Colac was the centre of a spidery rail network over which were carted anything and everything by Victorian Railways, the common carrier throughout the area. The main line through the region was the 35 km rail route from Birregurra (and thence to Geelong) though Colac to Pirron Yallock (and thence to Warrnambool and Port Fairy) from March, 1877, to July, 1883. The first branch line ran from Irrewarra to Beeac in 1889, which then extended in stages to Cressy and on the Ballarat. The second branch line was the 31 km long Birregurra to Forrest in 1891. The cost of building railways into mountainous terrain meant the third branch line was a narrow-gauge 2 foot 6 inch line, first of all to Beech Forest in 1902, and then to Crowes in 1911, for a total of 71 km. The final rail connection was the 16 km branch from Colac to Alvie to facilitate the transport of onions, opening in 1923. Each line had its own character and peculiarities derived from its foundation, geography and economic base. As a general rule, the loadings on the branch lines had greater output tonnage than inwards, the reverse of the main line. The lines traversed agricultural and timber areas where inputs like seed, grass, fertiliser and labour were minor, compared with the output, timber, wool, cream, butter, cheese fruit, potatoes, onion, grain and livestock.Rail Centre Colac. Rail stations in the Colac Otway Shire, 1877 to 2014. Norman Houghton. 1st ed. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); 2014. vi, 262 p.; illus., maps, index. Soft cover.colac; cressy; forrest; beech forest; crowes

The photo, shows tram 38 decorated for the 1954 Royal Visit, crossing the railway tracks at Ballarat Station in Lydiard St North. The tram has the destination of Sebastopol. In the background is the railway signal gantry, Reids Coffee Palace and the Post Office. Many of the buildings are flying flags.Yields information about the 1954 Royal Tram.Photograph, black and white - plain black with Ken Magor stamp and negative number written on the rear.Ken Magor Negative Number - "3427" tramways, trams, royal visit, decorated trams, tram 38, lydiard st nth, level crossings

The photo shows the Melbourne Electric Supply Co. (MESCo), bus at the East Geelong terminus. MESCo operated the Geelong tram system from 1912 and opened the tram line to this location "East Geelong" in 1923. The terminus was at the Geelong Cemetery, with a wooden waiting room shelter with signage about the building being used for passengers only and prohibiting the posting of bills. The buses ran from the railway station and Moorabool St wharf from 1912 until they were replaced by trams in 1923. The bus is also seen in item 4315. Yields information about the operation of a bus by MESCo in Geelong.Black and white photograph - plain back.geelong, tramways, mesco, buses, east geelong, shelters

Set of three maps, c1977 show the bus routes for each of Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong along with railways. Provides information on each route, summary timetables, who operated the route and places of interest. Published by the Ministry of Transport in conjunction with the Transport Regulation Board, Bus Proprietors Association and VicRail. By comparison with the posters issued at the time of tram closure, can see the changes made to the routes in each city. See item 6813 for Ballarat, 6812 for Geelong, and 6814 for Bendigo.Demonstrates a public transport map published by the Ministry of Transport.Set of three 10 fold maps printed in colour to pocket size.On each map "7/77" in ink.buses, maps, ballarat, bendigo, geelong, timetables, railways

The photo shows Geelong No. 2 in Moorabool St at the intersection with Ryrie St. The tram has the destination of North. The tram is in its modified form that provides for one-man operation. In the photo are Edments, Savoia Cafe, Commercial Bank of Australia, and the T&G building. The photo has been dated between 1935 when the tram was converted and 1939 when the bar neon traffic lights were installed at the intersection. The photograph was taken from a Victorian Railways glass negative held at the State Library of Victoria. See item 8360 for a digital copy of the SLV scan - http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/97173Yields information about Geelong No.2 and the intersection of Ryrie and Moorabool Streets Geelong.Black and white photograph with a number of rear.In pencil "2171" on rear.tramways, trams, geelong, ryrie st, moorabool st, temperance & general, tram 2

Photograph - night flash - shows tram 42 crossing the Lydiard St level crossing with a large crowd on board. Tram has the destination of depot. Given the tram number and the crowd, most likely the last tram from Lydiard St North to the depot. Tram 42 was recorded as the last to leave Lydiard St North on 19/9/1971. Not known who took the photograph.Yields information about the last tram to cross the Ballarat Railway level crossing.Black and white photograph on plain paper.tramways, lydiard st north, level crossing, tram 42, last tram

