The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community. S Class Locomotives - The eighteen members of the S Class were ordered in two batches by the Victorian Railways from Clyde Engineering for express passenger and freight workings, with the final eight locomotives ordered specifically to work the North-East standard gauge line. Many were named after prominent Victorians.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.The first standard gauge passenger train from Sydney to Melbourne pulled by Locomotive S314. This was made possible when part of Australia's gauge problem was solved with the construction of a new standard gauge line. The new line was a 317 km long line running from Albury, NSW, parallel to the existing broad gauge line to Melbourne, connecting Australia's two largest cities by standard gauge. S314 entered service on 24 April 1961 and was named after Sir John O'Shannassy who was the second Premier of Victoria. The S314 pulled the first passenger train to travel straight through from Sydney to Melbourne on 13 April 1962. On the morning of 7th February 1969, the southbound Southern Aurora collided head-on with a northbound goods train near Violet Town, Victoria. The Locomotive S314 was hauling the goods train and was destroyed by the impact of the collision. On front of locomotive "S314" On banner below Coat of Arms "FIRST STANDARD GAUGE PASSENGER TRAIN / SYDNEY - MELBOURNE/ APRIL 13 - 1962"railways wodonga, fred rochow, walker rail motor vehicles, wodonga to tallangatta rail service

Originally transport between Australia's eastern and western capitals was by coastal steamer. Rail links were by way of Melbourne and Adelaide as were most road links prior to 1970. Air travel became the most popular link until 1970 when this rail service became available.Inauguration of Sydney-Perth standard Gauge Passenger Services on 23 February 1970 was a major step in linking Australia's east and west coast by land.railways, train travel, isolation,

Ill, p.58.non-fictionSouvenir booklet on aspects of the opening of the Sydney to Melbourne standard gauge line in 1962railways - australia - history, railway gauge - australia

index, ill, maps, p.167.non-fictionThe history of the construction of the standard gauge railway from Sydney to Perthrailway construction - australia, railway construction - history

ill, maps, p.32.non-fictionA promotional booklet for the Inauguration of the 'Indian Pacific' passenger service between Perth Western Australia and Port Pirie South Australia in 1969.railway history - western australia, indian pacific passenger train - australia

ill, p.27.non-fictionA commemorative booklet for the inauguration of The Indian-Pacific passenger train from Sydney to Perth.railroad travel - australia, railroad passenger trains - australia

ill, maps, p.64.non-fictionA history of the standard gauge railway from Sydney to Perth finished in 1970.transcontinental railway - australia - history, railroad construction - australia - history

ill, maps, p.90.non-fictionA Guide to the Transcontinental Standard Gauge Railway for the special Western Endeavour train from Sydney to Perth to commemorate the opening of the standard gauge all the way through from 22-08 to 12-09-1970. Complete with maps and details of the route from Sydney to Perth.railroad passenger trains - australia, western endeavour special passenger train - australia

ill, maps, p.20.non-fictionA ceremonial brochure produced to mark the linking at Kalgoorlie of Western Australia's new standard gauge railway from Kwinana and Fremantle with the existing Trans Australian Railway to Port Pirie in South Australia 3-08-68railroad construction - western australia - history, transcontinental railway - australia - history

ill, maps, p.16.non-fictionA brochure of news clippings marking the inauguration of the new Western Australian standard gauge railway from Kwinana and Fremantle to Kalgoorlie to meet the existing Trans Australian Railway to Port Pirie in South Australia.railroad construction - western australia - history, transcontinental railway - australia - history

ill, maps, p.126.non-fictionA draft environmental impact statement for the building of the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway in December 1982.railroad construction - australia - history, transcontinental railway - australia - history

ill, p.46.non-fictionA guide to the standard gauge steam railways in the United Kingdom. No.11 in a series on railway preservation.preserved locomotives - great britain, railroad preservation - great britain - history

