Carrol Preston has used newspaper references from 1877 through to 1917, to document the history of the Orbost - Bairnsdael railway line.. It starts with the lobbying and jockeying, and moves through to the opening in 1916. The title is a reference to plans to further extend the railway beyond Orbost - but "The Iron Horse stopped at Orbost Railway Station". Most articles are from the Snowy River Mail and Bairnsdale Advertiser. All newspaper articles are dated and sourced. About 1912 work began at Newmerella on clearing the track for the railway line from Bairnsdale to Orbost. A canvas town sprang up on the higher land adjacent to the river flats. Local farmers supplied meat, milk and fresh produce to the camp, as well as gaining employment carting and labouring. The line opened in 1916, the Orbost railway station being built on the Newmerella side of the river.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. On April 10 1916, the first scheduled train service left Orbost for Bairnsdale. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened to serve the agricultural and timber industries. This book has been compiled by a local historian. A spiral bound book titled, "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station". The cover is blue / green with the title in black and red print. Underneath is a railway track leading to the bottom of the page. The book is 110 pages, A4 size and contains maps and photos. in black print on cover - "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station ; The newspaper story of the eventual construction of the ORBOST RAILWAY LINE (in red print); Compiled and produced by CARROL PRESTON (in white print)railway-transport orbost-bairnsdale-railway east-gippsland-railway

This photograph is of a train on the small rail bridge which crosses over the Burn Road Newmerella cutting. In 1912 work was underway to complete the Bairnsdale to Orbost section of the railway. This meant the end of river transport for the area. The railway was opened on April 10 1916 and closed in 1987. The letter written on the card is from Hilda Graham to her uncle.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.A black / white postcard photograph showing a train engine crossing on a small rail bridge. On the back is a handwritten letter.Photo caption - "NEWMERELLA RAILWAY, ORBOST STANLEY VOGT"newmerella east-gippsland-railway

This photograph shows the pile drivers at work in the construction of the viaduct across the Snowy River flats. The Snowy River Floodplain Railway Bridges, two sequential and exceptionally long and low timber railway bridges on the Snowy River floodplain just west of Orbost, were built in 1916, and provided the original terminus point for the Bairnsdale-Orbost railway. The bridges are 770 metres and 183 metres long respectively. The shorter bridge is of uniformly 4.57 metre timber-beam construction, and has a sweeping curve in its deck. The longer bridge has a combination of 4.57 metre and 6.1 metrespans, and two 3.66 metre spans. The bridges are constructed from 'Southern Mahogany', Eucalyptus Botryoides, which grew along the coast east of Bairnsdale. The Snowy floodplain bridges were initially built in the context of an early twentieth-century interest in American-style 'Developmental Railways', designed to open remote areas to closer settlement, even if that meant running at a loss. The line was closed in August 1987. (information from Victorian Heritage Database)This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.A black / white photograph of the farming flats at Orbost during the construction of the East Gippsland railway.orbost-railway east-gippsland-railway viaduct-orbost transport railway

These photographs are from the Snowy River Mail newspaper, September 9, 1987. Ron Hayward's family ran a shop in Rupert Street, Orbost.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. The closure of the line was a significant event in Orbost's history.Five black / white photographs related to closure of the Orbost - Bairnsdale Railway Line.3104.1 - on back - "A view from Grandview, Newmerella, of the last train to leave Orbost on Friday August 21, 1987. As the afternoon sun lengthens the shadows on the Snowy River flats, the sun also sets on an era in Far East Gippsland transport as the last train crosses the viaduct." 3104,2 - 0n back - "Ron Hayward passes over the staff during the last crew changeover for the last train to run on the Orbost line. Ron Haywood (L) who 39 years and 6 months ago drove the first diesel loco to Orbost (T366T) presents the last staff to the driver, Bill Buckley, who took the last diesel out." 3104.3 - on back -" as above - 2nd paragraph only 3104.4 - on back - " Ron Hayward who took the first diesel engine from Bairnsdale to Orbost on February 21. 1957 when he was stationed at Orbosst. Last Friday he rode on the last diesel to Orbost after obtaining a special pass from V Line , he also handed over the staff for the last change at Orbost. The last driver was Bill Buckley." 3104.5 - on back - "LAST TRAIN ROLLS INTO ORBOST B/A Friday August 28 1987 For Ron Hayward the last train journey on the Orbost rail line was a sad occasion. Mr Hayward took the first diesel engine from Bairnsdale to Orbost on February 21, 1957, whe he was stationed at Orbost. Last Friday he rode on the last diesel too Orbost after obtaining a special pass from V-Line. He also handed over the staff for the last change at Orbost. The last driver was Bill Buckley. Mr Hayward was an engine driver with nhe railways and transferred to Orbost when steam engines used the line. He left the railways in in 1957 but took up a job with them again in 1968. He said also it was a privilege to have been able to ride on the last train, the occasion was a sad one,"east-gippsland-railway railway-closure hayward-ron buckley-bill orbost-bairnsdale-railway