Yields information about the intersection of Mair and Lydiard St North.Negative and Digital image of the Wal Jack Ballarat Negative file of No. 35 crossing Mair St in Lydiard St North with a passenger ready to get off - riding on the footboard. In the background is the George Hotel, the Regent Theatre and the Railway Hotel.trams, tramways, mair st, lydiard st nth, tram 35

Yields information about the Lydiard St Nth line, the level crossing and the terminus.Set of three Colour slides, Kodak white cardboard mount, developed Mar 1969 of No. 37 .1 - while running a special crossing at the Lydiard St North level crossing at the Railway Station. Has the Reid's Coffee Palace and Railway Station in the background. .2 - No. 37 and a single trucker carrying a "Trotting at Bray Raceway" auxiliary board, at the Lydiard St North terminus. Has the shelter on the right-hand side. .3 - No. 37 waiting at the terminus. See Reg Items 7675, 7678, 7681, 7684, 7686, 7705 and 7713.ballarat, tramways, trams, lydiard st nth, railway station, shelters, level crossings, tram 37

Yields information about the Lydiard St Nth Level crossing.Colour slide, Kodak white cardboard mount, developed September 1968 of No. 27, southbound crossing the Lydiard St level crossing with a destination of Sebastopol. The tram has a Twin Lakes sign. the Kennedy Murrays General Carrier building in the background."Railway Xing Lydiard St Nth" in red ink.ballarat, tramways, trams, lydiard st nth, level crossings, railway station, tram 27

.1 - Book - 64 A4 pages - colour covers, titled "Guide to Australian Tourist Railways and Museums 1993", listing all operational railway and tramway museums in Australia at the time. Gives details for each organisation and details of umbrella organisations in each state. Arranged on a State and regional basis. .2 - as above - 100 pages - "Guide to Australian Tourist Railways and Museums 1994". Published by Rail Scene Australia - ARHS NSW and the LRRSAtrams, tramways, railways, tram preservation, museums, arhs

Yields information about Ballarat tram No. 30 about to cross the level crossing in Lydiard St North at the railway station.Negative and Digital images of the Wal Jack Ballarat Negative file of No 30 to Sebastopol about to cross the Lydiard St North Level crossing at the railway station. Tram has a White Horse Whiskey Advert. trams, tramways, lydiard st north, railway station, level crossings, tram 30

Negative and Digital images of the Wal Jack Bendigo Negative file of Bendigo Birney No. 29 at the North Bendigo terminus with the railway level crossing in the background. Tram has the destination of Golden Square and a Briquettes roof advertisement. Based on the cars in the photo and Reg Item 452, date could be 6-1-1963trams, tramways, bendigo, north bendigo, level crossings, tram 29

Negative and Digital images of the Wal Jack Geelong Negative file of Geelong 17 inbound in Melbourne Road on the North line, near Swinburne St at the level crossing used for goods traffic, opposite North Geelong railway yard. Tram has the destination of Belmont. In the background are various gasholders. Photo late 1940's. trams, tramways, geelong, north, level crossings, tram 17

Roy J Mitchell was born in Williamstown in 1935 and grew up in Ballarat. He was the son of Horace Mitchell, a railway man, and Catherine Donovan whose father James Donovan was himself a railway man. Roy worked for the Victorian Railways also, until this era finished and worked into the MET era. Roy never lived in Bendigo but visited often, many times taking his daughter Rebekah with him, drawn in by the historical trams. His passions in life were his family, dogs, trains and trams and photography. His cousin Frank O'Meara, said "Roy always had his camera with him. He Took it everywhere". Roy's ancestors came from Maldon, Mt Edgerton, Trentham, Ballarat, Creswick, Berringa and Geelong.Eleven Coloured slides of Bendigo Trams and Trains taken by Roy J Mitchell. history, bendigo, bendigo trams, roy j mitchell, bendigo r766 steam engine

Shows trams at the Lydiard St level crossing gates and the signal gantry.Yields information about Ballarat tram No. 20 and the locationBlack and White photograph of SEC Ballarat tram No. 20 crossing the railway level crossing in Lydiard St North. Has the signal gantry in the background. Photo by Keith Kings 22/1/1955.On rear has the photographers file number (M)(d)(3)ballarat, lydiard st north, level crossing, railway station, tram 20

