Warburton railway line, Melbourne

VictorianRailwayLineInfobox
type = mel
name = Warburton
yearcommenced =
yearopened = 1901
yearcompleted =
yearclosed = 1965
fate = Rail trail
lengthkm = 38 km (From Lilydale)
stations = 12
tracks = Single track
users =
servicepattern =
RollingStock =
connections = Lilydale and Healesville lines

The Warburton railway line, in greater-metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, was a railway branching off from the Healesville line at the present terminus, Lilydale, extending into the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

History

The route between Lilydale and Warburton was originally proposed to be built as one of four experimental narrow gauge lines. However, this proposal was overturned and the Warburton line opened as broad gauge railway on Wednesday, 13 November 1901. The length from Lilydale to Warburton was slightly over convert|37|km|mi|lk=on, and it remained like this until the last train ran, on Sunday, 1 August 1965, although it was officially closed on the 29 July 1965.

ervices

Throughout its life, the Warburton line had both passenger and goods services (passenger services generally running as a shuttle between Lilydale and Warburton stations), although passenger services dwindled during the later years.

Current status

While the track was dismantled in the 1970s, the Warburton line is still very much visible. The right-of-way is intact (except for a short section under lease to Mount Lilydale College), as are all of the bridges except the one of Maroondah Highway, which is long gone. The land formerly used by the line is now used for the Warburton Rail Trail, a pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian trail.

Line Guide

References

Links

* [http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/railways/search.aspx Gallery of historic photos of the Warburton line]