By KATRINA BRANDON
ALL aboard one of the most historical gems in Gippsland.
The Boolarra community recently celebrated 50 years since the last train left the station and the Mirboo North Railway Line was disassembled.
About 80 people celebrated the event, filling up the Boolarra Multi-Purpose Building with enthusiasts, last passengers, conductors and their families.
On January 7, 1886, the tracks were first operational, with construction starting in 1883 between Yinnar, Boolarra, Mirboo (now Mirboo North), Darlimurla, Traralgon and Morwell.
“The government wanted to have many areas joined by railway lines. In 1878, they opened up the area to selection. Shortly after that, people started putting their hands up for a railway line,” Mirboo North and District Historical Society Historian, Rob Waycott said.
“In the early days of sport, people hired special trains to go to the city. People from Mirboo North would hire a special train to go to Boolarra to play footy and return, but that changed with the improvement of road transport.”
Many people at the event shared history with the railway, including one of the last passengers, Lloyd Wicks.
“I can’t believe it. It feels like it was only yesterday. We have had a lot of fun coming up and discussing (the last train), being in the historical society,” he said.
“It was a great day. It has a lot of history. Our farm was right adjacent to the railway line. As school kids, we used to walk up the railway line on the line itself.
“Unfortunately, my dad passed away a few months after (the last train). He loved taking trains, and he used to tell me the history of where they got the stone to make the railway line. It came through our property and joined up with the main line. They brought the stones out of the quarry down at Yinnar and did the railway lines. That old railway line went over the Morwell River. You can see where the railway line used to be.”
According to Mr Waycott, many people worked on the railway line, which was only mentioned negatively. One of those people was John Robb, the most significant railway contractor.
As time chugged along, on May 22, 1974, the last train departed, marking the end of an era. The following year, the tracks were dismantled.
“The good shed at Yinnar used by the Historical Society is the Mirboo North Station, built in 1916. It is still there. The main thing is the memories that the people here have,” Mr Waycott said.
Some of the Mirboo North line is now the Grand Ridge Rail Trail.
