Ouyen to South Australian Border

The line from Ouyen to Murrayville was constructed by 1916 with varying rail weight and class types. Ouyen to 297 miles (between Tiega and Galah) was 60 pounds C type; 60 pounds D type to 341 miles (between Tutye and Cowangie); 66 pounds E and F types to 352 miles (between Danyo and Murrayville): 60 pounds D type to Murrayville; Construction from Murrayville to the border at 369 miles 28 chains 90 links in 1915 used 60 pounds A type steel rails. With the exception of the A type rails of 30 feet length, all other types were 22 feet 6 inches in length with nine 8 foot 6 inch x 9 inch x 4 1/2 inch sleepers. Twelve sleepers were placed under 30 foot rail lengths.

Ash and limestone ballast 4 inches deep was used throughout.

Gravel ballast was obtained from the old Australasian mine at North Creswick when sections of the line were ballasted during 1939.

Work commenced in 1974 relaying Ouyen - Pinnaroo line. The line speed for trains was reduced to 15 miles per hour and locomotives were restricted to "T" Class or lighter.

In October 1974, fifteen workmen's sleeping and support vehicles were moved from Ouyen to Underbool. Track relaying was proceeding between Torrita and Underbool at the time.

A Walker rail car was provided for Way and Works branch employees working on the relaying. On 27-3-1975 the 1 p.m. Underbool to Ouyen rail car was the last service to run, however on 30-5-1975, another rail car was scheduled to transfer from Inglewood to Ouyen. By the end of June 1975 work relaying was taking place between Linga and Boinka. The line speed was raised between Ouyen and Underbool from 15 m.p.h. (25 km/h) to 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and GJF/GJX grain hopper wagons could be fully loaded to 58 tonnes (previously restricted to 45 tonnes).

The Matisa track recording machine was scheduled to check the line from Donald to Ouyen (recording) on 17-2-1976, Ouyen to Mildura (recording), Mildura to Ouyen on 18-2-1976, Ouyen to Underbool (recording), Underbool to Ouyen, Ouyen to Donald on 19-2-1976.

Relaying the track with 80 pound welded rail proceeded throughout 1976 with the line speed being lifted to 35 miles per hour as work progressed. The line speed from Ouyen to the South Australian border was 35 miles per hour from 5-4-1977.

In late 1977, the Victorian Railways station-to-station telephone service was replaced by telephones connected to the Telecom Australia public telephone network. Stations provided with Public Telephone connections were: Galah, Walpeup, Torrita, Underbool, Linga, Tutye, Cowangie and Panitya

In August 1985 a 45 member tie renewal gang completed the replacement of 36,000 sleepers between Ouyen and the S.A. border. Tenders were called for the transporting of their track machines from Panitya station yard to Speed station yard on 3-8-1985. Six semi-trailers and a crane for loading and unloading the machines was a requirement of the tender. They would then commence resleepering between Speed and St. Arnaud. A 12 member gang with a ballast regulator machine for lifting and tamping the track and ballast at the rate of 4 to 5 kilometers a day. Resurfacing of the line was completed by October 1985.

The Ouyen-based gang then moved to undertake similar work between Ouyen and Birchip.

Sleeper discharge containers loaded with new sleepers standing at Ouyen. 16-1-1984. 36,000 sleepers were used on the Ouyen to South Australian Border line. Photo: Bruce McLean

Industrial action was taken by Ouyen-based railwaymen who were members of the Australian Railways Union. In mid-December 1985, they imposed bans on work involving sleepers and plant trains after senior staff ordered the movement of sleepers and plant to Donald from Ouyen during a one-day railway strike in November 1985. The bans were lifted on 12-12-1985.

Article from V/Line Update 28-3-1984. Source: State Transport Authority

Tenders were called on 3-12-1988 for the hire of equipment associated with upgrading the track between Ouyen and Pinnaroo.

Tenders were called on 20-7-1989 for the dismantling, salvage, purchase and removal of specified rail released from the railway line between Ouyen and Galah.

Tenders were called on 29-5-1993 and 13-10-1993 for the clearance of released sleepers between Ouyen and Pinnaroo.

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