Kerang–Koondrook Tramway

Swan Hill-Koondrook rail ticket 1977

The Kerang–Koondrook Tramway was an Australian private railway of 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge, running from the state-owned Victorian Railways network Piangil railway line at Kerang to the Murray River town of Koondrook, with intermediate stations at Yeoburn, Hinksons, Teal Point and Gannawarra.

Construction of the 13.94 mi (22.43 km) long line was initiated by the Shire of Swan Hill in 1887,^[1] under the terms of the Tramways in Country Districts Act 1886, which allowed local governments in country areas to construct tramways, with financial assistance from the Victorian government, to a limit of £2,000 a mile.^[2][3] The tramway was opened in 1889.^[4] On 31 December 1898, the now Kerang-based Shire of Swan Hill was renamed the Shire of Kerang.^[5] By 1920 the tramway's construction had cost £39,229.^[6] Ownership of the tramway was transferred to the Victorian Railways on 1 February 1952 and it was officially closed on 3 March 1981.^[7]

A description of a journey on the railway in 1938 is contained in an article in the March 1971 edition of the Australian Railway Historical Society "Bulletin".^[4]

In its later years, passenger services on the line were run by a 102hp Walker railmotor, paid for by the Victorian Education Department, to convey school children. That service was withdrawn on 16 December 1976. A railfan farewell special, with a train hauled by T356, ran on 20 November 1977.^[8]

References[]

External links[]

• "Koondrook Tram Complex". On My Doorstep. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
• Images from the Koondrook Railway
• Image: Koondrook railway station^{[permanent dead link]}
• Image: Replica locomotive along with QR open wagon, L sheep wagon and a ZL guards van^{[permanent dead link]}