The photograph shows VR tram 25 with uniformed tram crew standing on the ground beside the driver's cab entrance with the driver holding a hand rail. On the left is part of a chemist shop verandah and a picket fence. VR 25 originally operated on the broad gauge track from St Kilda Station to Brighton, then in 1919 was converted to standard gauge to operate on the Sandringham to Black Rock line. The location of this photograph is the Black Rock terminus.Yields information about VR tram 25Black and white photograph with notes on the rear.In biro on the rear "Melbourne K J Magor No. per K Train 1110 aBx"vr tram, tram 25, uniformed crew, picket fance, st kilda station, brighton, sandringham, balck rock, broad gauge, standard gauge, terminus

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community. S Class Diesel Locomotives The eighteen members of the S Class were ordered in two batches by the Victorian Railways from Clyde Engineering for express passenger and freight workings, with the final eight locomotives ordered specifically to work the North-East standard gauge line. Many were named after prominent Victorians. S315 entered service on 16 October 1961 and was named after Sir Charles Gavan Duffy who was an Irish poet and journalist, Young Irelander and tenant-rights activist. After emigrating to Australia in 1856 he entered the politics of Victoria on a platform of land reform, and in 1871-72 served as the colony's 8th Premier. The S315 pulled the first goods train to travel straight through from Sydney to Melbourne on 3 January 1962. The S315 was withdrawn from service on 22 August 1988 and scrapped in April 1992.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Harry Binder being congratulated by Commissioner Edgar Brownbill on the arrival of the first standard gauge goods train at North Dynon Terminal, The Fireman was John Wortmann.railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railway men, harry binder, s class locomotive

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport. “Albury Express” on broad gauge flanked by “Spirit of Progress” on standard gauge. This photo was presented to Mr. Quirk, to celebrate the Centenary Celebration of the Northeast Railway line from Melbourne to Wodonga, November 1873 to 1973. From your Station Master. S.E. Simpsonrailways wodonga, fred rochow, northeast line centenary

1833 Brown & Sharpe was founded in Providence, Rhode Island by David Brown and his son Joseph R. Brown. David Brown retired in 1841 and Joseph Brown formed a partnership with Lucian Sharpe in 1853. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Brown & Sharpe was one of the best-known and most influential machine tool builders and was a leading manufacturer of instruments for machinists (such as micrometers and indicators ) and helped establish: The American wire gauge (AWG) standards for wire; The Brown & Sharpe taper in machine tool spindle tapers; and The Brown & Sharpe worm threadform for worm gears. .Like most machine tool builders, Brown & Sharpe rode a business cycle roller coaster during 1920- 40. After being kept very busy during World War I, builders suffered a slump in the post–World War I recession and depression of 1920–21. The Roaring Twenties brought renewed sales, but then the Great Depression slashed them. The armament-build-up period of 1936 to 1940 again renewed machine tool activity, and then the World War II materiel effort exploded demand, pushing it to record heights and employed 11,000 workers. Brown and Sharpe machine tools were a mainstay of American metal manufacturing until the late 20th Century and could be found in most machine shops and factories that worked with metal. Brown and Sharpe made callipers and micrometers that were essential to products built to fine tolerances. Shortly after World War II, Henry D. Sharpe, Jr. succeeded his father as president of Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company, at which point it evolved into a new and modern company built, or at least designed, to last. The firm stopped producing its old stalwarts: sewing machines, hair clippers, and certain categories of machine tools and employment dropped to 3,500 in 1976. Due to industrial disputes in the 1980’s B&S started focusing more on developing Coordinate-Measuring Machines. The company began to lose money as it shifted production away from machine tools and toward advanced metrology equipment, losing $14.6 million in 1990 and employed only 700. In 1994 Brown & Sharpe acquired DEA of Italy, an established manufacturer of CMMs. In 2001, substantially all of the assets of the Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company, including the intellectual property, designs, trademarks, facilities and inventory, were acquired by Hexagon AB, Switzerland, without the acquisition of the Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company itself. A set of manual barbers’ hair clippers with an adjustable wing screw, from Brown and Sharpe, Manufacturing Company Ltd., Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Chrome plated, in fair condition, c1940on Right handle; MADE BY BROWN & SHARPE MFG. CO. POV. R.I. / PAT'D IN GREAT BRITAIN, EN FRANCE, S.G.D.G. / U.S.A. PATENTS JULY 1-79, JUNE 3-84, AUG 23- 92 on top blade ; BRESSANT / TRADEMARK on base of lower blade ; No. 2* barbers, hairdressers, hair clippers, brown and sharpe manufacturing company, providence rhode island, hexagon ab, switzerland, great britain, france, ww1 1914-1918, ww11 1939-1945, great depression 1930, micrometers, tools, precision instruments, brown david, brown joseph r , sharpe lucian, sharpe henry d jnr, american wire gauge standard, sewing machines, metrological tools, worm gears, spindle tapers, screw machines, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, city of moorabbin industries,

