Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is March 2009.
Remember flip phones? Telstra was flogging the crap out of them at Southern Cross Station in 2009.
Elsewhere on the concourse the suburban train displays were finally switched on, after three years of service from the ‘temporary’ screens alongside.
But at the north end work on the ‘Yardmaster’ building was racing along, thanks to the precast concrete construction.
Out in Ballarat the new railway station at Wendouree was almost complete.
While at Laverton work had started on a third platform and turnback siding for Altona Loop trains.
In March 2009 the tracks through platform 1 (now platform 2) were ripped up.
Allowed the trackbed to be cleared out.
But that didn’t stop V/Line trains from running to Geelong.
As they were routed via the remaining track on the other side.
Some smart planning there!
Down in Geelong grain trains were running again, following years of drought.
The tracks out of Geelong towards Moorabool have since been duplicated, making it easier for freight trains to access the port.
But no so lucky was the gravel traffic to North Shore – terminated in November 2009, and now moved by road.
I saw a few ‘out of place’ trains in my travels.
Midway between Geelong and Ballarat I found an ex-Adelaide H type tram sitting in a backyard.
Between Geelong and Melbourne I found an Indian Pacific liveried locomotive hauling The Overland through Lara.
And at South Dynon I found the Road Transferable Locomotive – a truck that could haul freight wagons along railway lines.
The biannual Avalon Airshow was held in March 2009, and V/Line was running plenty of extra trains to transport patrons from Melbourne to Lara, where a bus connection was provided to Avalon Airport.
Extra trains were transferred out of Bacchus Marsh on Friday night to help move the crowds.
One of the days was pissing down rain.
But the weather eventually came good, as I spent the weekend driving in the shadows of the You Yangs.
Capturing V/Line trains along the Geelong line.
Another unusual train I captured was a 707 Operations charter to Colac.
And a rebirth of the Southern Aurora train as the Bacardi Express – a travelling music festival taking bands along the East Coast of Australia.
The festival was held in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
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