The photograph overlooks former railway land along Vineyard Road which is now a commercial and light industrial estate. It was taken before curbing and footpaths were laid and Vineyard Road was narrow strip of asphalt with the sides of the road unmade.A black and white photograph of Vineyard Road with the Sunbury Railway line visible across the middle distance and the former Sunbury Asylum site in the background.vineyard road, sunbury asylum, sunbury railway line, george evans collection

'A LONG TIME AGO: THE HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE TO BENDIGO LINE' Bi-fold publication. A schematic 'strip' map of the line with particular places (approx 40) marked on the route with short descriptions of these sites. Concise description of the construction of the line; a summary of present attractions for the visitor to Bendigo and V/Line information.Walker Printing Bendigorailways, bendigo to melbourne, brochure, barkers creek , harcourt, elphinstone tunnel, malsmbury, malmsbury viaduct, kyneton, carlsruhe, hanging rock, woodend, mount macedon, riddells creek, clarkefield hotel, rupertswood, sunbury, diggers rest, sydenham, st albans, spencer street. v/line.

Railways collection -photo of a sketch of 'Jackson Creek Viaduct Opening (Courtesy ARHS Vic Division Inc.)'. The Jackson Creek Viaduct is a bridge about 24 miles from Melbourne and is 80 feet high being constructed of Footscray Bluestone piers and abutments and wrought iron girders. The girders were made in England and delivered to the colony by the time the the piers were ready to receive them. The laying of the foundation stone of this viaduct marked the opening of the line to Sunbury on 13 January 1859.photo, 'jackson creek viaduct

Newspaper cuttings (Argus,8 July 1861) re Murray River Railway. enclosed in a buff envelope 'The Australasian T.& G. Mutual Life, Assurance Society Ltd.letterhead on exterior. a. 'Progress of the works' 2/7/1861; b. 'Opening of the line to Woodend' 8/7/1861; c. Paragraph on first official train trip to Woodend (Argus? 7/1861) Connection to Watson family possibly through mention of Mr. G.W. Knight, the district engineer of the Sunbury section of the railway.person, individual, basil watson

