The line is the only surviving part of the old outer circle railway that stretched between the Dandenong line at Hughesdale on the Melbourne side of Oakleigh and Fairfield on the line to Heidelberg; and it crossed the Yarra River on a bridge which later became a road bridge. After the buffers at Alamein, the line crossed what is now a golf course and then Scotchmans Creek on a long bridge. The formation to the bridge can be easily followed to there as it can also be followed in most other places. On a street map the former route of the closed sections the line took is plainly visible and is shown as parkland often shaded in green on maps.
The only real obstacle to joining the line beyond the buffers to the Glen Waverley line, is that a new bridge would have to be built across the Golf course and Scotchmans Creek. There could be a circle created (although smaller than the original circle) if such a join was made. But the Alamain line is really just a suburban branch as it is now. It probably would not stand too much traffic because of the level crossings of major roads including a tram crossing as seen in the video.
If you are into vintage steam, Graeme has a lot of great movie taken in several states. Hopefully you can find some of the titles on his channel (reidgck).
Once again, you have helped me relive my childhood. From Mont Albert, we went to Spencer Rd (circa 1972) just behind Riversdale station. Thanks again for your time uploading these videos.
Great Video. Perhaps mention should be made that services on Sundays nearly always depart from that platform. On Weekdays they arrive on Platform 2 (centre), then proceed about 150 metres further down under the bridge to a waiting siding then transfer to the far platform 3 for services back to Alamein where they leave the main line at about 0:42 and 20:12, to access the flyover of the Box Hill/Ringwood/Belgrave/Lilydale lines. During the morning and afternoon peaks 6 car units run through to and from Flinders Street. Most offpeak service use the platform 2 to waiting siding to platform 3 method and are usually 6 car units. Saturdays also use the above method. After about 7:00pm daily they revert back to 3 car units and platform 1 arrivals and departures. .... Ian
I hope others read your notes. Detailed information such as that is outside the scope of these Driver’s View videos, but I am pleased you pointed out these details.
Thanks so much for this. One of those fences backing onto the line just before Hartwell was where welived when I was a wee nipper in the mid to late 60s.
How history has a habit of repeating itself! If my information is correct, it seems that the Victorian Government have made plans for a similar type of rail connection, one that joins the southern and northern suburbs; I wonder if they will be brave enough to re-install this "new" link (above ground) along the original track that now runs through the very expensive and well healed suburbs of Camberwell, Canterbury and Balwyn -- but probably not.
It's good to see that 'reidgck' provided a reference to the once vitally important 'Outer Circle Railway'. The line was once the only connection between the eastern Gippsland towns to Melbourne, where the trains did not originally pass through Flinders Street Station on their way to Spencer Street Station and the wharves, but through Fairfield (over the current Chandler Hwy road bridge) across to the Melbourne Zoo and then to what is now Southern Cross Station. In the 1800's they were unable to connect Flinders Street station with what was then known as Spencer Street Station (now Southern Cross). The reason was that there was a ship turning basin on the Yarra that was adjacent to what is now the Immigration Museum, which used to be the Immigration/Customs house so there was simply no room for a railway line. Once the turning basin was partially filled in, a single line was then connected between the two stations, but interestingly enough, it was originally classed as a TRAM line as the area around the intersection of Flinders and Spencer Streets was a known hangout for drunks who would regularly fall asleep on the tracks. As the line was classed as a TRAM line, they had someone walking in front of the locomotives with a red flag whose job it was to kick the sleeping drunks off the train (Tram) line. Once the raised viaduct was built (sometime around the late 1880's) which connects the two stations, they were then able to class these new tracks as rail lines with no need to look out for sleeping drunks. Once this connection was made there was then sadly any real need for the connection from Fairfield that went through Kew, Balwyn, Canterbury etc.
Thanks for that interesting information on the Outer Circle line. I never realised that it originally was the only connection to Spencer Street station.
My source has been taking Before and During videos of all the upgrades on the network starting a couple of years ago. Just this week I started work on the Noble Park section but I can go no further until he can send me the After video. I’m keen to see it as much as you.
It’s funny that just a few days ago, somebody made similar comparisons but described it as being quite slow! Like most suburban train lines in Melbourne, the pace seems to be a bit leisurely.
@@tressteleg1 Comparing to my current line (the line I use at the moment the Mernda line) and my previous line (The libe I used to use when I lived in Coburg The Upfield line) The Alamein line's pace is decent
I guess it depends on where you live on the Mernda line. The outer newer sections I thought were fairly fast but probably not so the older inner sections. Anyway I won’t argue with you as to whether the Alamein line is fast or slow.
