O'Keefe Rail Trail

O'Keefe Rail Trail

The O'Keefe Rail Trail is a 19 kilometre rail trail connecting Bendigo with Axedale. The sandy gravel trail runs along a former branch line on the Melbourne-Sydney rail line. As of August 2007, work was underway to extend it to Heathcote. This work received $3.1m in state and local funding in June 2010. A local lobby group is pushing to extend it even further, as far as Kilmore.[1] The trail could theoretically be extended all the way to Heathcote Junction, where the original train line joined the Melbourne-Sydney rail line.[2]

The trail includes a number of bridges, including the $50,000 Axe Creek Suspension Bridge, which was built in 1993.

The trail is named after Andrew O'Keefe, an early railway pioneer.

Contents

History

The Heathcote to North Bendigo line was built by O'Keefe in 1888 after successfully tendering 88,409 pounds to build the 28 miles of track and 50 bridges. It formed part of the Wandong to Bendigo line, and was commissioned as part of the Railway Construction Act 821, which authorised large amounts of railway infrastructure to be built. At the time, Heathcote had a population of 1500, and was part of the supply chain for the gold rush.

From 1888 for several decades, the railway was kept busy supplying timber for mine shafts, and as fuel. At its peak, two trainloads of timber was transported each day. However, by 1958, this had dwindled to less than a trainload of freight per week, and the service was suspended.

The track was finally dismantled in the 1970s.

References

  1. ^ http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/okeefe-rail-trail-extension-planned/1566721.aspx
  2. ^ http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=24

External links

Sources

v · Rail Trails in Victoria
Melbourne
Belgrave · Bellarine · Hawthorn to Kew · Lilydale to Warburton · Outer Circle (Anniversary) · Powelltown · Red Hill · Rosstown Heritage · Sandridge
Gippsland
Bass Coast · East Gippsland · Great Southern · Warburton · Gippsland Lakes · Grand Ridge · Noojee Trestle Bridge · Walhalla Goldfields · Tyers Junction · Moondarra · Moe to Yallourn · Gippsland Plains · Drouin to Warragul
North Victoria
Goulburn River High Country · Murray to the Mountains · High Country · O'Keefe · Marysville · Mount Samaria · Plain Creek · Say G'day
Western Victoria
Old Beechy · Crater to Coast · Great Divide · Domino · Andersons Mill · Ballarat-Skipton · Port Fairy to Warrnambool


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Grand Ridge Rail Trail — The Grand Ridge Rail Trail The Grand Ridge Rail Trail or Mirboo North to Boolarra Rail Trail is a 13 kilometre rail trail in the Strzelecki Ranges of west central Gippsland, connecting the towns of Mirboo North and Boolarra. The route follows the …   Wikipedia

  • Old Beechy Rail Trail — The Old Beechy Rail Trail is a 45–kilometre rail trail running from Colac to Beech Forest along to the route of the disused Crowes railway line. The historic Beechy train ran on this line from 1902 to 1962.[citation needed] The trail includes… …   Wikipedia

  • Crater to Coast Rail Trail — The Crater to Coast Rail Trail or Camperdown Timboon Rail Trail is a rail trail running from Camperdown to Timboon in Victoria s southwest. As of March 2009, the 22 km section to Timboon is complete, and eventual completion to Port Campbell is… …   Wikipedia

  • Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail — Length 95 km Difficulty Easy to medium Hills Small undulating hills; Beechworth branch involves extended climb Hazards Uncontrolled crossings of major highways Path …   Wikipedia

  • Moondarra Rail Trail — The Moondarra Rail Trail is a little maintained, 7  km section of the former Walhalla Railway in Gippsland, Victoria.[1] Located entirely within the Moondarra State Park, the surface is entirely dirt and partially overgrown. References ^… …   Wikipedia

  • Andrew O'Keefe (engineer) — Andrew O Keefe (d. 1904) was a construction engineer in Gippsland, in southeastern Australia. He build several railways and a weir. The O Keefe Rail Trail is named after him.O Keefe s parents immigrated from Ireland in 1854 due to famine,… …   Wikipedia

  • Outer Circle Trail — looking north toward Mont Albert Road Bridge Anniversary Outer Circle Trail Length Approx 13.7 km Difficulty Easy to medium Hills …   Wikipedia

  • Domino Trail — The Domino Trail is a shared used path running from Trentham, Victoria almost as far as Lyonville, 75km northwest of Melbourne. The trail mostly follows part of the route of the former Carlsruhe to Daylesford railway line   part of which is… …   Wikipedia

  • Drouin to Warragul Trail — The Drouin to Warragul Trail or Two Towns Trail is a cycling and walking path between Drouin and Warragul. It is primarily for use by commuters between the two towns. It is 8 kilometres long. It was funded by VicRoads. References… …   Wikipedia

  • Cycling in Victoria — Cycling in the Australian state of Victoria (including its capital Melbourne) is a popular pastime, sport and way of getting around since at least 1896, as indicated by a poem by Banjo Paterson: Mulga Bill s Bicycle. Cycling in Victoria has… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”