Double Headed Rail from Ravenswood Station Siding which was dismantled circa 1987 the two rails were stored for a time at Maldon before being donated to Puffing Billy Museum Bearing makers marks of Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, England from 1872 - 1883 Double-headed rail In late 1830s Britain, railway lines had a vast range of different patterns. One of the earliest lines to use double-headed rail was the London and Birmingham Railway, which had offered a prize for the best design. This rail was supported by chairs and the head and foot of the rail had the same profile. The supposed advantage was that, when the head became worn, the rail could be turned over and re-used. In practice, this form of recycling was not very successful as the chair caused dents in the lower surface, and double-headed rail evolved into bullhead rail in which the head was more substantial than the foot. Info from Wikipedia - Rail Profile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile The first records of double headed rail being used In Victoria by Victorian Railways was in 1859, the rails, chairs, oak and trenails were imported from UK. After the 1870’s the Victorian Railways went over to using flat bottom rails, but they still needed replacement double headed rail for lines already laid and this continued up to at least 1883 Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield England from 1872 - 1883 Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway The Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company received parliamentary assent in February 1853 to build Victoria's first inland railway from Melbourne to Williamstown, and Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca. Construction commenced in January 1854 with work on a pier at Williamstown but lack of funds slowed progress, eventually prompting the company to sell out to the government. The 100-mile (162 km) section to Bendigo opened in October 1862. Its cost of £35,000 per mile made it the most expensive railway ever built in Australia. In 1864, the line was extended to Echuca, tapping into the booming Murray-Darling paddlesteamer trade. info from Museums Victoria - Victorian Railways https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=450&gall=456 1863 Ravenswood Station open on the 1st Feb 1863 Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Ravenswood Siding When the Victorian Railways were established in 1856 they adopted one of the popular British permanent way standards - heavy 80lb (36.3kg) double-headed rail held up right in cast iron chairs attached to transverse timber sleepers by wooden pegs called trenails. The Ravenswood Railway siding was constructed in 1862 with 12 feet wrought iron double-head rail held in cast iron chairs with Ransom and May patent compressed keys. Trenails held the chairs to the sleepers and the joints were secured in joint chairs. Joints were subsequently joined using fish plates. It formed part of the Melbourne to Echuca rail line, initially known as the Melbourne, Mt Alexander and Murray River Railway. George Christian Derbyshire, the first Engineer-in-Chair of the Victorian Railways was responsible for the design and construction of the works. No new lines were built in Victoria using double-headed rail after 1870. The siding was disconnected from the main line in 1988. The Ravenswood Railway Siding demonstrates the original 1856 philosophy of the Victorian Railways to adopt British permanent way technology. The siding demonstrates significant aspects in the development of permanent way technology in England and Victoria over the period from the 1830's to the 1880's. The chairs in the Ravenswood siding are physical evidence of early railway technology rendered obsolete 120 years ago, namely joint chairs at rail joints and trenails to secure the chairs to the sleepers. The double-headed rail demonstrates an important stage in the evolution of British rail technology in the 1830s. The old fish plates, square headed bolts and square nuts demonstrate the success of fishing the rail joins. The Ravenswood siding demonstrates the earliest form of rail joint technology developed in England, and existing in Australia, the joint chair. In part of the siding the sequence of joint and intermediate chairs is consistent with the 1856 specifications, that sequence is rare with the joints secured in joint chairs. The survival of chairs in this sequence is rare and almost certainly demonstrates that they remained in continuous use at the same location from 1862 to 1988. This remnant of the Ravenswood siding has survived 126 years. The siding has proved to be the most significant of extant remnant double-headed sidings in Victoria, containing a rare combination of early permanent way technologies. Construction dates 1862, Info from Ravenswood Railway Siding Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/4693/download-report The remaining section of this siding is significant at the State and National levels in that it demonstrates the use of chaired rail by the Victorian Railways Department for the Trunk Lines and, more particularly, the following stages in the evolution of this long obsolete method of permanent way construction: a) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs at regular intervals inferring that the original wrought iron rail lengths were 12 feet, as is known through documentary sources to have been the case. The survival of chairs in this sequence is unique and almost certainly demonstrates that they have