Demonstrates the method of delivery of a tramcar body for Geelong from the railway station using a horse drawn jinker with the horse driver standing in the same location as a tram driver would have. Tramcar built by Pengelley of Adelaide. The tramcar bodies were delivered during 1924 and 1925.Yields information about the Pengelly built tramcars for Geelong c1924 and how tramcar bodies could be transported using a horse drawn jinker. At the time, the Geelong tram system operated by the Melbourne Electric Supply Co.Copy photograph on black plastic type backing with black edges of a Pengelley Adelaide built tramcar body for the Geelong tramway system being delivered 1924, from the Geelong Railway station.geelong, tramways, pengelley, tram bodies, horse drawn jinker

Provides information on how a tramcar body was fitted with a wheelset or truck (Brill Radiax EB1 type). Lifted on the jacks after delivery by a horse drawn jinker from the Railway Station (See Reg Item 8321) The wheel set is being pushed under the tramcar by another tramcar. Once fitted the tramcar would have been towed back into the depot and the motors etc connected. Has the Blakiston & Co. building in the background. Yields information about how tramcar bodies were lifted outside the Geelong tram depot in Brougham St in order to be made operational. Copy photograph on black plastic type backing with black edges of a Pengelley Adelaide built tramcar body on jacks being fitted with a truck or wheel set.geelong, tramways, pengelley, tram bodies, brill radiax truck, brougham st, trams

Original photograph by Charles Daniel Pratt, with the original image held by the State Library of Victoria. Edited by Richard Conn. Purchased by the Museum.Provides information about the appearance of Ballarat East and views across over the Railway Station to Lake Wendouree and along along Sturt St. Shows the nature of the Bridge St shopping centre and other places.Black & White copy photograph aerial view A4 size, titled "Ballarat looking west ca 1925-40" - looking along Sturt St with the Railway yards, Bridge St and Victoria St in the view. Some trams can be seen at Grenville St.ballarat, aerial photo, sturt st, victoria st

Original photograph by Victorian Railways, with the original image held by the State Library of Victoria. Edited by Richard Conn. Purchased by the Museum.Provides information about the appearance of Sturt St from Grenville St looking west. Tram No. 20 is travelling west. Note the many bikes parked on the shelter. Has in the view buildings of Ballaarat Gas Co, the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute with advertisements for Robur Tea and Davies Bread, Thornton for photos, Terminus Cash Butchery and a Vacuum Oil Co vehicle.Black & White copy photograph view A4 size, titled "Ballarat, looking west on Sturt St ca 1937". Original image by the Victorian Railways, c1937-1940. Looking from the top of a building in Grenville St. towards the West. Has a number of parked vehicles in kerbs, two people riding horses, a Vacuum Oil Co. truck in the bottom right hand corner and SEC tram 20 traveling west, just past the City Loop points. See also Reg Items 675, 4284 for other prints, 2981 for a colour postcard. For a similar view see Reg Item 8332. ballarat, vr photos, sturt st, robur tea, thornton, ballarat gas co, vacuum oil co, tram 20, shelters, tramways

Original photograph by Victorian Railways, with the original image held by the State Library of Victoria. Edited by Richard Conn. Purchased and framed by the Museum. For a similar photo see Reg Item 8329 .Provides information about the appearance of Sturt St from Grenville St looking west. Tram No. 26 has the destination of Mt Pleasant, No. 20 Sturt St West and No. 16 is travellng to the Gardens. Has in the view buildings of Ballaarat Gas Co, the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute with advertisements for Robur Tea and Davies Bread, Thornton for photos, Terminus Cash Butchery, Carlyon's Hotel, 8 hour monument and Malvern Star cycles. Framed, black & White copy photograph view A2 size, titled "Ballarat, looking west on Sturt St ca 1937". Original image by the Victorian Railways, c1937. Looking from the top of a building in Grenville St. towards the West. Has a number of parked vehicles in kerbs, many pedestrians and trams 20, 26 and 16.ballarat, vr photos, sturt st, robur tea, thornton, ballarat gas co, vacuum oil co, tram 20, tram 16, tram 26, davies bread, shelters, tramways

Gives the design details of the device or fitting known as a trolley wire ear that holds a tramway copper trolley wire in position. Notes that the drawing was traced in 1958 from a MMTB drawing.Yields information about the design of trolley wire fittings and how they were fabricated. Interesting that the drawing is dated 15-8-1958, given that on 1-3-1958 the last street tramways operated by the Victorian Railways closed. May have been used for electrically powered gantry cranes or overhead travelling cranes used in Workshops and railway yards.Dyeline print of Victorian Railways drawing - F6236 - Ears Female TramwayHas number "7515 D.33" in black pen in bottom right hand corner.tramways, trams, overhead, victorian railways, trolley wire, engineering, electrical engineering

