History
Originally called the Melbourne and Murray River Railway the initial design is credited to Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The line was designed with two broad gauge tracks, high speed alignments, cutting through the landscape, and double headed rail.
It was constructed by the Victorian Railways Department under the supervision of Engineer in Chief George Christian Darbyshire and completed under Thomas Higginbotham. The line originating from Spencer Street Station reached Sunbury in 1859. It had reached Woodend and Kyneton by 1861 and Castlemaine in 1862. It opened in Bendigo on 20 October 1862. The line includes substantial wrought iron and masonry viaducts at Sunbury, Malmsbury and Taradale, as well as two tunnels at Elphinstone and Big Hill.
Read more about this topic: Bendigo Railway Line
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