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Splitting a pine log into pegs for the survey of the Millewa North line. 1921. Photo: Mildura Historical Society Collection
Breaking ground with a horse drawn plow during construction of the first section from Redcliffs to Werrimull. Circa 1922. Photo: D.C. McKay Collection
Construction of the first section with horse teams working with monkey tail scoops. Photo: D.C. McKay Collection
Before construction could begin, the line of survey had to be cleared. There are many fine examples of huge roots found in the course of grubbing mallee scrub and this photograph records the type of effort and result confronting construction teams. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
The amazing mallee tree has the capacity to survive droughts and fire, but not the railway engineer's ability to remove it from the line of survey for a new railway line. This remarkable mallee root was, unfortunately, a casualty as well as a challenge for the men who used shovels, axes and horses to extract it from the ground. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
A horse team has the task of hauling this large mallee stump away from the path of progress. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Workmen unloading rails from Q wagons at Redcliffs for construction of the Redcliffs to Werrimull line. 1922. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
A closer view of the man muscle required to move the steel rails for the Werrimull line from the wagons to the rail stack. 1922. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Unloading rails from a QR wagon. The sleeper marks under the rails indicate that they have been recycled from another location. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
A locomotive propels QR wagons to enable workmen to discharge sleepers. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Plowing limestone for ballast at the 9 mile 40 chain ballast reserve. Note the ballast wagon in the left background. Photo: D.C. McKay Collection
Scooping up limestone for use as ballast. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Loading QN ballast wagons at one of the ballast sidings near Thurla. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Workmen placing sleepers onto the prepared formation. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
After placing out the sleepers, the rails are moved into position and set to gauge. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
The advancing railhead with a trolley loaded with sleepers and rails. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Another view of rails and sleepers on a trolley for the advancing railhead with a construction worker and his horse. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
This photograph is thought to be taken on the Manangatang line construction, however it is featured here to demonstrate the technique used for rail bending. The device is called a "Jim Crow". Another can be seen in the background. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Discharging ballast from QR wagons. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Packing sand and limestone ballast under sleepers under the supervision of a foreman. Today this task is done by rail-mounted machinery and the ballast is generally bluestone. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
A DD locomotive with a construction train on unballasted track at the rail head, possibly at Meringur. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Wagon I12739 appears to be loaded with prefabricated material for a portable building. Workmen pose with Engineer Wilf Henty (in white shirt) at Redcliffs. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
The interior of a 20 foot x 12 foot portable hut provided by the Victorian Railways at small localities or at construction camp sites for employees. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Construction camp at Merrinee. Circa 1922. Photo: D.C. McKay Collection
Construction gang near Werrimull. Circa 1923. Photo: Mildura Historical Society Collection
Engineer Wilf Henty on a "B type" motorised inspection trolley standing on the only bridge on the Redcliffs to Morkalla line, over a channel near Redcliffs. This is a self portrait by Henty, his camera bag sitting on the outrigger tray. Circa 1925. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
It thought that by the appearance of these construction workers, they are going home for Christmas, probably via Melbourne, to their families across Victoria. For example, Wilf Henty, the engineer/photographer would have been travelling home to Hamilton. Circa 1924. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Looking back in the opposite direction to the previous view. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
To have a car transported in a QR wagon on a construction train suggests that there is an important visitor from "head office" to inspect the new railway works. The date and locality is unknown. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Carting chaff with horse teams from the Melbourne Timber & Trading Co. store at Werrimull to a forward construction camp. Photo :D.C. McKay Collection
The point of divergence where the Morkalla line curves to the west away from the main line from Melbourne. In this 1967 view, the standard of the main line track can be observed. The light rails and ballast were replaced in 1972 by longer, heavier rail and bluestone ballast. Photo: Bruce McLean
A train load of materials for use by settlers in the Millewa is shown on the big curve at Redcliffs where the branch line to Morkalla diverged westward. Circa 1924. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
Firewood for the pumping station boilers from the Meringur line being unloaded at Redcliffs, circa 1925. Photo: Wilf Henty, courtesy John Kiely
A D1 Class locomotive stands at the head of a Morkalla-bound goods train at Redcliffs. 1933. Photo: Wal Larsen
T370 arriving at Redcliffs with a grain train off the Meringur branch line, a short distance from the junction with the main line. Photo: Chris. Wurr
There was one small bridge on the Morkalla line, crossing an irrigation channel at the edge of the Redcliffs settlement at 345 miles 41 chains 41 links. The bridge was in need of repair to the center piles on the left (down) side where a dip in the side timbers can be noted.20-1-1980. Photo: Bruce McLean
T370 on the Up side of Thurla. Note the condition of the track. Photo: Chris. Wurr
This scene shows the standard of the Redcliffs to Morkalla branch line in the section Redcliffs to Thurla. Note the light ballast consisting of sand, limestone and some engine ash. 1967. Photo: Bruce McLean
The QR wagon in the siding at Benetook has been used to bring steel sleepers for use on the branch line. 1967. Photo: Bruce McLean
N418 departs Pirlta with an up goods returning from Meringur on 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
T370 arriving at Pirlta with an Up grain train. Photo: Chris. Wurr
T370 with an Up grain train leaving Pirlta. Photo: Chris. Wurr
T370 departing Merrinee. Photo: Chris. Wurr
T329 heads towards Redcliffs over the undulating branch line during the peak of the 1973 grain season that produced high yields. A spell of wet weather gave the rail task a break and an opportunity to catch up with inwards receivals. Near Karawinna 15-12-1973. Photo: Don Turvey
Karawinna looking in the up direction from the down end of the siding. 21-12-1980. Photo: Bruce McLean
Werrimull township in 1939 as seen from the top of the silo then under construction. Photo: Courtesy Margaret Kelly
A high level platform trolley stands beside the Type "A" station building at Werrimull 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
N418 stands at the water tank at Werrimull to take water. 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
Wagons are loaded at Werrimull with district grain during the 1967 harvest. Photo: Sunraysia Daily
T389 departs Werrimull with a load of four-wheel GY wagons loaded with some of the district's grain harvest. August 1971. Photo: Bruce McLean
Yarrara store circa 1940's. Photo: J. Farmillo, courtesy Margaret Kelly.
