Colbinabbin railway line

The Colbinabbin railway line (also known as Rushworth railway line) is a closed 42-kilometre (26 mi) branch railway line situated in both the Hume and Loddon Mallee regions of Victoria, Australia. Constructed by the Victorian Railways, it branches from the Shepparton line at Murchison East station, and runs west from the town of Murchison East to Colbinabbin. The line was primarily built to serve the grain industries as well as providing a general goods and passenger service to townships in the area.

Colbinabbin
Overview
Other name(s)Rushworth
StatusFormer train line
Now Murchison-Rushworth Rail Trail
Owner
LocaleHume (region) & Loddon Mallee (region), Victoria, Australia
Termini
Connecting linesShepparton
Former connectionsGirgarre
Stations8 former stations
History
Opened1 September 1890 (1890-09-01)
Completed26 August 1914 (1914-08-26)
Closed12 October 1987 (1987-10-12)
Technical
Line length41.979 km (26.085 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Route map

km
147.25
Murchison East
147.88
150.16
Murchison
154.97
Hammond
159.91
Waranga
168.40
Rushworth
169.44
175.34
Erwen
181.05
Wanalta
188.93
Colbinabbin
km
Melbourne to Rushworth, Colbinabbin & Girgarre souvenir rail ticket 1978

History

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The line was opened in 2 stages from September 1890 to August 1914, and closed in October 1987.[1]

The line was eventually extended to Colbinabbin, opening in August 1914, and a branch from Rushworth to Girgarre opened in May 1917.[2] The line to Girgarre was closed back to Stanhope in 1975,[3] and the remaining sections were closed in October 1987.[4]

Stations

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Station Histories
Station Opened Closed Age Notes
Murchison East 1 September 1890 134 years Formerly Murchison
Murchison 1 September 1890 12 October 1987 97 years
Hammond 1 September 1890 16 May 1955 64 years Formerly Whroo Road Siding
Waranga 1 September 1890 16 May 1955 64 years
Rushworth 1 September 1890 12 October 1987 97 years
Erwen 26 August 1914 30 September 1977 63 years
Wanalta 26 August 1914 30 September 1977 63 years
Colbinabbin 26 August 1914 12 October 1987 73 years

References

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  1. ^ "Colbinabbin line". Vicsig. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. ^ Harrigan, Leo J. (1962). Victorian Railways to '62. Melbourne: Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board. p. 287.
  3. ^ "Girgarre Stanhope Rail Trail - Trail Description". Railtrails Australia. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Colbinabbin Line". Retrieved 3 June 2013.