The Bunbury Street Tunnel in Footscray, Victoria
, on the Independent Goods Line
runs under Bunbury Street (where it was constructed in cut and fill, with a section of concrete arch and another concrete beam roofed, and then passes under the Williamstown platforms of Footscray station. The line was built in 1924 to alleviate congestion where country goods trains and later New South Wales and South Australian passenger trains, had to slow to pass through the suburban network.
the Melbourne City Loop was constructed as four separate tunnels between North Melbourne and Flinders Street station, roughly following the alignment of Spring Street and Latrobe Street with underground stations at Parliament, Melbourne Central and Flagstaff. the tunnels and stations were constructed between 1971 and 1985.
, to gain access to timber for the sawmills of the district. The Powelltown Tramway
ran from Yarra Junction to Powelltown between 1913 and 1945, and formed the collector for numerous timber tramways. One was the Bump Line, which was built in about 1913 with a steep section across the range at the head of the Little Yarra River
, using a steam winch-hauled incline. This was repalced in July 1925 to with a 313 metre long tunnel which was about 2.8 m wide and 4.0 m high and took 13 months to dig. It was timber-lined and had a vent shaft in the middle through which smoke escaped. The tunnel was closed as a safety measure after World War II. Both entrances are still visible.
Fyansford Cement Works Tunnel
(near Geelong), has a 1300 metre long tunnel from a former narrow gauge quarry railway which connected the limestone quarry to the cement plant.
Two tunnels were built on a timber tramway linking Henry's Sawmill with the Victorian Railways terminus at Forrest
in in 1902 and were in use by 1903. They remained in use until about 1927. Steam locomotives hauling logs from the Otway Forest to sawmills, had fold-down funnels to pass through the tunnels.
Broad Gauge Line Tunnels
The Melbourne Echuca railway or Bendigo line was commenced by the private Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company, but following financial difficulties was taken over by the victorian colonial government in 1856 at the same time as the Victorian Railways Department was formed to operate the new public railway system. The line opened in five stages from February 1859 to September 1864, and was at the time the largest engineering undertaking in the colony. The line served a strategic economic need of servicing the important goldfields of Castlemaine and Bendigo, and capturing the trade in wool and other goods for Melbourne from the Murray River and Riverina which was formerly shipped through South Australia. Two tunnels were built on the line. the Elphinstone Tunnel was built as a double track horseshoe provile tunnel in brick and bluestone 385 metres long, and was completed in 1860. The Big Hill Tunnel, located between Kangaroo Flat and Ravenswood, south of Bendigo, is 390 metres long and now only carries a single track. More than 6,000 men were involved in construction of the line with the main contractors Cornish and Bruce undertaking the works.Cheviot Tunnel was built for the extension of the Mansfield railway line from Yea and is located near Limestone where the line crosses the Black Range at McLoughlin’s Gap roughly half way between Yea and Molesworth. It was built in 1889 by contractors by Kenny Bros. as part of the Yea to Cathkin section at a cost of £88,661/2/11, but construction was delayed by accidents.
Tarrawarra Tunnel was built on the Healesville line, when the Lilydale-Melbourne railway was extended from Yarra Flats (now known as Yarra Glen) to Healesville. A 1 in 40 (2.5%) climb to the 154.4 metre tunnel and corresponding descent was requried Healesville Station. The section of line through the tunnel opened on March 1, 1889 with trains to Healesville and an intermediate station at Tarrawarra.
South Geelong Tunnel, was built as part of the extension of the Geelong line towards Colac running underneath the edge of the town centre between McKillop and Ryrie Streets for a distance of 422 metres. Construction commenced on October 15th 1874, by contractors Overend and Robb. It is 426m long with typical horseshoe shape constructed of bluestone and brick. The first train ran though the tunnel on January 13th 1876 and official services commencing 4 February the same year. Its steep grade limitied haulage loads and sometimes requried assistance from a Bank engine
Bank engine
A bank engine or helper engine or pusher engine is a railway locomotive that temporarily assists a train that requires additional power or traction to climb a grade...
.
Branch Line Tunnels
The Geelong Harbour branch line ran from near the station to Cunningham Pier, being constructed by 1859 to assist transfer of goods from the port. A tunnel was constructed just south of the station, running under the main Melbourne Road (Mercer Street) and with a steep-sided bluestone embanked cutting. The lines was closed in the 1980s.The similar Portland harbour tunnel was constructed in 1877 in Portland, Victoria
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
to link the main harbour with the railway, running under Bentink Street and emerging at the base of the shoreline cliffs. This line was later closed and a loop line constructed around the town to the new breakwater harbour.
