Article: Healesville on track to call back railway past

[ozbob]

The School of Army Health (RAAMC) used to be located at Healesville.  In my early days in the Army and training and postings to the School  I had many an enjoyable  journey on the Walkers Rail Motors between Lilydale ( which boasted a railway refreshment room and bar   ) and Healesville. Lilydale was the where the connection to the VR suburban service was made.  Who knows, one day services might be back all the way ...

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Healesville on track to call back railway past
CLAY LUCAS
June 28, 2010



Healesville train station is due to re-open for tourist runs in July. Photo: Rebecca Hallas

ON December 9, 1980, regular railway services between Healesville and Lilydale ceased after 92 years. For the 30 years since, a small band of volunteers has struggled to keep the old railway line in some form of working order.

''The tracks ... they stayed serviceable for a while, but after a while the trips became unfeasible,'' says Brett Morton, president of the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway.

''If you're not continually replacing your sleepers, the tracks fall into disrepair.''
The Healesville railway station before it was restored.

In recent decades, the tourist railway has run a small train ''trolley'' on special occasions, carrying up to 50 passengers a short distance from Healesville.

The ultimate battle - to get the entire Healesville-Lilydale line running again - is still many years and thousands of new sleepers away from being achieved. But at 3pm on July 17, a momentous victory will take place: Tourism Minister Tim Holding is due to launch the return of a regular timetabled service from Healesville to what locals call Tunnel Hill, almost five kilometres away and near the TarraWarra Estate winery.

To get the regular service running again, the rail society has painstakingly restored the tracks, and the collapsed Watts River Bridge with the help of a $100,000 grant from the state government.

Also making a return is Railmotor 22, which until 1980 ran regularly between Healesville and Lilydale.

In 2006 it was transported on the back of a truck from the Williamstown Railway Museum, and, over two years, it has been restored to mint condition.

The Transport Department also helped the volunteer group by supplying thousands of quality secondhand sleepers, made available by the department's suburban concrete sleeper replacement program in Melbourne.

After July 17, the railway will run on Sundays and public holidays between 10am and 4pm.

It will also operate during future school holiday periods from Wednesday to Sunday.

Tickets will cost $10 for adults and $8 for children (a family ticket will cost $28).

[ozbob]

Walker Rail Motors --> http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/walk153.html