Gives the design details of the device or fitting known as a trolley wire ears that holds a tramway copper trolley wire in position. Notes that the drawing was traced in 1924 from a MMTB drawing. Has details for a splicing ear, straight line ear. feeder ear and curve ear along with details for nuts and screws.Yields information about the design of four different types of trolley wire fittings and how they were fabricated for use on the two tram lines, or electric street railways operated by the Victorian Railways.Dyeline print of Victorian Railways drawing number 4057 - Ears for Tramway Overhead ConstructionHas number "7513 D.33" in black pen in bottom right hand corner.tramways, trams, overhead, victorian railways, trolley wire, engineering, electrical engineering

.1 - No. 27 in Lydiard St North at Sturt St. .2 - Scene at Railway station in Lydiard St North following arrival of the ARHS tour train. .3 - Nos. 27, 42, 11 at Sebastopol terminus. .4 - No. 42 in Sturt St .5 - Nos. 27, 42, 11 at Sebastopol terminus. .6 - No. 11 in Sturt St .7 - No. 27 crossing Albert St Sebastopol. .8 - No. 42 in Lydiard St North at Sturt St. .9 - Nos. 27, 42, 11 at Lydiard St. North terminus. Note: - some of the captions under the photos have the wrong locations.Has a strong association with a Melbourne tram driver who assembled the scrap book and series of photos of Ballarat trams at the time of closure. Yields information about the tram operations.Set of nine black and white photographs contained with Reg item 5988, a Stamford Kiwi School Scrap Book - prepared by Ellen Butland of Auckland following the closure of the SEC Ballarat Tramway system."Ballarat, Australia 21-9-71" in ink along the top edge of the sheet.trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st, sebastopol, tram 27, railway station, tram 42, tram 11

.1 - Nos. 27, 42, at Lydiard St. North terminus. .2 - No. 11 at Lydiard St North terminus .3 - Nos. 27, 42, 11 at Lydiard St. North terminus. .4 - Controls of No. 11 with keys in position .5 - Scene at Railway Station after touring the system .6 - Interior photo of No. 11 .7 - Second convoy at Railway Station unloading - includes No. 39 Note: - some of the captions under the photos have the wrong locations.Has a strong association with a Melbourne tram driver who assembled the scrap book and series of photos of Ballarat trams at the time of closure. Yields information about the tram operations.TRAMSet of seven black and white photographs contained with Reg item 5988, a Stamford Kiwi School Scrap Book - prepared by Ellen Butland of Auckland following the closure of the SEC Ballarat Tramway system.closure, arhs, tours, trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st, lydiard st nth, sebastopol, tram 27, tram 42, tram 11, tram 39, interiors

Flanged Tramway Rails - sections from The North Eastern Steel Co. Ltd. Middlesborough - see https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/North_Eastern_Steel_Co 1 - Walthamstow & District Light Railways BS Section No. 3C - 106 lbs. per yard 1904 - Dick Kerr & Co. Contractors London. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham_Outrage 2 - Bath & District Tramways 95 lbs per yard 1903 - George Hopkins & Sons Engineers London 3 - Burton on Trent Tramways 90 lbs per yard 1903 - Messrs Kincaid, Waller & Manville, Consulting Engineers 4 - Swindon Corporation Tramways BS Section No. 4 C, 111 lbs per yard, 1904 - Messrs J G White & Co. Ltd, Contractors London 5 - Wigan Corporation Tramways BS Section No. 5, 100 lbs per yard, 1903 - Messrs J G White & Co. Ltd, Contractors London 6 - Derby Corporation Tramways BS Section No. 6, 107 lbs per yard, 1904 - Messrs J G White & Co. Ltd, Contractors London 7 - Nottingham Corporation Tramways BS Section No. 1 , 90 lbs per yard, 1903, J. G. White Ltd, London, Contractors. 8 - Swindon Corporation Tramways, BS Section No. 4, 105 lbs per yard - Messrs J G White & Co. Ltd, Contractors London, Messrs Lacy & Sillars Consulting Engineer 9 - Kalgoorlie Electric Tramways BS Section ? 96 lbs per yard. 1904 - Messrs J G White & Co. Ltd, Contractors London 10 - Leicester Corporation Tramways & Track? 100 lbs per yard 1903, I George Maybey? MICE Engineer 11 - Ipswich Tramways 90 lbs per yard, 1902, Dick Kerr & Co. Contractors London Shows the type of tramway rail and cross section produced by The North Eastern Steel Co early 1900's, the relationship to the British Standard and who used them. Provenance of the item not fully known. Possibly given to the Electric Supply Co of Victoria at the time when they would have been ordering rails for use in Ballarat. May have been collected by other parties.Plywood sheet, covered in black cloth displaying 11 different British Standard Rail Sections made by The North Eastern Steel Co. Ltd. Middlesborough , early 1900's. Each section secured with two 20mm (¾”) long, 3mm dia (1/8”) machine screws, countersunk with a slotted head from the rear. All nickel plated on both sides, engraved as to the tramway used on, date of production on the head of the rail, Designing Engineers on the web and the manufacturer on the foot of the rail. Cloth secured with staples and drawing pins on the rear. On the rear is a chalked sign, the principal one being "No Thoroughfare"Engraved as listed.tramway rails, rails, tramways, north eastern steel co, middlesborough, walthamstow, bath, burton on trent, swindon, wigan, derby, nottingham, kalgoorlie, leichester, ipswich, j g white & co, dick kerr