Metropolitan lines
Hurstbridge Line Tunnels There are three tunnels on the suburban Hurstbridge line, which were build in 1901-2 when the direct link from Richmond to Victoria Park was constructed, and the line was extended from Heidelberg to Rosanna and Hurstbridge.. Two tunnels are lcoated at Jolimont and West Richmond, the first under Wellington Parade, and the second under Hoddle Street, with a short section of open cut between.The Bunbury Street Tunnel in Footscray, Victoria
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, on the Independent Goods Line
Freight railways in Melbourne
The city of Melbourne, Australia has an extensive network of railway lines and yards to serve freight traffic. The lines are of two gauges - broad gauge and standard gauge, and are unelectrified...
runs under Bunbury Street (where it was constructed in cut and fill, with a section of concrete arch and another concrete beam roofed, and then passes under the Williamstown platforms of Footscray station. The line was built in 1924 to alleviate congestion where country goods trains and later New South Wales and South Australian passenger trains, had to slow to pass through the suburban network.
the Melbourne City Loop was constructed as four separate tunnels between North Melbourne and Flinders Street station, roughly following the alignment of Spring Street and Latrobe Street with underground stations at Parliament, Melbourne Central and Flagstaff. the tunnels and stations were constructed between 1971 and 1985.
Narrow Gauge Tunnels
The Bump Tunnel was built on a narrow gauge tramline near Powelltown, VictoriaPowelltown, Victoria
Powelltown is a town in Victoria, Australia, 70 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 Census, Powelltown had a population of 201....
, to gain access to timber for the sawmills of the district. The Powelltown Tramway
Powelltown Tramway
The Powelltown Tramway was a 3' gauge railway that operated between Powelltown and Yarra Junction, Victoria, Australia. The railway connected to the broad gauge Victorian Railways at Yarra Junction...
ran from Yarra Junction to Powelltown between 1913 and 1945, and formed the collector for numerous timber tramways. One was the Bump Line, which was built in about 1913 with a steep section across the range at the head of the Little Yarra River
Little Yarra River
The Little Yarra River is a tributary of the Yarra River. It flows from native forests in the Yarra Ranges around Powelltown, passing through rural areas to join the Yarra River below Yarra Junction.-References:...
, using a steam winch-hauled incline. This was repalced in July 1925 to with a 313 metre long tunnel which was about 2.8 m wide and 4.0 m high and took 13 months to dig. It was timber-lined and had a vent shaft in the middle through which smoke escaped. The tunnel was closed as a safety measure after World War II. Both entrances are still visible.
Fyansford Cement Works Tunnel
Fyansford, Victoria
Fyansford is a township on the western edge of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, named after Captain Foster Fyans who came to Geelong as a Police magistrate in October, 1837. It is located at the junction of the Barwon and Moorabool rivers....
(near Geelong), has a 1300 metre long tunnel from a former narrow gauge quarry railway which connected the limestone quarry to the cement plant.
Two tunnels were built on a timber tramway linking Henry's Sawmill with the Victorian Railways terminus at Forrest
Forrest, Victoria
Forrest, Victoria is a small rural township located in the Otway Ranges. At the 2006 census, Forrest and the surrounding area had a population of 170.-History:...
in in 1902 and were in use by 1903. They remained in use until about 1927. Steam locomotives hauling logs from the Otway Forest to sawmills, had fold-down funnels to pass through the tunnels.
Table of Tunnel Lengths and Dates
| Tunnel Name | Date of Construction | Length in Metres | Railway Line | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Hill Tunnel | 1859-60 | 390 | Bendigo Line | north portal: 36.826772°N 144.248471°W |
| Elphinstone Tunnel | 1859-60 | 385 | Bendigo Line | east portal: 37.104864°N 144.309036°W west portal: 37.105459°N 144.304819°W |
| Cheviot Tunnel | 1889 | 201 | Mansfield Alexandra Line | east portal: 37.206338°N 145.501347°W west portal: 37.207901°N 145.499883°W |
| Tarrawarra Tunnel | 1888 | 154 | Healesville line | east portal: 37.661376°N 145.47666°W west portal: 37.661397°N 145.475°W |
| South Geelong Tunnel | 1874 | 422 | Colac Line | north portal: 38.147437°N 144.354107°W south portal: 38.151156°N 144.352957°W |
| Heidelburg Tunnel | 1902 | c60 | Hurstbridge Line | mid point: 37.754018°N 145.064952°W |
| Jolimont | 1901 | 120 | Hurstbridge Line | 37.816743°N 144.988375°W |
| West Richmond | 1901 | 100 | Hurstbridge Line | 37.815963°N 144.990402°W |
| Portland Harbour Tunnel | 1870 | 40 | Portland Harbour Railway | 38.343484°N 141.606514°W |
| Geelong Harbour Tunnel | 1859 | 100 | Cunningham Pier Line | 38.144919°N 144.35702°W |
| Bunbury Street Tunnel | 1926-8 | 450 | Independent Goods Line | west portal: 37.802282°N 144.902297°W east portal: 37.803638°N 144.906664°W |
| Geelong Cement Works Tunnel | 1300 | Fyansford Cement Works Railway | west portal: 38.114908°N 144.302373°W east portal: 38.114908°N 144.302373°W approx. | |
| The Bump Tunnel | 1925 | 313 | Poweltown Tramway | 37.865774°N 145.765775°W |
| Henry's Tunnels | 1902 | 437 & 70 | Henry's Timber Tramway | 38.589001°N 143.750439°W |