Moe-Walhalla Railway - (Stephen Watson)

Stephen pointed out that the earliest mode of transport to the Stringers Creek diggings was by pack horse and bullock team.  In 1869 a new bridge over the Thomson River enabled Cobb and Co. to begin operations from Toongabbie.  By 1870 the population of Walhalla was 1489, whilst that of Moe was 25.

By 1873 there was a strong agitation for a railway in Gippsland and a Railway League had been formed which was gaining strength.  By now, Walhalla's population was 1752, and Moe's was 35.

In 1877 a survey for a road was made, following a route from Moe through Coopers Creek.  The road was built by 1879 and a coach service began, leaving Moe on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  At the same time a coach service was running from Traralgon, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday.

Photo, left, Walhalla Railway Station c.1939

In 1884 there was agitation for a steam tramway and the following year a survey was begun.  At about the same time, a public meeting at Glengarry, followed by one at Toongabbie, called for a rail link to Walhalla via the North Gippsland line.  In 1887 and 1888 further surveys were carried out.  There was also considerable interest in a narrow gauge line.

By 1890 the population reached 2000, and in 1898 it reached its maximum of 3698.  Tramways were in use around the Thomson area, transporting firewood for the mines, and by 1899 most of the surrounding hills had been stripped of foliage.

Finally, in 1900, approval was given for construction of the line, authorized by Parliament in August 1900.Construction began on 18th May, 1904, and by 1905 had reached the Tyers River.  The line reached Moondarra by November 1907, and in that year a train ran to Moondarra.  By the following year the line reached the Thomson River and on 15th March, 1910, it was completed to Walhalla. The official opening was held in May 1910.

However, it was really too late.  By now the population had declined to 1600, and Moe had grown to 400. The next year saw the closure of the Long Tunnel Mine, followed by the Long Tunnel Extended in 1912.   A new company had begun production in the Long Tunnel, but it finally closed on 3rd December, 1914.

The only really serious accident on the railway line took place at Platina, in 1915, when a van was derailed, careering down the mountainside to crash into a tree.  No one was seriously hurt, but the van had to be dismantled and winched back up to the line.

The "Loco" shed at Walhalla was extended in 1927 to accommodate the Garrett Locomotive.  In 1938 the station building was dismantled and removed to Hartwell, a suburb of Melbourne, where it was re-erected and is still in use.

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, "Back to Walhalla" trains ran on a regular basis and were very popular.  In 1944 the Erica-Walhalla section was closed, but passengers continued to be carried on the Erica section until 1951.  An attempt was made in 1952 to have the line re-opened but that was not successful.  In 1954 the line was finally closed; by this time the population of Walhalla had dropped to 50, while Moe had risen to over 12,000.

Photo, Walhalla railway station c. 1977.

Thus another chapter of history closed.  The line had not lived up to early expectations, and it certainly did not result in cheaper prices in Walhalla.  With the advent of the motor vehicle and an improvement in roads, the train trip of 3½ hours from Moe would have been comparatively slow.

Stephen presented a most interesting display of slides relating to the construction of the line, also of Walhalla, followed by more recent views showing important sites along the line as they appear today.

The Society thanks Stephen for his invitation to view his museum and also congratulate him on the valuable work he is doing in preserving this very important feature of Gippsland history.