Another instalment in my photos from ten years ago series – this time it is November 2011.
Trains
Work on Regional Rail Link was kicking off at Middle Footscray.
Excavators having rolled in.
To demolish the compulsorily acquired houses along Buckley Street.
Work on the extension of suburban trains to South Morang was almost complete, with track laid up to the future terminus.
As was duplication of the single track section between Keon Park and Epping.
The Metcard ticketing system was still hanging on, but new LCD next train displays were being rolled out.
Southern Cross Station was in the middle of a revamp – adding more shops.
While South Yarra station still had it’s little kiosk sticking out into the concourse opposite the ticket gates.
Things that go bump
On 26 November 2011 a V/Line train bound for Albury derailed at West Footscray.
The train split between two tracks.
The incident investigation report finding:
Shortly after its exit from the Bunbury Street tunnel the locomotive encountered a track defect at a location beneath the Nicholson Street road overbridge in Footscray that caused the derailment of one wheelset.
The train continued for about 1200 metres with the locomotive in this partially-derailed state until it encountered a turnout, resulting in the complete derailment of the locomotive and the first passenger car, and the derailment of the leading bogie of the second passenger car.
There were no injuries to passengers or V/Line personnel; however the track sustained significant damage.
Trams
Back in May 2011 work started on platform stops along Swanston Street – months later, the stop outside Melbourne Central was still incomplete.
Yarra Trams marking November with fuzzy Movember moustaches on the front of their trams.
They’ve missed a few Movembers in the years that have followed, and switched to a simpler stick on decal.
And some other bits
A $300 million expansion of Highpoint Shopping Centre was underway, with tower cranes at work on the 30,000 sqm extension, taking the centre to a total of 156,000 sqm.
Mobil petrol stations on the way out, having been taken over by 7-Eleven.
Down at the west end of the Melbourne CBD things were much emptier.
Emporium Melbourne was just a big hole between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Streets.
A day of planespotting
I made a trip out to Melbourne Airport to photograph the procession of planes.
Finding Virgin Blue’s only ‘blue’ plane.
Air New Zealand 747 – since retired.
United Airlines 747 – also retired.
V Australia 777 – subsumed into Virgin Australia.
Skytraders A319 – famous for another reason.
Tiger Airways A320 – merged into Virgin Australia and since retired as a brand.
Singapore Airlines A380 – on hiatus thanks to Covid.
And a Strategic Airlines A330 – liquidated in 2012.
And a trip to Adelaide
I ended November 2011 with a trip to Adelaide.
Where I rode some trams.
Their ‘Jumbo’ railcars.
And the diesel version of Melbourne’s Comeng railcars.
Footnote
Here you can find the rest of my ‘photos from ten years ago‘ series.
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