Glenrowan railway station

Glenrowan
Line(s) North East
Platforms 1
Tracks 3
Other information
Status Closed
History
Opened November 2, 1874
Closed October 4, 1981

Glenrowan is a closed station located in the town of Glenrowan, on the North East railway in Victoria, Australia. The station is located at the highest point of the line north of Seymour, with grades of 1 in 75 in both direction.[1] In June 1880 the station was the site of what became the last stand of Ned Kelly and his gang, with a monument located at the station today.[2]

History

The station site was initially a ballast siding, but there were no plans to building a station at the site. However an earth platform was provided for construction workers, and when this was removed by the contractors, several protest meetings were held by local residents. The petition was successful and a station was opened on November 2, 1874, with a platform located on the western side of the line. A temporary station building was provided, with the sidings extended in 1901.[1]

Permanent station buildings were provided in 1911, of Edwardian style, along with relocation of the signalling frame, and the platform was extended to 350 feet (110 m).[1] In 1961 the yard was altered to permit the parallel standard gauge line to run through, with the broad gauge main line altered to run through number 2 road, with the platform on a loop siding. The goods siding was relocated to the western side of the line, and a quarry siding running east from the station was converted to standard gauge.[1]

The station was one of 35 closed to passenger traffic on October 4, 1981, as part of the New Deal timetable for country passengers.[3] In 2001 the Edwardian station building was demolished, and a replica of the original 1874 structure based on original drawings was constructed.[4]

On June 14, 2008, over 100 local residents held a protest at the station, on the same day a special steam train operated along the line.[5] A few weeks before it had been announced that Chiltern, Springhurst, Violet Town, Euroa, Avenel would receive second platforms as part of the gauge conversion of the North East line, and Glenrowan residents wanted the current platform reopened and a second platform built so that Ned Kelly tourist trains could visit Glenrowan.[6]

On Thursday, February 12, 2009, at a community meeting in Glenrowan, the Department of Transport (Vic) announced it was not viable to re-open the station to passenger traffic. Local efforts to reopen the station for improved tourism continue.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Turton, Keith W. (1973). Six And A Half Inches From Destiny. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). p. 102. ISBN 0-85849-012-9.
  2. ↑ "Capture of the Kelly Gang". State Library of Victoria. Retrieved December 25, 2008.
  3. ↑ Scott Martin and Chris Banger (October 2006). "'New Deal' for County Passengers - 25 years on". Newsrail (Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)): 319.
  4. ↑ "Glenrowan Masterplan - Part 1 and 2" (PDF). Prepared for Rural City of Wangaratta. April 18, 2002. p. 46. Retrieved December 25, 2008.
  5. ↑ "'Ned Kelly' rides again to halt train". The Daily Telegraph (www.news.com.au). June 14, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
  6. ↑ "All aboard anniversary train". ABC Goulburn Murray. www.abc.net.au. June 16, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
Closed station navigation
North East line
← Previous station Winton | Wangaratta Next station →
Closed stations

Coordinates: 36°27′46″S 146°13′26″E / 36.4628°S 146.2240°E / -36.4628; 146.2240

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