RAILWAYS OF NORTH-EAST VICTORIA
(www.northeastvictoria.online)
WANGARATTA - WHITFIELD (KING VALLEY) RAILWAY
Like many other high country rail lines, the Wangaratta - Whitfield Railway scooted past some of Victoria’s best scenery on its 50km whistle-stop run. The line carried its first passengers and freight in 1899, and met its nemesis soon after World War II, a victim of rising standards of living, and improved roads.
There were 16 stations on the Whitfield Line; Wangaratta, Targoora (originally called Clarke), Laceby, Oxley, Skehan, Docker, Byrne, Moyhu, Angleside, Claremont, Dwyer, Edi, King Valley, Jarrodd, Pieper and Whitfield.
Leaving Wangaratta Station (Norton Street) the line made a wide sweep across the Hume Highway (Ryley Street, near the present day Green Street over-pass) and then through the southern dog-leg extension of Harper Street (Coles Supermarket occupies what used to be the original southern part of Harper Street).
Crossing over Perry Street (where sections of rail-line are still visible), the railway skirted to the north of One Mile Creek (opposite the present day Croquet Club).
It then passed along the western end of Crisp Street, before cutting across Graham Street, and then emerging on Murdoch Road, near the present day child-care centre.
As you drive out of Wangaratta, the line would have been on your right (along what is now the service road vegetation strip of Murdoch Road), crossing over to the left about a third of the way to Whitfield, and swinging back to the right for the final run to the terminus.
As mentioned above, the line opened in 1899 and provided continuous service until 1952, when the trestle bridge over Croppers Creek was taken out by a bushfire.
A shuttle service then operated (between the two sections of the remaining line) for about 12 months, until the line was finally closed in 1953.
In 1999, to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the railway, all but one of the station platform name boards have recently been replaced/updated, so that each locality can be identified as you drive from Wangaratta to Whitfield.
A replica station shelter has also been constructed at Whitfield, and just around the corner (opposite the Mountain View Hotel) the original railway workshop is still intact; if you can manage a peep inside, the maintenance hoists etc, are still visible.
However, the level crossings and the trestle bridges are all gone, but hopefully new life will soon be created along the railway easement, with the creation of the King Valley Rail Trail.
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