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Signal Box B was located on the south-east side of the High Street level crossing and controlled the High Street gates. A big wheel was used to operate the gates. The Signal Box B was demolished on May 10th, 1964, when the standard gauge line to Albury was completed. On front of building "WODONGA B"railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga signal box b

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it.drainage-channel earth-moving-machinery

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it. In the foreground is a man, dressed in a long dark coat, watching.agricultural-machinery drainage-channels ruston

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This machine is probably a drag line excavator.This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it.drainage-channel earth-moving-machinery

Newspaper clipping from an unknown Melbourne newspaper, dated 25-1-1983 about which union should operate the new Light Rail Vehicles that were on order. AFULE representative said they were a gimmick, Tramways Union spokesman said they operated on the road and that they were standard gauge. The Minister's spokesman noted it was unresolved.Yields information about a possible Union dispute or "turf war"Photocopy of a newspaper from a Melbourne newspaper 25-1-1983 about who should operate the new Light Rail Vehicles. trams, tramways, unions, light rail vehicles, lrv, disputes

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Driver George Lynch and Fireman David Brown at the controls of Locomotive R707. This parallel run took place between Wodonga and Wangaratta on 24 November 1973 with 3820 on the standard gauge and R707 double-headed with R761 on broad gauge. This occasion marked the Centenary of the opening of the North Eastern railway from Melbourne to Wodonga. Locomotive 3820 was a NSW Railways locomotive and is now a key exhibit at the Trainworks Museum, Thirlmere, NSW In circle on front of the locomotive on left "NORTH EAST CENTENARY/ WODONGA/ 1873-1973" On front of locomotive on left "R797. On front of locomotive on right "3820"railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga centenary locomotive, locomotive r707, locomotive 3820, north east line centenary

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Driver Ray Murphy and Fireman Bill Welsh in S-class Locomotive cab at Spencer Street Station, Melbourne. S Class Diesel Locomotives The eighteen members of the S Class were ordered in two batches by the Victorian Railways from Clyde Engineering for express passenger and freight workings, with the final eight locomotives ordered specifically to work the North-East standard gauge line. Many were named after prominent Victorians.railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railwaymen, ray murphy, bill welsh

Report or Technical document - 2 A4 sheets, titled "Motor bogies for low-floor tramcars - SF30-TF and SF3-MTF", bogies for the Siemens Combino trams. Has illustrations and technical details of the bogies. Dated at the base of the 2nd page 3/97. Details both standard gauge and metre gauge bogies. On the rear of the first sheet are printout of emails regarding corrections to the text of books by Randal Wilson and Dale Budd. (Not scanned)trams, tramways, bogies, siemens, combino

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.An S Class locomotive pulling a goods train into Wodonga in its last days before being scrapped. S Class Diesel Locomotives The eighteen members of the S Class were ordered in two batches by the Victorian Railways from Clyde Engineering for express passenger and freight workings, with the final eight locomotives ordered specifically to work the North-East standard gauge line. Many were named after prominent Victorians. They were introduced into service about 1957railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railwaymen, s class locomotive

