Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company
The Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company was formed in 1858 and was authorised by the Victorian Parliament to build a railway line from North Melbourne to Essendon. The single track railway was opened in October 1860. The company immediately commenced construction of a branch line from Newmarket to Flemington Racecourse, which opened in February 1861.[1]
The operation was barely profitable and, in early 1864, the company asked the Government of Victoria buy the railway. The request was refused and the line was closed in July 1864. For the next three years, determined efforts were made to get the government to change its decision. In August 1867, the government paid £22,500 for the company's assets, and they became part of Victorian Railways. The racecourse branch was reopened in November 1867, and the section from Newmarket to Essendon was reopened in January 1871.[1]
Rolling stock
One steam locomotive built for the Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company in 1862 was sold unused to New Zealand's Canterbury Provincial Railways. Upon arrival in New Zealand, it became the country's first locomotive to operate in revenue service. Withdrawn in 1876, its frame subsequently returned to Australia when it was purchased by the South Australian Railways and was used as part of the SAR's locomotive No. 54, which operated until 1904.[2]
Locomotives
Class | Wheel arrangement | Fleet number(s) | Manufacturer Serial numbers | Year introduced | Total | Total preserved | Year(s) withdrawn | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M&ER 2-4-0T | 2-4-0T | Essendon, #459* | Slaughter, Gruning & Co. 458, 459* | 1862 | 2* | 0 | 1864 | To SAR to become E 13 *#459 not used and sold to SAR to become E 10 |
References
- ^ a b Harrigan, Leo J. (1962). Victorian Railways to ‘62. Melbourne: Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board. pp. 65–67.
- ^ T. A. McGavin, Steam Locomotives of New Zealand, Part One: 1863 to 1900 (Wellington: New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society, 1987), 9.
Companies | ||
---|---|---|
First | Melbourne and Essendon Railway Company 24 February 1859 – 27 August 1867 | Succeeded by Victorian Railways |
- v
- t
- e
- Connex Melbourne
- Deniliquin & Moama Railway Company
- El Zorro
- Freight Australia
- Geelong & Melbourne Railway Company
- Great Northern Rail Services
- Hoys Roadlines
- Kerang–Koondrook Tramway
- Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company
- Melbourne & Essendon Railway Company
- Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway Company
- Melbourne & Suburban Railway Company
- Melbourne Railway Company
- Metropolitan Transit Authority
- M>Train
- Powelltown Tramway
- Rosstown Junction Railway & Property Company
- St Kilda & Brighton Railway Company
- State Transport Authority
- Tyers Valley Tramway
- Victorian Railways
- V/Line Freight
- West Coast Railway