If Covid is under control enough and I get two weeks in Melbourne in December, I need to ride a train to Mernda. Sometimes editing videos I start to wonder if I have really been there, but don’t think I have made the pilgrimage to Mernda yet. My nearest railway is the Gold Coast line to Brisbane which I can reach from the local tram.
Info on Google did not say much except some of it closed before 1900!!! It seems that Waverley Rd was the only Station between Alamein and Oakleigh but again, that is just me trying to piece together bits of info.
I will keep doing them until I drop or run out. There is not much vintage Oz stuff left. I lived in Melbourne only 7 years. See my Becoming a Tram Driver Video from last week. Now Gold Coast.
@@tressteleg1 Thank you! I have friends who used to live in Melbourne and they always boasted about the transit network. They have since moved to Sydney and we have lost contact.
@@scottyerkes1867 I think that the Sydney train system is better than Melbourne‘s but of course if you don’t live near a train line it is no use to you. Otherwise there are buses, and they get caught in traffic like everything, else except for 3 light rail lines.
@@tressteleg1 Yes. I agree with you. I prefer traveling by rail over bus. I grew up in a very convenient area of Philadelphia with bus, trolley, subway and commuter trains. Currently reside in another section of the city with many bus lines(some were formerly streetcar lines) and a subway 4 blocks away. In nice weather I walk the 4 blocks to ride the subway instead of the bus..
It's really interesting to compare the vast differences between the Sydney and Melbourne network. How do drivers know where to stop if there aren't car markers?
Melbourne has always been an amble along suburban railway. Sydney used to be fast but slowed down a lot for the 2000 olympics and only got slower ever since, it seems. Sydney has numerals on the platform edge indicating 4 6 or 8 to indicate where each trains size stops. I’m not sure if it is regulated in Melbourne. I suspect at some stations at least, the train has to be stopped at the departure end of the platform no matter what so the driver can see the rear view mirror or video screens. Wheelchairs must be at the front of the train also for boarding.
Not a quick question to answer. I suppose I am a bit biased towards Sydney having grown up there. But I last lived in NSW in 1987and visits since have been fairly rare but it does seem that trains have been slowed a lot since 2000. The running of the Melbourne system I see as shambolic and always has been. You never know for sure which platform your train will depart from at Flinders St and on occasions, just a minute or two before departure time the platform is changed leading to a stamped up ramps and down stairs to some distant platform. Too bad if you don’t get there on time. In contrast, as far as I know trains on all lines always depart Sydney Central from the same platform. Pure lunacy in Melbourne is the reversal of train direction around the Loop around Midday. I know the original reason (Jolimont yards) but that is long gone. Pathetic that as at some times, few if any trains run direct to Spencer St from North Melbourne, or between Richmond and Flinders St. Most if not all passengers destined for Flinders St have to go all the way round the loop to go home, same in the morning. Speed limits on some longish straight sections of line in Melbourne seem needlessly slow. Sydney has made some daffy decisions in recent times, such as cutting the Bankstown circle at Lidcombe, and sending Main North suburban trains from Hornsby across to Chatswood viaduct Macquarie Park. However Sydney has always had quite generous non-stop running on some longer lines such as to the west. The best you can get in Melbourne is generally no more than just a few stations. I believe that as the Sydney network has a lot more lines splitting apart and then rejoining (3 route variations to Campbelltown, for example) that when something goes wrong on one line, often many other lines get stuffed up too. This is less likely in Melbourne where lines generally radiate out and don’t meet up again. That will do for now anyway.
I checked a few years ago in the Melways and I'm pretty sure that Riversdale and Willison Railway Stations are the 2 closest Stations to each other on the Melbourne Suburban Railway Network!🤔🏚️🏚️🛤️🚇🚃🚃🚃🇦🇺
I travel on this line almost everyday and its just surreal to watch it from the driver's perspective - thanks for uploading :). What do Melbourne train drivers think of the Alamein line? Do they love or hate it or is it just another line for them?
I had not forgotten your request but of course must wait until my driver friend has time to write a reply to requests. This is what he said: "Re: the Alamein line, it's a bit different because mostly it operates as a shuttle from Camberwell. Through services from the city operate only at peak times so arguably there's a bit of a novelty in running an Alamein train then. The rest of the time, drivers travel from either the city or one of the eastern depots to Camberwell and run anywhere between one and seven shuttles. Some people like the shuttles, some loathe them, for others it's just another run. Personally I can do two shuttles happily enough but the 3rd and subsequent shuttles are a tad tedious but that's just me."
tressteleg1 Oh wow! Thanks very much for the insightful answer! Didn't know drivers swapped lines during shifts - always assumed that the just went back and forth on the same line throughout the shift. Very much appreciate the answer and all your wonderful videos! - I bet when you were filming some of them back in the 80s/90s that not in your wildest dreams that eventually thousands and thousands of people around the world would be able to view them instantly!