A collection of 5 manuals for a range of Clyde Diesel Locomotives. The collection includes instructions for the Clyde G8B, G16C, G26C, 1800 HP Model A and the Clyde Mailiner Model 2. On the cover of each manual, the owner has written the letter for the name of class which the relevant locomotive was ascribed in Victoria. The Clyde Engineering Company Limited was registered on 30 September 1898 in New South Wales. It was one of the iconic Australian engineering firms whose history spanned just over a century and was one of the few locomotive and rolling stock builders in the world that transitioned from steam to diesel to electric traction. The company was formed by Walter Maplesden Noakes who purchased the works of Hudson Brothers Limited in the Sydney suburb of Granville, which had been established by in 1882. The manuals refer to the following locomotives:- Clyde Model G8B which operated in Victoria as the new T class locomotive. It was introduced in 1955 and was the most numerous class of diesel locomotive used in Victoria. This model continued in operation until 1968, although many were modified for continued service. Clyde Model G16C, later superseded by the G26C operated in Victoria as the X class locomotive between 1966 and 1976. Clyde Model 1800HP Model A became the S class locomotives in Victoria. Additional numbers were purchased in preparation for the opening of the standard gauge line between Melbourne and Albury, They entered service between 1957 and 1961. Clyde Mainline Model 2 became the B class in Victoria. The B class were the first mainline diesel-electric locomotives in Victoria entering service in June 1952. They were initially used on the main passenger and freight services, before moving out to other areas. They remained in service until the early 1990s.fiction This collection of Diesel Locomotive Manuals was published by the Clyde Engineeringclyde engineering, diesel locomotives, locomotives victoria

One man lost his life during the building of this bridge. The bridge was constructed by the Victorian Railways between 1927 to 1929 to carry a new double track goods line. This enabled trains from all parts of the state except Gippsland to have direct access to the Tottenham marshalling and sorting yards. These yards were constructed in the 1920's to relieve congestion in the Melbourne Yard near Spencer Street station. The congestion was being caused by the construction of suburban passenger platforms associated with the electrification of the suburban railway network. Initially the bridge was for goods trains but during the Second World War it was also used by troop trains. When the standard gauge line was built in 1962 all trains to Albury and Sydney have used this route, thus avoiding travelling through Essendon and Pascoe Vale on the suburban tracks. The standard gauge track across the bridge took the place of one of the broad gauge tracks so broad gauge trains crossing the bridge in either direction have to now use the same track. The bridge is 1,257 feet (383.13 metres) long and 180 feet (54.86 metres) above the water level. It is just 63 feet (19.2 metres) short of a quarter mile in length between abutments. There is a similar bridge on the same railway line crossing the Moonee Ponds Creek between Gowenbrae and Glenroy, however it is smaller at 1060 feet (323.08 metres) length and 115 feet (35.05) height.The bridge is now Victorian Heritage Registered under Number: H1197, and Heritage Overlay Numbers HO5, and HO107. On the Heritage Register it is named RAIL BRIDGE (ALBION VIADUCT). According to the Heritage Report the bridge is scientifically and architecturally important because of its large size, and because of the cost effective design features such as two girders per span (one for each track), the K bracing in the towers, and the broad flange beams as columns. When it was being built it was the largest trestle bridge in Australia, and until the Sydney Harbour bridge was constructed it was the highest railway bridge.449.01 - Maribyrnong railway bridge construction.jpg 449.02 - Maribyrnong railway bridge construction.jpg 449.03 - Maribyrnong railway bridge construction.jpg 449.04 - Maribyrnong railway bridge construction.jpg 449.05 - Maribyrnong railway bridge construction.jpgmaribyrnong river, bridge, quarter mile bridge, trestle bridge

Photograph of one of the three Victorian Railways "Luxury" cars that were sold to the MMTB following the closure of the final section of the St Kilda - Brighton tramway on 28-2-1959. The tramcar has been placed on No. 15 trucks to enable movement around the workshops. Two of the trams, No. 52 and 53 were modified with longer running boards, full driver's bulkheads to replace the blackout blinds, route number boxes, removal of the red oil lamps above the headlight, conversion to from Broad gauge (5'3") to standard gauge, changes to destination boxes, seating and many other changes. Reference Destination City, Edition 5, page 103.Yields information about the former VR "Luxury" trams sold to the MMTB in 1959.Black and white photograph of one of the three Victorian Railways Trams sold to the MMTB at Preston Workshops.tramways, mmtb, trams, victorian railways, st kilda brighton electric tramway, preston workshops, vr class