remained in continuous use at the same location and in the same sequence from 1862 to 1988 . b) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs designed for use with trenails. c) The use of later intermediate chairs designed for use with steel pins and the use of fished joints with steel double head chaired rail, representing a second method of constructing the permanent way using chaired rail technology. info from Ravenswood Siding - Melbourne/Echuca Railway Line - Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/70103/download-report Addition to Citation for Melbourne to EchucaRailway Line 1/10/1990 Double Head Rail The surviving lengths of double head rail with chairs on this railway compare with one surviving similar remnant on the Geelong to Ballarat railway and are representative of permanent way construction techniques applied exclusively to the two trunk railways of the 1860's. In this respect they are rare survivors and may be unique at the national level and of technical importance at the international level to the extent that they enhance contemporary understanding of early railway building technology. Surviving lengths of chaired double head rail survive at Kyneton, Ravenswood and Bendigo on this railway and include a number of different types of cast iron intermediate and joint chairs with hardwood keys and metal pins. The Ravenswood siding is of special significance for the diversity of chair types and for the sequence of chairs recalling rail lengths known to be associated with construction of the line in 1862. Construction of the Railway Tenders closed on 24 March 1858 with no less than 133 tenders being received. A contract was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937 to commence work on 1 June 1858 and complete the line by 31 July 1861. Cornish and Bruce made quick early progress with the Melbourne to Sunbury section being officially opened on 13 January 1859. The line was officially opened to Bendigo (Sandhurst) on 20 October 1862 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly. A great banquet was held for 800 guests and this was followed by a grand ball. The extension of the line to Echuca was a relatively simple matter as that part of the line was across plain country without any significant engineering challenges. Tenders were called for the work in 1863 and the work was completed in 1864 by contractors Collier and Barry Apart from the line contractors, other firms directly involved were J Shire law and Co (sleepers), R Fulton, Langlands Brothers and Co, William Crossley (water supply), B Moreland, Langlands Brothers and Co (platelayers lorries), E Chambers (iron pins, traversers), Miller and McQuinstan (luggage vans and steam engines) and various contractors for building works. Info from Engineers Australia Engineering Heritage Victoria Nomination for Recognition under the Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Program for the Goldfields Railways - Melbourne , Bendigo & Echuca Railway Page 25 - .2.9.2 Statement from National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Listing number B5323 for Mt Alexander/Murray Valley Rail Line: Page 69 - Theme 3 https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/Melbourne_%20Bendigo_Echuca%20Railway%20Nomination.pdf The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. It was established on 8 February 1853 to build a railway from Melbourne to Echuca on the Victorian-NSW border and a branch railway to Williamstown. The company struggled to make any progress and on 23 May 1856, the colonial Government took over the Company and it became part of the newly established Department of Railways, part of the Board of Land and Works. The Department of Railways became Victorian Railways in 1859. Construction of the Bendigo line commenced in 1858, but this private consortium also met with financial difficulties when it was unable to raise sufficient funds, and was bought out by the Victorian colonial government. The design work was then taken over by Captain Andrew Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General of Victoria, with bridge designs completed by Bryson and O'Hara The contract for the first stage of the line from Footscray to Sandhurst (now Bendigo), was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937.2s.2d ($6.714 million) with work commencing on 1 June 1858. Completion of the permanent way was to be by 31 July 1861 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Mount_Alexander_and_Murray_River_Railway_Company Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Victorian Railways : report of the Board of Land and Works November 1862 GP V 1862/63 no. 21 (2.8 MB) https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1862-63No21.pdfHistoric - Victorian Railways - Double Headed rail Ravenswood Railway Station and Siding Victorian Heritage Database Reports Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1100 Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1786 National Trust VHR H1100 Mount Alexander and Murray River Rail way Line National Trust2 rail lengths of Double Headed Rail made of Iron makers marks : Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel and 20 joint chairs with metal rail pins Makers mark Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel (possible date 187? very hard to read ) puffing billy, double headed rail, wilson & cammell - dronfield - steel works, ravenswood station siding, melbourne to echuca rail line, initially known as the melbourne, mt alexander and murray river railway.