I’m always happy to please loyal viewers. And you are dead right about never dreaming that the videos I took years ago for myself and a a few friends to watch would ever be seen by ‘the whole world’. Even more so for my old movie films from 1965. A lot would only ever have been seen by me once or twice at the most, maybe some not at all. But the supply of vintage Aussie material is slowly but surely running out. ☹️
Well I didn’t know this line existed! Guessing just a 3 car set shown in the video based on where it was pulling up on the platforms. Must take a ride out on that line one day, it’s quite pretty. 👍
Well, nobody has been hiding it from you - it has been there ‘forever’. Wikipedia will tell you its interesting history. Trains run to the city in peak hours. Otherwise shuttles from Canberwell.
tressteleg1 I’m sure it has. Being more of a western boy, I’ve never really travelled over that side of town much on public transport when I was younger. 👍😊
The pulling up positions on the platforms are usually relevant to the entry/exit to the platforms. If the entry/exit is in the middle or to the back end of the platform they stop halfway or thereabouts along the platform. If the entry/exit is in the middle or to the departure end of the platform, they will stop at the departure end. ... Ian
I had to do a Google search. The line originally was very old but this location was unnamed when housing and the railway extended there around 1944. So now we both know that it was in fact named after the battles at El Alamein during the war. The land was developed for housing ex soldiers. I’ll get to your other questions a bit later today.
Yes the suburb was created after WW2 and all the streets are named after some of R.A.A.F flown aircraft such as Wirraway, Mitchell, Liberator, Catalina, Mustang etc. Some of the battles the A.I.F. fought such as Tobruk, Ambon, Lae, Gona, Buna, Crete, etc.
Just like a number of other rail lines in the early days, it was built into areas where nobody lived at that time, they got few passengers so were pruned back in length. Some completely closed. In some cases it was almost 100 years before people started living there, by which time the former rail line had been used for other purposes. I am not sure whether people now live in areas that were used by those trains.
😊doesn't seem to have changed much since I moved from there in 1990. I often wish that they could extend the line. Possibly also duplicating the line to alamein and beyond
Well the line used to go very much further as what is there now is the last remnant of the former Outer Circle railway. I don’t live in Melbourne, so I don’t know if any extension would serve any useful location. Double track is only built when there are enough trains to justify it.
@@tressteleg1 like I said, I lived there in the late 80s, (moved out start of 1990) but unfortunately that was long after the line beyond alamein was closed. Even back then I wished they would reopen the line beyond. We lived in one of the many housing flats on alamein Avenue
@@granthogden4732 I have heard of no pushes to extend the line, but as I live on the Gold Coast, I certainly would never hear any of the local gossip on that matter.
@@tressteleg1 you live on the Gold Coast? From all the videos of melboune train and trams I would have guessed that you were from somewhere here in Melbourne
@@granthogden4732 Nope. I have been visiting Melbourne since 1965 and was a tram driver 1988 to 1994 and continue to visit there sometime each summer. Just finished uploading a run to Wattle Park in perfect weather. You will see it Friday evening. I never intended staying in Melbourne forever, and certainly would not live there again for quids. Too damn cold too much of the year. I’ll be down there next week to get video of lines not yet covered, and pick up whatever my train driver has taken over the last 12 months.
This question was raised in the Rear View Alamein Line video but I don’t recall what the conclusion was, but I have a vague recollection that the siding tacks still looked shiny which would answer your question, if correct…
The only thing that makes a train rock about, except possibly through some junctions, is lousy track. All that suspension does is make lousy track seem a bit better. Melbourne Xtrapolis trains only have springs, not air suspension like most other modern trains.
No public transport in Australia, or many other countries, makes a profit. But it certainly helps reduce road congestion. Just see what happens if there is a big tram and train strike on the same day.
@@tressteleg1 I meant not profit but like I don’t think it’s worth government investment for a rail line and service there with that amount of passengers but as you said if Dan closed the line that would be political suicide in today’s world.
@@tressteleg1 Time has a way of making us all suckers. You ever had one of those moments working for a small company, leaving just before things went big, ending up working for another small company, and kicking yourself for the decision you made? So many times did this happen to me during my life, and it kind of explains what happens when the decisions are made without the full understanding of history. So much rail infrastructure was built and then lost. Victoria really did a lot of stupid things over the years, especially during the slump in rail usage.
