ck_historyoftrains

= __History of Trains__  = Home | Mind Map | **History of Trains** | Southern Cross and Flinders St Stations Public's View | Types of trains | New Network/Future | Bibliography
 * 1800s**

Around twenty years after Melbourne was founded, in 1854, the first railway line opened. The first time a steam train travelled in the city was on the 12th September of the same year. The line was only 4 km long and went from Melbourne Terminus (Flinders St Station) to Sandridge (Port Melbourne). It took 18 months for the line to be constructed. The trains were ordered from England and the railway was owned by Melbourne & Hobsons Bay Railway Company.

The railway opened during the gold rush and it was reported at the time that Flinders St Station was overcrowded with people for the first trip. It took ten weeks for the first Australian steam train to be built, at a cost of £2,700. The exact reason for the construction of the line is not known, however it was an alternative mode of transport to horse and carriage. It meant Melbourne could keep up with other countries and cities in other parts of the world.


 * 1900s**

The early 20th century was when steam trains were replaced by electric trains. In 1908 the Victorian Railways chairman at the time, Thomas Tait, decided to put the electrification in place when he filed a report. In 1912, he expanded the number of trains from 80 to 130, and by 1917 the electrification was finished.

It was not until October 1918 when the first electric train ran on the Flemington Racecourse Line. This run didn't carry any passengers and drivers continued to practise driving the trains until May 18th 1919, when an electric train ran from Sandringham to Essendon. From then on electric services commenced on the Flemington Racecourse Line. By 1922 all lines were running with electric trains and the next year the full project was completed. Throughout the next 10 years lines extended out to country areas and more stations were built.

Surprisingly nothing much happened for the next 40 years and by the 1970s Melbourne's railway system was not in a good state. The trains were well past their useful life and the tracks were rusty. This was so bad on the Port Melbourne, St.Kilda, Altona, Williamstown, Alamein and Sandringham lines that there were calls for them to be replaced by buses, though these recommendations were not put in place. They even closed down the Baxter to Mornington line but it is still used today as a tourist route. Hitachi and later on Comeng trains, were then introduced and were a big hit with the public.

In the early 1980s one of Melbourne's biggest public transport investments was made. It took four years for the underground City Loop to be built. It went past three stations - Parliament, Melbourne Central and Flagstaff. The reason for the construction of the City Loop was to reduce capacity at Southern Cross and Flinders St, which was successful. Around this time the Werribee line was electrified and the St.Kilda/Port Melbourne (Sandridge) lines were changed to accommodate trams (route 109 and 96).


 * 2000s**

We will be covering the 21st century in the New Network/Future page and there is also some information in Types of Trains.