May 2024

165 years ago (Old) J class (2-2-2, 2-4-0) steam locos entered service
45 years ago Bellarine Railway Line between Lakers Siding and Drysdale opened for tourists (as NG)
3rd - 115 years ago Walhalla Line between Moe and Walhalla opened
6th - 115 years ago King Edward VII dies (9 years and 3 months) and George V becomes king
12th - 5 years ago end of first lockdown in Vic - 43 days of lockdown (COVID-19)
23rd - 100 years ago N (2-8-2) class steam locos entered service
23rd - 30 years ago Hopetoun Line between Murtoa and Hopetoun reopened (as SG)

As we celebrate 172 years since the first railway company was founded in Victoria; lines and stations, many still in use, turn 170; and 107 years since the start of electrification, it is worth a look back at rail transport in Victoria...

From the first company in 1853, to all the other companies that followed.

From possibly first loco hauled train in the Southern Hemisphere on 12 September 1854. The start of electrification in 1918, through the gradual change over to both electric and diesel locos, to the last regular steam operations in 1969. And even locos that were planned but never built, like 2 more H class, and even a broad gauge Garrett.

From the great boom of the railways with over 7,652 km of track, where no Victorian, apart from those in the mountain regions, were more than 42 km from a railway line. To the removal of lines, some to be converted to tram lines or tourist railways, others to parkland or replace by bike trails, and even some where there is no trace left.


This site is dedicated to those who dreamed, those who built, those who operated or controlled, and those who preserve Victoria's once great train network.

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Site progress: 54 (54 %)

On 9th May...

1910 (115 years ago):

In May...

1860 (165 years ago):

1869 (156 years ago):

  • 10th
    • First transcontinental line in USA opens (3,077 km)

1888 (137 years ago):

    • George Eastman invents hand-held camera

1891 (134 years ago):

  • 19th
    • Trans-Siberian Railway starts construction

1901 (124 years ago):

  • 25th
    • First Federal Parliament opens in Melbourne

1910 (115 years ago):

  • 6th
    • King Edward VII dies (9 years and 3 months) and George V becomes king

1919 (106 years ago):

    • Federal border restrictions replaced state controls (Spanish flu)
  • 28th
    • First suburban electric passenger service in Australia (Essendon to Sandridge)

1972 (53 years ago):

  • 25th
    • Last steam loco in revenue service for VR (J 550)

1980 (45 years ago):

1989 (36 years ago):

    • Guards withdrawn from country passenger trains

1994 (31 years ago):

1999 (26 years ago):

2020 (5 years ago):

  • 12th
    • End of first lockdown in Vic - 43 days of lockdown (COVID-19)
  • 16th
    • Some restrictions on gatherings in Vic eased (COVID-19)

2021 (4 years ago):

  • 24th
    • Victoria records 4 new community cases - 86 day streak of zero community cases broken (COVID-19)
  • 25th
    • Restrictions in Greater Melbourne tightened (COVID-19)
  • 27th
    • Fourth lockdown in Vic (COVID-19)

Total: 869 events

Trains of Victoria