Beren Scott My work was never with companies. I think the stupid decisions were building rail lines to nowhere in the first place. That would describe many of the rural lines in Victoria which closed decades ago. But of course it is easy to look wise years later.
If you did what I had to do and googled ‘staffed railway stations in Melbourne’ you would have seen that Ashburton is staffed but not Alamein. Thus the staff at Ashburton would arrange the pointwork for the trains, being the end of double track. 😊
Because all except peak hours this service operates as a shuttle and on this occasion it came into the station on the left, and simply returned to Alamein going back the way it came in.
In the 1950s, when I rode the suburban trains, the station stops were: 15 seconds at major stops, 10 seconds at others. In those days there were multiple doors along each carriage, so exit and entry were usually easy.
This line would be great as a light rail line similar to what is happening to the Carlingford line in Sydney it could extend to Chadstone and have physical connections to at least 3 tram routes 3/3a,70 & 75, so many possibilities,but we are in Victoria though,so common sense is a no go.
The line is the only surviving part of the old outer circle railway that stretched between the Dandenong line at Hughesdale on the Melbourne side of Oakleigh and Fairfield on the line to Heidelberg; and it crossed the Yarra River on a bridge which later became a road bridge. After the buffers at Alamein, the line crossed what is now a golf course and then Scotchmans Creek on a long bridge. The formation to the bridge can be easily followed to there as it can also be followed in most other places. On a street map the former route of the closed sections the line took is plainly visible and is shown as parkland often shaded in green on maps.
This is very interesting. I was wondering about that. I noticed after the buffers, it appeared the line used to continue on.
The only real obstacle to joining the line beyond the buffers to the Glen Waverley line, is that a new bridge would have to be built across the Golf course and Scotchmans Creek. There could be a circle created (although smaller than the original circle) if such a join was made. But the Alamain line is really just a suburban branch as it is now. It probably would not stand too much traffic because of the level crossings of major roads including a tram crossing as seen in the video.
Thanks reidgck
If you are into vintage steam, Graeme has a lot of great movie taken in several states. Hopefully you can find some of the titles on his channel (reidgck).
Thanks tressteleg1
Once again, you have helped me relive my childhood. From Mont Albert, we went to Spencer Rd (circa 1972) just behind Riversdale station. Thanks again for your time uploading these videos.
Damien Milk 😊👍
Great Video. Perhaps mention should be made that services on Sundays nearly always depart from that platform. On Weekdays they arrive on Platform 2 (centre), then proceed about 150 metres further down under the bridge to a waiting siding then transfer to the far platform 3 for services back to Alamein where they leave the main line at about 0:42 and 20:12, to access the flyover of the Box Hill/Ringwood/Belgrave/Lilydale lines. During the morning and afternoon peaks 6 car units run through to and from Flinders Street.
Most offpeak service use the platform 2 to waiting siding to platform 3 method and are usually 6 car units. Saturdays also use the above method. After about 7:00pm daily they revert back to 3 car units and platform 1 arrivals and departures.
.... Ian
I hope others read your notes. Detailed information such as that is outside the scope of these Driver’s View videos, but I am pleased you pointed out these details.
That siding is only 3 cars long. All off peak trains are 3 cars.
Thanks for the upload.Camberwell is the best place to live.
😊
Quite a pleasant run. Lots of greenery. 😌
Emma S 😊👍
Thanks so much for this. One of those fences backing onto the line just before Hartwell was where welived when I was a wee nipper in the mid to late 60s.
And no doubt waved to the passing trains 😊
This line can ans should be extended BACK where it once operated. . . . to Oakliegh!
Why?
How history has a habit of repeating itself! If my information is correct, it seems that the Victorian Government have made plans for a similar type of rail connection, one that joins the southern and northern suburbs; I wonder if they will be brave enough to re-install this "new" link (above ground) along the original track that now runs through the very expensive and well healed suburbs of Camberwell, Canterbury and Balwyn -- but probably not.
It's good to see that 'reidgck' provided a reference to the once vitally important 'Outer Circle Railway'. The line was once the only connection between the eastern Gippsland towns to Melbourne, where the trains did not originally pass through Flinders Street Station on their way to Spencer Street Station and the wharves, but through Fairfield (over the current Chandler Hwy road bridge) across to the Melbourne Zoo and then to what is now Southern Cross Station.
In the 1800's they were unable to connect Flinders Street station with what was then known as Spencer Street Station (now Southern Cross). The reason was that there was a ship turning basin on the Yarra that was adjacent to what is now the Immigration Museum, which used to be the Immigration/Customs house so there was simply no room for a railway line.
