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Mildura - R.M. Anderson Saw Mills Pty. Ltd Siding

Siding opened: 3-3-45

Siding closed: By 26-7-1972

Distance from Melbourne: 350 miles 70 chains

In February 1922, permission was granted for trucks of wheat to be placed on the main line about three quarters of a mile on the up side of Mildura alongside the new Sunraysia Flour Mills building.

Instructions dated 30-5-1933 for leaving vehicles on the mainline, stated that one wheel of the first truck on the Irymple side was to be chained to the rail and the hand brake on each wagon fully applied before the engine was detached. The 1936 General Appendix had the following special instructions:

1. The trucks will be placed and cleared by the Mildura yard pilot during clear daylight only, and at a time suitable to this department, and when there is ample time between trains for the work to be completed.

2. Authority is granted to push the trucks from Mildura to a point opposite the Mill, subject to the instructions contained in Regulation 201, being observed. After the trucks have been placed the engine will return to Mildura, but before the engine is detached, the Shunter in charge of the movement, and the Driver, must see that the handbrake on each vehicle is fully employed, and that one wheel of the first truck on the Irymple side is chained to the rail by means of a chain and padlock. The chain and padlock, when not in use, must be kept in a suitable place at Mildura.

3. When placing and clearing the trucks, the Driver must be in the possession of the Electric Staff for the section Irymple - Mildura. On return of the engine to Mildura, after each placing of the trucks, the Staff must be taken possession of by the Stationmaster, who must lock it in the office safe until the engine is returning to clear the trucks, when he must personally hand the Staff to the Driver and to remind the latter as to the position of the vehicles.

4. The Driver of the engine, or Shunter, who will clear the trucks, must be the same Driver or Shunter who placed them.

5. On each occasion the trucks are placed on the Main Line in accordance with these instructions, a record as to the time of placing, also when the trucks were cleared, and the number of vehicles handled, must be entered across the figure line of the Train Register Book. In the event of the employee in charge of signalling being relieved before the truck (or trucks) is returned to the siding at Mildura, the employee coming on duty must be informed of the circumstances and, before taking over the duties of signalling, must initial the entry in the Train Register Book and insert the time.

In December 1939 it was reported that up to 12 trucks a day of Millewa wheat was being received. A large quantity of export wheat was on hand by the war-time shipping difficulties were preventing export.

Two conveyers were installed 172 feet on the up side of the Seventh Street railway crossing on 6 May 1942. They were disposed of in 1948.

In practice, trucks were placed in the morning and were required to be cleared in time for the passage of the midday "switch" - a timetabled transfer and shunting goods train to Irymple and Red Cliffs. These special regulations were in force until an application to construct a railway siding across Lemon Avenue into the mill was approved by the Mildura City Council on 10-2-1944. The siding was opened on 13-3-1945. The points faced down trains and were secured by a staff lock.

The mill was disposed of to R.M. Anderson Saw Mills Pty. Ltd., the transfer of the VR lease being effective from 1-8-1948.

On 24-3-1952, fire completely destroyed the milling section and seven trucks had to be pushed by hand from the burning building.

The siding saw little use in its latter years and the opportunity was taken to remove the points when the mainline was re-laid in July 1972.

The points leading to R.M. Anderson Saw Mills siding at Mildura were removed by 26-7-1972 in conjunction with preparation works for relaying of the mainline with heavier rail and blue stone ballast. Photo: Bruce McLean

The former Sunraysia Flour Mills building is still in use as an automotive repair business. The siding serving the mill passed next to the post at the left of the picture and entered the building through the large doorway. The post remains from the cattle pit protecting the siding. The rails are still in the ground from this point and extend into the building, however they have been covered up with a tarred surface. 9-2-2003. Photo: Bruce McLean