This Smithy is a replica of the building in which the first H. V. McKay harvester was built at Drummartin in northern Victoria in 1884. The original Smithy was moved from Drummartin to Sunshine Victoria where it remained for many years outside the H. V. McKay manufacturing plant. With the construction of the standard gauge railway line the road outside the Smithy was demolished, and the original Smithy was taken to the Melbourne Museum.The original Smithy is now in a fragile state and is no longer on public display at the Melbourne Museum. The site where the original Smithy stood in Sunshine was no longer available so the replica Smithy was erected a few hundred metres away, in the South East corner of Barclay Reserve on King Edward Ave, Albion 3020.The replica Smithy permits the public to view a full sized model of the building which eventually led to the formation of the H. V. McKay Sunshine Harvester Works. This firm grew to being considered the main manufacturing plant in the southern hemisphere, and also led to the local area being renamed in 1907 from Braybrook Junction to Sunshine.THE SUNSHINE HARVESTER WORKS 1884smithy, h. v. mckay, sunshine harvester works, drummartin, replica, massey harris, massey ferguson

This photograph documents the construction of the Jacana Underpass Tunnel, a landmark infrastructure project undertaken to allow Melbourne’s Western Ring Road to pass beneath a complex transport corridor. The corridor included Pascoe Vale Road, Electric Street, and four active railway lines—two broad gauge, one standard gauge, and one commuter line—making traditional tunneling or bridging methods impractical. The tunnel was constructed using a pioneering hydraulic jacking technique, where precast concrete tunnel segments, each weighing approximately 1200 tonnes, were pushed into place through pilot tunnels. This method minimised disruption to the busy transport corridor above, which carried tens of thousands of vehicles and multiple rail services daily. The Jacana Underpass Tunnel was constructed between 1992 and 1993 as part of Melbourne’s Western Ring Road project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving traffic flow and connectivity across the city’s northern suburbs. The underpass was designed to carry the freeway beneath a complex transport corridor that included Pascoe Vale Road, Electric Street, and four active railway lines—two broad gauge, one standard gauge, and one commuter line. Due to the shallow depth of cover—less than one metre in some areas—and the need to maintain uninterrupted road and rail services above, engineers employed an innovative hydraulic jacking technique. This involved pushing precast concrete tunnel segments, each weighing approximately 1200 tonnes, through pilot tunnels using hydraulic rams. The method was one of the largest of its kind in Australia at the time and allowed for the safe and efficient installation of the tunnel without open excavation. The photograph captures a key stage in the construction process, showing the dual tunnel portals, heavy machinery, and construction materials on site. It reflects the scale, complexity, and ingenuity of late 20th-century civil engineering in Victoria and provides valuable insight into the evolution of Melbourne’s transport infrastructure.This photograph documents a pivotal moment in the construction of the Jacana Underpass Tunnel, part of Melbourne’s Western Ring Road infrastructure project undertaken in the early 1990s. The image features two tunnel entrances under construction, surrounded by heavy machinery, construction materials, and temporary fencing, with a dirt access road leading into the site. The Jacana Underpass was constructed using a hydraulic jacking technique, a method that allowed large precast concrete tunnel segments—each weighing approximately 1200 tonnes—to be installed beneath a live transport corridor without disrupting traffic or rail services. This innovative approach was one of the largest of its kind in Australia and addressed significant engineering challenges, including shallow cover and complex geological conditions. The photograph is significant for its documentation of advanced civil engineering practices and the transformation of Melbourne’s northern suburbs through major infrastructure development. It provides insight into the construction techniques, site logistics, and material use typical of large-scale tunneling projects in the late 20th century. As part of an archival collection, this image contributes to the historical record of urban growth, transport planning, and engineering innovation in Victoria. It holds enduring value for researchers, historians, and infrastructure professionals studying the evolution of public works in the state.Colour photo. Construction Site. Jacana underpass tunnel.(Back - blue pen) 'Underpass/Jacana'underpass, jacana, construction, 1990's, jacana underpass tunnel, western ring road