Once the turning basin was partially filled in, a single line was then connected between the two stations, but interestingly enough, it was originally classed as a TRAM line as the area around the intersection of Flinders and Spencer Streets was a known hangout for drunks who would regularly fall asleep on the tracks. As the line was classed as a TRAM line, they had someone walking in front of the locomotives with a red flag whose job it was to kick the sleeping drunks off the train (Tram) line.
Once the raised viaduct was built (sometime around the late 1880's) which connects the two stations, they were then able to class these new tracks as rail lines with no need to look out for sleeping drunks. Once this connection was made there was then sadly any real need for the connection from Fairfield that went through Kew, Balwyn, Canterbury etc.
Thanks for that interesting information on the Outer Circle line. I never realised that it originally was the only connection to Spencer Street station.
Such a picturesque route!
Picturesque but not very fast.
Look at the Belgrave line
Or hurstbridge
Great to see an updated driver view, I hope to see other lines like Skyrail when completed.
Thanks for sharing 👍
My source has been taking Before and During videos of all the upgrades on the network starting a couple of years ago. Just this week I started work on the Noble Park section but I can go no further until he can send me the After video. I’m keen to see it as much as you.
Looks like a very beautiful line. Very scenic and at a good speed as well. Great video @tressteleg1
It’s funny that just a few days ago, somebody made similar comparisons but described it as being quite slow! Like most suburban train lines in Melbourne, the pace seems to be a bit leisurely.
@@tressteleg1 Comparing to my current line (the line I use at the moment the Mernda line) and my previous line (The libe I used to use when I lived in Coburg The Upfield line) The Alamein line's pace is decent
I guess it depends on where you live on the Mernda line. The outer newer sections I thought were fairly fast but probably not so the older inner sections. Anyway I won’t argue with you as to whether the Alamein line is fast or slow.
@@tressteleg1 I live in the old part of Epping (closer to South Morang station)
If Covid is under control enough and I get two weeks in Melbourne in December, I need to ride a train to Mernda. Sometimes editing videos I start to wonder if I have really been there, but don’t think I have made the pilgrimage to Mernda yet. My nearest railway is the Gold Coast line to Brisbane which I can reach from the local tram.
10:23 "This former Outer Circle line once went further"
I wonder what the sation after Alamein would have been?
I’m sure if you did a google search you will find the answer.
I did do a google search, but I must not have been looking at the right pages, I got Wattle Glen but not sure if that is right.
Info on Google did not say much except some of it closed before 1900!!!
It seems that Waverley Rd was the only Station between Alamein and Oakleigh but again, that is just me trying to piece together bits of info.
Just keep up the excellent work with your videos.
I will keep doing them until I drop or run out. There is not much vintage Oz stuff left.
I lived in Melbourne only 7 years. See my Becoming a Tram Driver Video from last week. Now Gold Coast.
Definitely my favourite line, it's slow but peaceful and very green
Agreed.
Interesting ride! Melbourne's public transit network is extensive. Thanks for sharing!😀😀
Yes it is an extensive network, and even from the city, this is probably the shortest ride.
@@tressteleg1 Thank you! I have friends who used to live in Melbourne and they always boasted about the transit network. They have since moved to Sydney and we have lost contact.
@@scottyerkes1867 I think that the Sydney train system is better than Melbourne‘s but of course if you don’t live near a train line it is no use to you. Otherwise there are buses, and they get caught in traffic like everything, else except for 3 light rail lines.
@@tressteleg1 Yes. I agree with you. I prefer traveling by rail over bus. I grew up in a very convenient area of Philadelphia with bus, trolley, subway and commuter trains. Currently reside in another section of the city with many bus lines(some were formerly streetcar lines) and a subway 4 blocks away. In nice weather I walk the 4 blocks to ride the subway instead of the bus..
I would also make the walk, or ride bicycle there 😊
It's really interesting to compare the vast differences between the Sydney and Melbourne network. How do drivers know where to stop if there aren't car markers?
Melbourne has always been an amble along suburban railway. Sydney used to be fast but slowed down a lot for the 2000 olympics and only got slower ever since, it seems. Sydney has numerals on the platform edge indicating 4 6 or 8 to indicate where each trains size stops. I’m not sure if it is regulated in Melbourne. I suspect at some stations at least, the train has to be stopped at the departure end of the platform no matter what so the driver can see the rear view mirror or video screens. Wheelchairs must be at the front of the train also for boarding.
+tressteleg1
Out of curiosity, do you like the Sydney or Melbourne network more?
Not a quick question to answer. I suppose I am a bit biased towards Sydney having grown up there. But I last lived in NSW in 1987and visits since have been fairly rare but it does seem that trains have been slowed a lot since 2000.