A load of bagged wheat waiting at the Yarrara weighbridge. Note the trailer behind the truck. Photo: J. Farmillo, courtesy Margaret Kelly
N418 shunting at Yarrara. 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
Location boards are provided some distance before stations to alert train crews. The Meringur location board is showing the effects of the mallee weather extremes in this February 1969 view. Photo: Bruce McLean
Passengers joining a Mallee Holiday Train at Meringur, sponsored by the Country Women's Association. 1929. Photo: D. Tullo
Another view of passengers joining a CWA Mallee Holiday Train at Meringur. 1929. Photo: D. Tullo
Mrs. Mick O'Donnell and children assemble beside the Meringur station name board on their way to a Country Women's Association seaside holiday, Circa 1935. Photo: I. Harmer, courtesy Margaret Kelly
Meringur station building. The young man is pulling the signal lever to operate the up end home signal protecting Meringur. This was the only signal provided on the line after Werrimull closed in 1950 as a staff station for crossing trains. 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
Meringur station building in June 1974. This type of building was called a "Type A" station office by the Victorian Railways. "Type A" buildings were also located at Werrimull and Yelta. Photo: Bruce McLean
This view from the apex of the reversing triangle at Meringur shows N418 after it has set off on the up leg to the yard to attach to its train. The triangle was set in a natural belar forest and was served by a small coal stage. 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
N418 stands at the apex of the reversing triangle at Meringur on 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
The lead to the up side of the reversing triangle at Meringur in February 1969. The dog spikes holding the rails to the sleepers on the triangle have just been released as the first step in dismantling this feature of the steam era. Photo: Bruce McLean
Dismantling of the up side of the reversing triangle at Meringur was well advanced in February 1969. Photo: Bruce McLean
The apex of the reversing triangle at Meringur has been removed. Dismantling of the down side of the triangle has yet to commence. February 1969. Photo: Bruce McLean
Guard's van 639Z was allocated for use exclusively on the Morkalla line. The van was fitted with bunks for crews to sleep in on overnight rest jobs on the line. 639Z is shown at Meringur on 4-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett
N112 at the head of the first train of wheat to depart Karween in early 1931. Driver G. Johnston is shown standing on the footplate. Photo: Courtesy Margaret Kelly
Overgrown track at the 395 mile post looking in the up direction between Karween and Meringur. This section of the line did not see any rail traffic after traffic was withdrawn on 2-6-1959. This view was taken 20 years later in May 1959. Photo: Bruce McLean
D3 type steam locomotive at Morkalla. There are claims that this was the first train to Morkalla, however there are also claims that N112 was the first train to Karween and Morkalla. 1931. Photo: Courtesy Margaret Kelly
Morkalla station in 1955 showing the huts used as rest barracks by train crews and the standard mallee type shed. Photo: Des Jowett
N411 and louvre van near the baulk at the end of the line at Morkalla. At 403 miles, 8 chains and 57 links, this was the longest distance from Melbourne in Victoria. 2-1-1956. Photo: Des Jowett
Down end of Morkalla station yard showing the stockyards on the left. Note the hand locking bar between the rails. This bar, in conjunction with a padlock, was used to secure the points from being changed without authority. Photo: Bruce McLean
The track gang have their "Casey" trolley right on the baulk at the end of the Morkalla branch line. July 1952. Photo: J. Charnock
N414 stands at Morkalla after arriving with a goods train. 22-4-1957. Photo: Doug McLean
A closer look at the baulk protecting the end of the line. Morkalla 22-4-1957. Photo: Doug McLean
Looking towards the end of the line at Morkalla. 22-4-1957. Photo: Doug McLean
Train crew at 403 Mile post, Morkalla. From left, Guard R. Bode, Driver L. Zarth and Fireman D. Richards. Locomotive is N405. 19-5-1958. Photo: Tom Murray, Dan Richards Collection
N405 departing Morkalla with an Up goods about to pass the Location Board and 402½ mile post. 19-5-1958. Photo: Tom Murray, Dan Richards Collection
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