Branch Lines
A branch line was built north from Warragul in stages from the 1890s, reaching Noojee in 1919. This was closed in stages from 1954 to 1958.
The 2'6" (762 mm) narrow gauge Walhalla branch line was completed across mountainous country from Moe to Erica and Walhalla in 1910. The Platina to Walhalla section closed in 1944, Erica to Platina in 1952, and finally Moe to Erica in 1954. The northern-most section between Thomson and Walhalla stations has been reopened as a tourist railway by the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, and provides regularly scheduled trains.
A branch line was also opened from Moe to Thorpdale in 1888, which was closed in 1958.
The Yallourn branch was opened from Hernes Oak (between Moe and Morwell) to Yallourn in 1922 to serve the adjacent power station development. It was replaced by a line from Moe to Yallourn in 1953 because its route was required for brown coal mining, but the new line closed in 1987, having been disused since the late 1970s.
The Mirboo North branch line was opened in stages from Morwell to Mirboo North between 1885 and 1886, however was closed in 1974. The route of the line was partly dug up as part of the Hazelwood open cut mine. The Maryvale paper siding also connects to the main line at Morwell and remains open today for regular freight traffic.
The loop line via Maffra was opened from Traralgon to Heyfield, Maffra and Stratford in 1887 and closed in stages between 1987 and 1993. A branch line was opened from Maffra to Briagolong in 1889 and closed in 1952.
Several timber tramways also existed from many of the stations between Pakenham and Yarragon.
Read more about this topic: Orbost Railway Line
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