The running of the Melbourne system I see as shambolic and always has been. You never know for sure which platform your train will depart from at Flinders St and on occasions, just a minute or two before departure time the platform is changed leading to a stamped up ramps and down stairs to some distant platform. Too bad if you don’t get there on time. In contrast, as far as I know trains on all lines always depart Sydney Central from the same platform. Pure lunacy in Melbourne is the reversal of train direction around the Loop around Midday. I know the original reason (Jolimont yards) but that is long gone. Pathetic that as at some times, few if any trains run direct to Spencer St from North Melbourne, or between Richmond and Flinders St. Most if not all passengers destined for Flinders St have to go all the way round the loop to go home, same in the morning. Speed limits on some longish straight sections of line in Melbourne seem needlessly slow.
Sydney has made some daffy decisions in recent times, such as cutting the Bankstown circle at Lidcombe, and sending Main North suburban trains from Hornsby across to Chatswood viaduct Macquarie Park. However Sydney has always had quite generous non-stop running on some longer lines such as to the west. The best you can get in Melbourne is generally no more than just a few stations. I believe that as the Sydney network has a lot more lines splitting apart and then rejoining (3 route variations to Campbelltown, for example) that when something goes wrong on one line, often many other lines get stuffed up too. This is less likely in Melbourne where lines generally radiate out and don’t meet up again.
That will do for now anyway.
Thanks very much for the reply.
👍
Only ever travelled on the Lilydale line. Is that Riversdale Road that the Wattle Park tram runs along?
The level crossing, yes. Later the Vermont South line is crossed on a bridge.
I checked a few years ago in the Melways and I'm pretty sure that Riversdale and Willison Railway Stations are the 2 closest Stations to each other on the Melbourne Suburban Railway Network!🤔🏚️🏚️🛤️🚇🚃🚃🚃🇦🇺
Jesse Sands You could be right. If you have Google Earth maps, there is a facility to measure between 2 points and get it exact to the metre.
Timed it as 1.07 between Riversdale and Willison Railway Stations!🙂⏱️🚇🛤️
While timings will be a starting point, in view of the fact that a train’s speed is variable, it is really only physical distance that counts.
Interestingly on the way back from Willison to Riversdale it's a second longer at 1.08!🤔🚇🛤️⏱️
Jesse Sands And no doubt another driver will do the run at a different speed 😊 Only the metres matter.
Usually trains depart Alamein to Camberwell on weekends, every 20 minutes.
😊👍
I travel on this line almost everyday and its just surreal to watch it from the driver's perspective - thanks for uploading :). What do Melbourne train drivers think of the Alamein line? Do they love or hate it or is it just another line for them?
I had not forgotten your request but of course must wait until my driver friend has time to write a reply to requests. This is what he said:
"Re: the Alamein line, it's a bit different because mostly it operates as a shuttle from Camberwell. Through services from the city operate only at peak times so arguably there's a bit of a novelty in running an Alamein train then. The rest of the time, drivers travel from either the city or one of the eastern depots to Camberwell and run anywhere between one and seven shuttles. Some people like the shuttles, some loathe them, for others it's just another run. Personally I can do two shuttles happily enough but the 3rd and subsequent shuttles are a tad tedious but that's just me."
tressteleg1 Oh wow! Thanks very much for the insightful answer! Didn't know drivers swapped lines during shifts - always assumed that the just went back and forth on the same line throughout the shift.
Very much appreciate the answer and all your wonderful videos! - I bet when you were filming some of them back in the 80s/90s that not in your wildest dreams that eventually thousands and thousands of people around the world would be able to view them instantly!
I’m always happy to please loyal viewers. And you are dead right about never dreaming that the videos I took years ago for myself and a a few friends to watch would ever be seen by ‘the whole world’. Even more so for my old movie films from 1965. A lot would only ever have been seen by me once or twice at the most, maybe some not at all. But the supply of vintage Aussie material is slowly but surely running out. ☹️
Measured from the time the Train starts up to when it comes to a complete stop!🙂🚇🛤️⏱️
thats what i do sometimes
Never travelled this line but remember well seeing the red dog-boxes waiting at Camberwell in the 1960's on my way through on the Belgrave line... 😢
bryan3550 😊👍
Well I didn’t know this line existed! Guessing just a 3 car set shown in the video based on where it was pulling up on the platforms. Must take a ride out on that line one day, it’s quite pretty. 👍
Well, nobody has been hiding it from you - it has been there ‘forever’. Wikipedia will tell you its interesting history.