This image is of the Viaduct at Rupertswood across the Jacksons CreekA black and white photo of the viaduct at Rupertswood across the Jackson's Creek with several gum trees in the foreground. There are electric power lines along the railway line.rupertswood, jackson's creek, railways, bridges, george evans collection

A photo of Old Calder Highway in Diggers Rest with houses on one side and a manmade waterhole on the other side beside the railway line. The railway crossing can be seen in the background next to the railway station.A colour photograph of a waterhole on the side of the road and beside a railway line. It is unmounted.old calder highway, diggers rest, diggers rest railway station, railways, george evans collection

The photograph is one of a series of 6 which feature the Sunbury Railway Station complex. The complex includes photographs of the railway station with the wooden pedestrian bridge which has been demolished and two photographs of the water towers. The photographs were taken before the railway land on the west side of the line was developed to make way for a supermarket complex in 2000.A view of the brick and iron water tower which is sited on the Bendigo side of the Sunbury Railway Station. The brick structure at the base has 3 arched recesses across the front and two at the side. Two of the railway buildings are visible on either side of the tower.sunbury railway station, water towers, footbridges, bridges, railways, george evans collection

Two viaduct bridges were constructed across the Jacksons Creek valley at Rupertswood on the Bendigo rail line to bring the trains down the steep incline into Sunbury station.A photograph of the railway viaduct bridge showing one end of the span and 4 of the pylons. This bridge crosses the Jackson's Creek near one of the waterfalls which have been constructed in the creek. A large tree trunk is in the foreground of the photograph.rupertswood, clarke, william (sir), rupert (sir), michael (sir), victorian railways, salesian college, railways, bridges, jacksons creek, sunbury railway station, sunbury, george evans collection

The photograph was taken after Coles Supermarket and Sunbury Shopping Square were constructed on the railway land on the east side of the line in 1989, but before the Safeway-Woolworths complex was built in 2000 on the west side of the railway line. The open land on the west side of the line was used by rail communters as a car park.A coloured photograph showing part of the T intersection at Cornish and Horne Streets. A large pine tree is growing at the corner immediately in front of a pedestrian crossing. The railway car park, metal water tower and Coles Supermarket are in the background. A boy is walking along the footpath.cornish street, horne street, water towers, coles supermarket, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

The series of five photographs feature various stages of the demolition of a double fronted brick Victorian cottage which was on the east side of Evans Street opposite the railway line and local football ground. A KFC complex now occupies the site.A coloured photograph in landscape format showing a double fronted Victorian brick cottage undergoing demolition. The slates on the roof have been removed. The front and side walls are intact. Some rubble is on the ground in front of the verandah.victorian cottages, house demolitions, evans street, george evans collection

The five span masonry arch bridge over Blind Creek was one of the major constructions on the Melbourne to Echuca Railway. It was one of the first masonry rail bridges built in Victoria. Construction began in 1859 when the railway was extended from Sunbury and was designed by G C Darbyshire.A coloured photograph of the 5 arched bluestone rail bridge showing the grassy embankments on each side of the bridge and the creek flat at the base of the bridge. Some tree tops are visible on the other side of the bridge.bridges, transport, rail transport, darbyshire, g. c., blind creek, v line, george evans collection

The five span masonry arch bridge over Blind Creek was one of the major constructions on the Melbourne to Echuca Railway. It was one of the first masonry rail bridges built in Victoria. Construction began in 1859 when the railway was extended from Sunbury and was designed by G C Darbyshire.A coloured photograph of the 5 arched bluestone rail bridge over Blind Creek with the embankments on either side and the tower of Rupertswood Mansion in the distance. A VLine diesel engine along with 3 goods carriages and a passenger carriage is on the bridge.bridges, transport, rail transport, darbyshire, g. c., blind creek, v line, george evans collection

The bridge constructed from bluestone, brick and iron over the Jacksons Creek at Sunbury is an important structure on the Melbourne-Echuca rail line. The foundation stone for the bridge was laid on 13 January 1859 and the bridge opened in July 1861. It is of state significance.A coloured photograph of the bluestone and iron railway bridge which is ove the Jacksons Creek. The bridge has 3 bluestone pylons and three iron pylons with 3 sections of the iron spans visible across the top.transport, bridges, rail transport, darbyshire, g. c., jacksons creek, george evans collection

Canon Gully is situated about 2 km upstream from the railway bridge at Rupertswood. In 1864 it was the site for the military encampment of the Victorian Volunteer Forces. William Clarke allowed the military to stage the annual event on his property. Further encampments were held on this site in 1874 and 1877.A coloured photograph of a wide valley with cleared hills in the background. The tree lined creek or watercourse is across the middle distance of the image.canon gully, rupertswood estate, encampments, clarke, william j. t. 'big bull', victorian volunteer forces, george evans collection

