The Fyansford Cement Works Railway was an industrial railway near Geelong, Australia, built by the Australian Portland Cement Company to carry limestone from its quarry to its cement works at Fyansford.
The railway was notable for including a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in Victoria apart from the underground sections of the Melbourne City Loop. It had a fleet of one diesel and 11 steam locomotives, the majority of which have been preserved by heritage railway operators, in particular the Bellarine Railway.[1][self-published source?]
History
editThe line was built in 1926, replacing an earlier overhead ropeway from the quarry to the main works. The railway had two main sections: one from the works depot to an older quarry, and a longer track which used the tunnel and connected to a newer quarry. The length of the main line from the new quarry to the depot was 5.6 km (3.5 mi). The rail track had a gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm), one not often used in Victoria, where the predominant rail gauge was 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm).[2]
The cement works railway operated until 1966, when it was replaced by an above-ground conveyor belt between a new crushing works on the quarry floor and the cement works. At the time of its closure, the railway's motive power consisted of a diesel-electric locomotive (which was sold to the Victorian Railways), and six steam locomotives, which were donated to preservation societies.
Locomotives
editOf the original twelve locomotives, seven (one diesel and six steam locomotives) are still in existence today.[3] With the relocation to Queenscliff of the Australian Standard Garratt from the Newport Railway Museum in May 2013, all six steam locomotives existing at the time of the line's closure are now in preservation at the Bellarine Railway.
| Number | Builder | Year built | Wheel arrangement | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester, England | 1938 | 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt | Scrapped | Some components from this locomotive were integrated into sister locomotive No. 2 when it was overhauled, similar to Western Australian Government Railways Msa class[4] |
| 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1938 | 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt | Stored at the Bellarine Railway | Was on display at the Puffing Billy Railway's museum at Menzies Creek until 2010, before relocation to the Bellarine Railway for eventual restoration. |
| 3 | Victorian Railways, Newport Workshops | 1945 | 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt | In workshops at the Bellarine Railway | The last remaining complete Australian Standard Garratt. Moved on 31 May 2013 from the Newport Railway Museum to the Bellarine Railway, for restoration. |
| 4 | Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States | 1916 | 0-6-0T | Stored at the Bellarine Railway | Originally used at the Henderson Naval Base, Western Australia, acquired by APC in 1926, along with loco 5. |
| 5 | Vulcan Iron Works | 1916 | 0-6-0T | Stored at the Bellarine Railway | Stored in park in Ringwood before removal for restoration. |
| 6 | Hudswell Clarke, Leeds, England | 1903 | 0-4-2T | Stored at the Bellarine Railway | Originally used as a shunter at the Wallaroo & Moonta Mining & Smelting Co's copper smelter in Wallaroo, South Australia. before acquisition by APC, along with locos 7-9. Named Wesley B. McCann after being donated to the Belmont Common Railway.[2] |
| 7 | Hudswell Clarke | 0-4-2T | Scrapped | See no. 6[2] | |
| 8 | Hudswell Clarke | 0-4-2T | Scrapped | See no. 6[2] | |
| 9 | Hudswell Clarke | 0-4-2T | Scrapped | See no. 6[2] | |
| 10 | Perry Engineering, Adelaide | 1926 | 0-4-0T | Scrapped | Originally used by the State Rivers & Water Supply Commission of Victoria in construction of the Hume Weir. Acquired by APC in 1946, along with number 11 from State Electricity Commission of Victoria.[2] |
| 11 | Perry Engineering | 1926 | 0-4-0T | Under restoration at the Bellarine Railway | Was on display at the Puffing Billy Railway's museum at Menzies Creek until June 2010, when it was relocated for eventual restoration.[5] |
| D1 | Clyde Engineering, Sydney | 1956 | Bo-Bo | Operational at 707 Operations | Bought new by APC and named Wesley B. McCann, sold to the Victorian Railways in 1966, regauged to 5'3" and renumbered T413[6][7] |
References
edit- ^ "Fyansford Line". Rail Geelong. Marcus Wong. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Fyansford Cement Works Railway Light Railways issue 222 December 2011 pages 3-10
- ^ "Victorian Private & Industrial". Australian Steam. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Narrow-gauge Beyer-Garrett Locomotive for Victoria Locomotive, Railway Carriage & Wagon Review issue 525 May 1946 page 144
- ^ Fyansford No.11 Australian Steam
- ^ VR Buys Industrial Diesel Loco Railway Transportation August 1969 page 23
- ^ The VR buys the Fyansford diesel Divisional Diary September 1969 page 3