Victorian railways

Construction staff with a trainload of timber, Walhalla district, 1906

Celebrating 150 years of railways in Victoria

Since Australia's first steam train made the short journey from Flinders Street to Port Melbourne in 1854, railways have played a key role in Victorian transport. Railways have carried city commuters, farmers' produce, parcels and tourists. They have provided jobs for thousands of Victorians and a social focus for rural and urban communities alike.

This website explores Victoria's rich railway history, drawing on over 1,000 historic images from the collections of Museums Victoria and the Public Record Office Victoria.

Promotional image: Flinders Street Station overlaid on a map of Victorian Railways, circa 1910

Making tracks

The expanding railway network

Stations

Exploring stations, sidings and rail yards

The steam-powered locomotive 'Edward Henty', one of the S class locomotives that hauled the 'Spirit of Progress' which ran from Melbourne to Albury, circa 1940. The train is painted golden yellow and royal blue – the colours of Victorian Railways.

Riding the rails

Travelling by train

Stationmistress and ganger (husband and wife), Thurla Railway Station, circa 1929

Staff

An overview of the railway workforce

S class steam locomotive no. 300, circa 1927

Power parade

Looking at locomotives and rolling stock

Accident following a bridge failure at McCallums Creek, 19 August 1909

Disasters

When things go off the rails

About this website

Victorian Railways: Celebrating 150 years of railways in Victoria was a joint project between Public Record Office Victoria, the Department of Infrastructure and Museums Victoria.

Site Credits

Museums Victoria
Naomi Andrzejeski, John Broomfield, Alex Chubaty, Matthew Churchward, Sally Rogers-Davidson, Judy Doig, Kate Fielding, Richard Gillespie, Forbes Hawkins, Tony Hood, Janet Pathe, David Roberts, Veronica Scholes, Rodney Start, Nicole Stewart, Ely Wallis, Patrick Worsley, Cerise Howard.

Acknowledgements
Diane Gardiner, Shauna Hicks, Mike Ryan, Daniel Wilksch.