Tramway Track materials used to reconstruct or replace Ballarat Tramway Museum track between Carlton St and Depot Junction Sept 2019. Follows the current practice in Melbourne.Demonstrates the materials used to replace BTM Tramway Track during 2019. Same materials used during the reconstruction of 2022.Group of rail fittings used during 2019 track relay by Fulton Hogan between Carlton St and Depot Junction. .1 - Section of tram rail - Ri57A - cut from an 18m long rail section. Rolled by voestalpine Railway Systems, Austria .2 - Group of three different sized Pandrol Rail insulators used between the rail and the clip. .3 - Pandrol resilient pad used between the concrete sleeper and the rail .4 - Pandrol clip used to secure the rail to the sleeper.tramways, ballarat, btm, trackwork, tramway rails, pandrol, voestalpine

Photo of the installation of an electric arc type street lamp in Lydiard St North, near the Provincial Hotel Ballarat. The tower wagon is drawn by a single horse. Two boys standing alongside while two men are on the top of the wagon, a man on the top of the ladder is positioning a lifting beam while two men on the ground hold the rope for this beam. On the side of the wagon is possibly an extension that could be lifted onto the top of the tower itself to give a greater working height. The buildings between Mair St and the railway station on the west side of Lydiard St North remain in position. Yields information about the methodology of the late 1890's to install street lighting in BallaratDigital print of a Positioning street lights Lydiard St North Ballarat late 1890sarc lamps, ballarat, lydiard st north, electric lighting, tower wagons, horses, workmen, street lights

Ticket produced by the Association of Railway Enthusiasts Melbourne for a Ballarat Tram tour in association with the South Pacific Electric Railway (Sydney Tram Museum) for Sunday 5 Oct. 1969 The tour covered all the Ballarat tram lines. Was run in conjunction with the Vintage Train to Ballarat that day. See reference. Used trams 35 and 41.Yields information about the type of souvenir ticket issued to participants.Ticket - printed on heavy yellow card with green inkballarat tramways, tours, association of railway enthusiasts, are, vintage train, sper, sydney tram museum

Cigarette cards were used as a stiffening when cigarettes were sold as separate or loose items. See reference. Sturt St - Victorian Railways photo - mid 1920s with two ESCo trams in the view. Both trams have been fitted with windscreens. The rear of the card gives details of Ballarat and is No. 43 in a series of 100 card of the Australian Scenic Series. Lake Wendouree - looking east with Mt Warrenheip in the view. No. 26 of the series, also a VR photo.Demonstrates the type of card that were made by cigarette companies as collector items and to assist their sales.Set of two WD HO Wills Cigarette photo cards using a light card.ballarat, lake wendouree, sturt street, victorian railways, cigarette cards, wd ho wills

Provides details of the history of SECV rail operations in the Yallourn and other power station open cuts and the transport of coal and the locomotives used in the Latrobe Valley operations of the SEC. Possibly prepared in the early 1980s. Rail operations on the interconnecting railway ceased in 2000. Shows outline diagrams of the steam, electric and diesel locomotives and the coal wagons.Provides information about the SEC Coal railways and their rolling stock used for power generation in Victoria.Report or document - 16 A4 pages titled Report - 'State Electricty Commission of Victoria Rail Transport: Yallourn Open Cut"sec tramways, power supply, secv, open cut mining, locomotives, interconnecting railway