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It’s been quite a long time since V/Line Orange graced the front cover of Newsrail, but this photograph by Alan Greenhill was an ideal choice for a feature article by Jim Foley, who tells of his long-running connection with the South Gippsland railway through its VR, V/Line, and SGR eras. The scenes that Jim’s recollections evoke are beautifully represented with photographs from Alan Greenhill, Peter Enlund, the late Weston Langford, Mark Cauchi, Geoff Oliver, and James Brook.
4 September 2020 marks 160 years since the Victorian Railways Department takeover of the Geelong & Melbourne Railway Company came into effect, an event that represented a pivotal change in the development of our state’s railways, as private operators began to falter and the government began to assume the role as builder and operator of this critical infrastructure. Michael Menzies provides some interesting details of the railway’s early history, such as the the development of the station complex at Geelong, and the three(!) different routes the line took at its Eastern end during its three short years of G&MR Co operation. He also provides some interesting details on the takeover, including some early bureaucratic bungles on the part of the new Victorian Railways.
- Our Rolling stock column returns in this edition, with details of brand-new PN 93 Class locomotives that are entering service operating interstate freight out of Melbourne, as well as another “new” old locomotive being reactivated by SSR, this time L277.
- Our General news and Rail works columns feature some magnificent images, courtesy of Level Crossing Removal Project, of major construction works on the Upfield line associated with level crossing removals.
- And of course the regular columns for Calendar anniversaries, Operations and Sightings, PTV service quality, Tramways, Taildisc and the Where Is It photo are all there.
Thank you for another excellent issue. I knew that one of my photos was going to be used, but had not expected it to be used for the cover and to find a second one in the photo article on the Great Southern Railway. Thank you for using them. I am very pleased with how you presented them. I can’t wait to receive the October issue.