Trains run to the city in peak hours. Otherwise shuttles from Canberwell.
tressteleg1 I’m sure it has. Being more of a western boy, I’ve never really travelled over that side of town much on public transport when I was younger. 👍😊
Phantomthecat Are you from Melbourne?
The pulling up positions on the platforms are usually relevant to the entry/exit to the platforms. If the entry/exit is in the middle or to the back end of the platform they stop halfway or thereabouts along the platform. If the entry/exit is in the middle or to the departure end of the platform, they will stop at the departure end. ... Ian
I am a shut-in from the USA, and enjoy your videos. I am curious about the Alamein station - does the name from the WW2 battle @ El Alamein?
I had to do a Google search. The line originally was very old but this location was unnamed when housing and the railway extended there around 1944. So now we both know that it was in fact named after the battles at El Alamein during the war. The land was developed for housing ex soldiers. I’ll get to your other questions a bit later today.
Yes indeed , and there is also a Victory Boulevard nearby.
Yes the suburb was created after WW2 and all the streets are named after some of R.A.A.F flown aircraft such as Wirraway, Mitchell, Liberator, Catalina, Mustang etc. Some of the battles the A.I.F. fought such as Tobruk, Ambon, Lae, Gona, Buna, Crete, etc.
I think so, look up the song Alamein train by the Pete Best Beatles a 80s Melbourne band ,should be on TH-cam,I'll have to check that
great video tressteleg1 why did this rail line shorted ? also would this rail line built fairer again ?
Just like a number of other rail lines in the early days, it was built into areas where nobody lived at that time, they got few passengers so were pruned back in length. Some completely closed. In some cases it was almost 100 years before people started living there, by which time the former rail line had been used for other purposes. I am not sure whether people now live in areas that were used by those trains.
😊doesn't seem to have changed much since I moved from there in 1990. I often wish that they could extend the line. Possibly also duplicating the line to alamein and beyond
Well the line used to go very much further as what is there now is the last remnant of the former Outer Circle railway. I don’t live in Melbourne, so I don’t know if any extension would serve any useful location. Double track is only built when there are enough trains to justify it.
@@tressteleg1 like I said, I lived there in the late 80s, (moved out start of 1990) but unfortunately that was long after the line beyond alamein was closed. Even back then I wished they would reopen the line beyond.
We lived in one of the many housing flats on alamein Avenue
@@granthogden4732 I have heard of no pushes to extend the line, but as I live on the Gold Coast, I certainly would never hear any of the local gossip on that matter.
@@tressteleg1 you live on the Gold Coast? From all the videos of melboune train and trams I would have guessed that you were from somewhere here in Melbourne
@@granthogden4732 Nope. I have been visiting Melbourne since 1965 and was a tram driver 1988 to 1994 and continue to visit there sometime each summer. Just finished uploading a run to Wattle Park in perfect weather. You will see it Friday evening. I never intended staying in Melbourne forever, and certainly would not live there again for quids. Too damn cold too much of the year. I’ll be down there next week to get video of lines not yet covered, and pick up whatever my train driver has taken over the last 12 months.
oh wow train gos BACK in time
arrives at Ashburton at 7:45 down to Alamein, then return 7:24
Is this a 3 car train?
Yes and these shuttles are usual 3. 6 cars would run to and from City in peak hours.
Is the stabling siding at Ashburton still used?
This question was raised in the Rear View Alamein Line video but I don’t recall what the conclusion was, but I have a vague recollection that the siding tacks still looked shiny which would answer your question, if correct…
A very good video can ride melbourne trains via utube, i like the signal descriptions not is this video nice to know what signals indicate
Thanks. This will give you some more lines to check out.
Melbourne - Driver's View Trains
th-cam.com/play/PLLtOIHp49XNDtaNr2H41P2th0S56s6bIH.html
Why does the train rock so much side to side? Is it the line condition or the suspeension on this train?
The only thing that makes a train rock about, except possibly through some junctions, is lousy track. All that suspension does is make lousy track seem a bit better. Melbourne Xtrapolis trains only have springs, not air suspension like most other modern trains.
@@tressteleg1 Thanks. I seem to remember the Comeng trains having a much smoother ride.
Was that a mud hole just after Burwood that caused a dip?
Knowing Melbourne, very likely!
@@tressteleg1 Thanks for your replies!
Riversdale and Willison are very, very close!
Shhh! Careful, or they may do the Surry Hills/Mont Albert - Union trick!
Thanks for sharing.
👍
There wasn’t much point in reopening the line to Ashburton it barely gets any passengers.
That may be so, but closing anything these days would probably be political suicide.