These photographs are of the final train to leave Orbost railway Station on August 21 1987 signalling the closure of the line. 3105.12 shows Locomotive T408 and on the side is written "LAST TRAIN EX ORBOST 24.8.87". These photographs are associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. The closure of the line was a significant event in Orbost's history.Fifteen black / white photographs of the last train to leave Orbost Railway station.3105.1 - on back - "Last Train leaving Orbost Railway Station on Friday August 21. 1987. SRM August 26 1987 Last train from Orbost, Friday last saw the end of an era when the last freight train to pull out of Orbost Station at about 4.co pm. A symbolic wave from engineer, Bill Buckley, was the only ceremony to mark the passing of rail transport for East Gippsland." 3105.2 - on back - " Last train prepares to leave from Orbost on August 21, 1987." 3105.3 - on back - " The Orbost railhead following the departure of the last train on Friday August 21, 1987. Shows spectators who farewelled the last train." 3105.4 - on back - "From Grandview, Newmerella, shows the last train from Orbost crossing the timber Trestle (sic) viaduct across the Snowy River flats on Friday August 21, 1987" 3105.5 - on back - " A pair of Series 3 "T" Class Diesel Electric locomotives which were used to haul the final train from the Orbost Rail Head on Friday, August 21, 1987. Goods shed on right" 3105.6 - on back - " VFTY Timber Wagons at the Orbost Railway Station. 30 of these large wagons were built for the timber traffic between Orbost and Melbourne. Part of last train to leave Orbost on August 1, 1987." 3105.7 - on back - "The Fordson powered Rail Tractor which was used during shunting at the Orbost railway station, hooked up behind the second locomotive for its final journal from Orbost on Friday August 21, 1987." 3105.8 - on back - "Two Series 3 "T" Class Locomotives (Diesel Electric) were used to haul the final train from Orbost - T408 and T347, T408 was the leading locomotive. Orbost Goods Shed is on the left. Last train left on Friday August 27, 1987." 3105.9 - on back - " 3 "T" Class Diesel Electric locomotives often used in pairs to haul the timber trains out of Orbost. This locomotive was used to lead (haul) the final train from Orbost on Friday August 21, 1987" 3105.10 - on back - "The Gantry at the Orbost Railway Yards - capacity 10 tons. The last wagons before being hooked up to the locos for their last trip out of Orbost on Friday August 21, 1987" 3105.11 - on back - " Station Masters Office and Goods Shed at Orbost Railway Station. The two Series 3 "T" Class Diesel Electric locomotives waiting to haul the final train from Orbost on Friday 21 1987" otrbost-bairnsdale-railway east-gippsland-railway orbosr-railway-closure

3151.1 is of a water tanker on stand by at Orbost ready for emergency use. Similar suppliers were at Bairnsdale and Nowa Nowa. The two tankers hels about 9,000 gallons (34068.7 litres) - from a news item in "Gippsland" September, 1971. 3151.2 is of Victoria's X class 1,800 H.P general purpose diesel electric locomotive. Si had been ordered for the Victorian Railways and cost about £ 250,000 each. 3151.3 is of several loaded, covered railway trucks on a rail line. 3151.4 was taken at the goods yard at Orbost Railway Station. 3151.5 has some rail wagons with "SHOWMOBILE COUNCIL OF ADULT EDUCATION" on the sides. 3151.6 is of goods wagons (Probably not at Orbost Station) 3151.7 is a goods train 3151.8 shows the loading or unloading of farm produce at Orbost railway Station. 3151.9 shows cattle being loaded at Orbost Railway Station. 3151.10 is of a container N.Y.K. LINE ( a Japanese shipping company) This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.Ten black / white photographs related to Orbost rail. orbost-railway east-gippsland-railway transport-railway railway-engine orbost-railway-station export-produce