The railway land between Horne Street and the railway line was developed for commercial and industrial purposes during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The former Shire of Bulla developed much of this area and leased the space to private companies.A coloured photograph with rounded corners of 4 brick factory units. There is a large digger on the RHS. The area in front of the units has been paved but the remaining area is unsealed.factories, industrial estates, shire of bulla, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at the Sunbury Station in 2005. The upgrade took twelve months to complete and during this time bus services replaced the trains for commuters along Bendigo line.A coloured photograph of the construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The old railway lines have been removed and the bluestone road over rail bridge can be seen with excavation equipment in front of it. Concrete sleepers which replaced the old sleepers are on the LHS of the photograph.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, bluestone bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. The upgrade of the line took over twelve months to complete and bus services replaced the train service during that time.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph has been taken from the Macedon Street bridge and is looking south towards Station Street. The old rail tracks have been removed and excavation work is in progress to make way for the new tracks. The new rail lines have been placed on the side of the track on the RHS of the photograph.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The rail track has been lowered and the station platform has been narrowed to accommodate the new trains. The former bluestone wall below the platform on the Melbourne side of the station has been replaced by reinforced concrete. The rail lines have been placed along the track on the RHS of the photograph.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. The upgrade of the line took twelve months to complete and during that time buses replaced the train services.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph shows the pedestrian bridge and the platform for the Bendigo trains before the bluestone wall was removed and the platform was narrowed.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. The upgrade took twelve months to complete and during that time bus services replaced the trains.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph was taken near the Station Street level crossing and is looking north towards the Sunbury Station. The new tracks have been put into place.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. For the twelve months when the upgrade of the line took place buses replaced the train services.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph was taken from the Macedon Street end of the station platform and shows the excavation taking place to allow for the placement of the new rail tracks.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. The upgrade took twelve months to complete and during that time bus services replaced the trains.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph has been taken from the Macedon Street bridge looking south towards the station and the pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks. On the tracks the old railway lines have been removed and storm water pipes are being put into position before the new lines are to be laid.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. The upgrade took twelve months to complete and during that time buses replaced the trains.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph was taken from the Bendigo platform and shows the concrete wall which replace the bluestone foundations on the Melbourne side of the station. A workman is on the platform working on the new surface.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

This photograph was taken during the upgrade of the Bendigo Railway line at Sunbury Station. The upgrade of the rail track took over twelve months to complete and during that time buses replaced the train services.A coloured photograph of construction on the site of the Sunbury Railway Station. The photograph has been taken from the end of the Melbourne platform and shows the various pieces of machinery, which included an excavator, a fork lift and trucks, that were used in the work on the line.railways, bendigo line, railway stations, bridges, sunbury railway station, george evans collection

Victorian Railways uniform jacket in navy blue woollen cloth. It has straight sleeves, a standing collar with brown piping and rounded fronts. There are two set- in pockets on the fronts and a breast pocket in the right front lining. The body is lined with a glazed black twill and the sleeves with cream cotton with a longitudinal brown pinstripe. The three pockets are lined with heavy tan twill. There are five metal buttons embossed with a crown and "VR". There is a black cotton tape loop inside the collar.In the breast pocket, in purple ink the initials "GL" or "GI". In the right sleeve lining, an unreadable stamp in purple ink. In the left sleeve lining, pencilled "XB 338" or "X13 338". Behind the buttons is engraved " Superior Quality - Silver Plated".costume, male uniform, civilian, george evans collection

The train smash occurred in Sunbury between the Station Street level rail crossing and Sunbury Station on February 6th 1952 at around 10pm. The goods train was being pulled by the green locomotive, which was used to take the Jubilee train throughout Victoria in 1951, to acknowledge 125 of European settlement in Victoria, ran into the back of another stationary goods train on the rail line. The guard, A.C Read, in the stationary goods train was killed. P J Mcwhirter, the guard in the other train was injured. The tree lined street in the background is Horne Street.This smash was one of a number that have happened along the Sunbury rail line and in the vicinity of Sunbury Station over the years.A black and white photograph with a white border of a train smash which wrecked a steam engine and carriages. Workmen are on the tracks surveying the wreckage. A rail crossing is in the background.jubilee train, train crashes, station street, sunbury railway station, a c read, p j mcwhirter