@@tressteleg1 true
@@tressteleg1 they’ll just have to roll with it I guess 😂 even though they can’t make money at ALL from it
No public transport in Australia, or many other countries, makes a profit. But it certainly helps reduce road congestion. Just see what happens if there is a big tram and train strike on the same day.
@@tressteleg1 I meant not profit but like I don’t think it’s worth government investment for a rail line and service there with that amount of passengers but as you said if Dan closed the line that would be political suicide in today’s world.
cheaper to run a taxi or mini bus ?
@@johnpro2847 Maybe at some times, the only problem is that there may not be very useful roads which run parallel.
Out of curiosity, is there just one train for this line? or at max (peak hours) 2?
Sunday morning, one train. Two later in the day and weekdays. Peak hours, some trains all the way to/from the city. I think that is about correct.
tressteleg1 awesome. Thanks for the info 😊
Imagine if they had left this railway lines connection all the way down south. Straight through Chadstone. People might actually still use it.
Beren Scott Unfortunately it was built over a century before it was needed, and closed because nobody was there to use it. Bit late now unfortunately.
@@tressteleg1 Time has a way of making us all suckers. You ever had one of those moments working for a small company, leaving just before things went big, ending up working for another small company, and kicking yourself for the decision you made? So many times did this happen to me during my life, and it kind of explains what happens when the decisions are made without the full understanding of history. So much rail infrastructure was built and then lost. Victoria really did a lot of stupid things over the years, especially during the slump in rail usage.
Beren Scott My work was never with companies.
I think the stupid decisions were building rail lines to nowhere in the first place. That would describe many of the rural lines in Victoria which closed decades ago. But of course it is easy to look wise years later.
That is a seriously quiet morning
From memory, the train spacings proved it was Sunday morning when only one train was servicing the line. Maybe a second train joined towards the end.
I'm looking to use a 5 second snippet of the video, is it alright if I just put a link in the description?
Yes that will be fine.
It’s a very pretty line just hope all those in management don’t decide to close it down so they can to their holiday funds
Michael Naisbitt I don’t think that they would get away with closing any rail lines these days.
im a huge fan of trains
Well that is a good start!
is Alamein a staffed station?
If you did what I had to do and googled ‘staffed railway stations in Melbourne’ you would have seen that Ashburton is staffed but not Alamein. Thus the staff at Ashburton would arrange the pointwork for the trains, being the end of double track. 😊
Willamson train next Glun Waverly believe and lilydale today
Can u upload the lilydale & hurstbridge lines please
I have nothing on Lilydale.
I will have to see if the video I have includes the finished project for Hurstbridge.
Why start on the right? Its in melbourne
Because all except peak hours this service operates as a shuttle and on this occasion it came into the station on the left, and simply returned to Alamein going back the way it came in.
The best bits are edited out . I shouldn't complain though , just a derailed train of thought , that I momently lost track of .
What ‘best bits’? The only thing edited out is the stationary times at stations when there’s nothing to see happening anyway.
The beginning of the video looks like Silent Hill on PS1 lol
But this one is for real...
You really don’t stop for long at stations
I usually edit out the stopped time and advise by how long in subtitles on the screen. Nevertheless at quiet times the stops are short.
tressteleg1 that makes sense. Do you guys have a rail guard that lets you know when to go?
Brisbane and Sydney, Yes. Melbourne (this video) Adelaide and Perth, No.
In the 1950s, when I rode the suburban trains, the station stops were: 15 seconds at major stops, 10 seconds at others. In those days there were multiple doors along each carriage, so exit and entry were usually easy.
Alamein train, remember the song by Pete Best Beatles.....not the Beatles, a Melbourne band, it was rather amusing
Can’t say I have a really heard that one. It was probably more popular in Melbourne.
@@tressteleg1 it was, probably the only place...it's on TH-cam though, it's sort of amusing
What an absolutely depressing and filthy run. PTV really need to clean up their railway lines and stations . . .
This line would be great as a light rail line similar to what is happening to the Carlingford line in Sydney it could extend to Chadstone and have physical connections to at least 3 tram routes 3/3a,70 & 75, so many possibilities,but we are in Victoria though,so common sense is a no go.
The long - discussed line to Doncaster I think should come first.
Very pretty line Pity the trains are so u safe for women to travel on particularly at night Should have armed rail officers on board like the U S A
I don’t recall reading anything about Melbourne trains being unsafe at night for women.
Willison is the world's most useless railway station
Has to be up there.
you're probably only one of 10 people who use it daily
Nah it’s Officer
@@ilonnolan9259 Officer's patronage went up 500% in 5 years
Toot toot!
Via city loop