- Crowes railway line
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Crowes railway railway line, Victoria Line details Opened 1902/1911 Closed 1954/1962 Fate Abandoned Length 44 mi (71 km) Stations 23 Tracks Single track Rail transport in Victoria Closed railways 
Cutting and 103 mile post on the line
Remnants of an embankment near BarongarookThe Crowes railway line was a narrow gauge (2 ft 6 in (762 mm)) railway located in the Otway Ranges in south-eastern Victoria, Australia, running from the main line to Port Fairy at Colac to Beech Forest and later Crowes.
It was the third of four narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways, opening to Beech Forest in March 1902, and extended to Crowes in June 1911. Nearly 44 miles (71 km) long, this was the longest of the narrow gauge lines. It was also the last to close, finally succumbing in June 1962, although the line had been truncated in 1954.
The route of the abandoned railway has been developed as the Old Beechy Rail Trail.
Contents
Operation
Both the Colac and Crowes lines entered Beech Forest yard from the same end, creating a junction. Trains had to be turned to run down the Crowes branch and a balloon loop was provided at the other end of the yard. A tennis court occupied the land within the loop. Crowes, the terminus of the line, was the most southerly railway station on the Australian mainland.
The primary traffic was sawn timber and firewood, with many sawmills located adjacent to the railway, or accessed by short tramways. Seasonally heavy potato traffic and a lime kiln added to revenue. Traffic grew to require up to 7 trains a day each way by the mid 1920s. The introduction of the G class Garratt locomotive allowed a new timetable with two trains each way between Colac and Beech Forest, and a third train each way to Gellibrand. The Crowes branch saw a single mixed train daily. The arrival of the Great Depression and competition from motor vehicles saw traffic decline to a point where only one train each way operated over the line three days a week. Increased wartime loadings saw traffic increase to two trains each way daily, however this improvement was only temporary. By the time the railway closed, the timetable listed only one train each way a week, and most of the traffic was pulpwood.
The line opened using the Staff and Ticket method of safeworking. However Train Section Orders were adopted between 1927 and 1939, after which Staff and Ticket working was resumed.
Line Guide
Crowes railway line Legend
155.39 km Colac Warrnambool line 
Elliminyt Tulloh Coram 
Watson & Facy's Siding Birnam Kawarren Hitt's Siding Lovat Banool Wimba McDevitt Dinmont McDevitt Bros. Siding Ditchley 
Beech Forest Buchanan Ferguson Weeaproinah Pile Siding Kincaid Wyelangta Petitt's Siding Stalker Macknott Lavers Hill 
Crowes References
- Norman Houghton. "Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes Railway Conservation Management Plan". Colac–Otway Shire. http://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Files/BLCMS.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- "Old Beechy Rail Trail - Trail Description". www.railtrails.org.au. http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=30. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
- Bill Russell. "Colac to Crowes Narrow Gauge Railway". http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~narrow.gauge/crowes.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
Further reading
- Houghton, Norman 1992 The Beechy Light Railway Research Society of Australia, Melbourne ISBN 0-909340-29-3
Railway Lines in Victoria Main lines
Bendigo Line · Mildura line · North East Line · (Melbourne-Sydney) · Orbost Line · Port Fairy Line · Portland line · Serviceton Line · South Gippsland Line · Tocumwal line · Western SG line (Melbourne-Adelaide)Branch linesAlexandra line · Alvie line · Balranald line · Bolangum line · Briagolong line · Bright line · Buninyong line · Carpolac line · Casterton line · Cobram line · Cohuna line · Coleraine line · Cudgewa line · Daylesford line · Deniliquin line · Forrest line · Grampians line · Heathcote line · Kulwin line · Lancefield line · Maffra line · Mansfield line · Mortlake line · Mirboo North line · Navarre line · Noojee line · Oaklands line · Outtrim line · Patchewollock line · Peechelba East line · Picola line · Portland line · Redesdale line · Red Hill line · Robinvale line · Skipton line · Strzelecki line · Stony Crossing line · Tatong line · Thorpdale line · Timboon line · Wahgunyah line · Waubra line · Wedderburn line · Wonthaggi line · Woodside line · Yackandandah line · Yanac line · Yaapeet line ·
Cross Country linesAvoca line · Geelong-Ballarat line · Eaglehawk–Inglewood line · Moolort Line · Toolamba–Echuca line
V/Line servicesGeelong Line · Warrnambool Line · Ballarat Line · Maryborough Line · Ararat Line · Bendigo Line · Swan Hill Line · Echuca Line · Seymour Line · Shepparton Line · Albury-Wodonga Line · Traralgon Line · Bairnsdale Line
Melbourne suburban servicesCity Loop · Werribee line · Williamstown line · Sydenham line · Craigieburn line · Flemington Racecourse line · Upfield line · Epping line · Hurstbridge line · Lilydale line · Belgrave line · Alamein line · Glen Waverley line · Pakenham line · Cranbourne line · Frankston line · Stony Point line (unelectrified) · Sandringham line
Inner Circle line · Outer Circle line · Rosstown Railway · St Kilda - Windsor line · Spring Vale Cemetery line · Mont Park line · Kew line · Red Hill line · Whittlesea line · Warburton line · Mornington line · Healesville line · St Kilda line · Port Melbourne line Tourist railwaysNarrow gauge branch linesWhitfield line · Gembrook line · Crowes line · Walhalla line
Melbourne goods linesNewport-Sunshine line · Albion-Jacana line · South Kensington-West Footscray line
Coordinates: 38°41′23″S 143°22′3″E / 38.68972°S 143.3675°E
Categories:- Closed regional railway lines in Victoria (Australia)
- 2ft 6in gauge railways
- Narrow gauge railways in Australia
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