Castlemaine - Maldon line 125th anniversary. 13/6/09

13th June 2009

To celebrate 125 years since the opening of the line from Castlemaine to Maldon, Steamrail ran a special from Melbourne to Bendigo using R761-R707 hauling ten cars. (The first double-headed R's for six years) This connected at Castlemaine with a special hauled by J541-J515, which ran to Maldon. Despite very cold and wet weather, there was a huge turn out.

VL33-VL05 have just departed Macedon on the up.	VL33-VL05 have just departed Macedon on the up.	Sounding and looking fantastic in the crisp winter morning air, R761-R707 belt up grade near Macedon.	Sounding and looking fantastic in the crisp winter morning air, R761-R707 belt up grade near Macedon.
Sounding and looking fantastic in the crisp winter morning air, R761-R707 belt up grade near Macedon.	Sounding and looking fantastic in the crisp winter morning air, R761-R707 belt up grade near Macedon.	Looking in the down direction at Malmsbury station. Since the double track was abolished with the Regional Fast Rail project only the down platform has been used here.	Bucket rack at Malmsbury station. Once upon a time all Victorian stations had one of these, holding two buckets of water and one of sand, for fighting fires.
Looking in the up direction at Malmsbury, showing the bluestone station building.	R761-R707 accelerate away from Malmsbury Viaduct, viewed from the platform.	R761-R707 power through Malmsbury station.	R761-R707 pass under a typical Bendigo line bluestone bridge at Malmsbury.
Elphinstone station. The former up side platform was demolished wih the RFR project. This is now part of Taradale loop.	N464 on the down Swan Hill passes the disused station at Elphinstone, having just overtaken the Steamrail special.	An N class on an up Swan Hill pass emerges from Elphinstone tunnel.	An N class on an up Swan Hill pass emerges from Elphinstone tunnel.
An N class on an up Swan Hill pass just after exiting Elphinstone tunnel.	R761-R707 belt up grade towards Elphinstone tunnel.	R761-R707 belt up grade towards Elphinstone tunnel.	R761-R707 belt up grade towards Elphinstone tunnel.
R761-R707 enter Elphinstone tunnel. Once out the other end they will begin the downhill run into Castlemaine.	Motorcaders run back to thier cars at Elphinstone tunnel.	An elderly couple watch from thier car as J541-J515 cross one of the wooden trestles between Castlemaine and Muckleford.	J541-J515 power through the forest between Castlemaine and Muckleford.
J541-J515 power through the forest between Castlemaine and Muckleford.	J541-J515 power through the forest between Castlemaine and Muckleford.	J541-J515 roll downhill into Muckleford.	J541-J515 power up the last grade into Maldon. To the left can be seen the alignment of the former Shelbourne line.
J541-J515 have just arrived at Maldon, greeted by number of vintage cars. The plinthed loco on the left is an E class tank.	J541-J515 with vintage cars at Maldon.	J541-J515 shortly after arriving at Maldon with the 125th anniversary special.	J541-J515 set back to clear the turntable road at Maldon, as K160 joins in on the photo opportunity.
K160 with J541-J515 at Maldon, with a huge crowd of railfans and onlookers.	K160 with J541-J515 at Maldon, with a huge crowd of railfans and onlookers.	K160 and J541 pose for the photo line at Maldon.	K160 and J541-J515 at Maldon.
K160 and J541-J515 at Maldon.	K160 setting back to assist with shunting J541-J515's train at Maldon.	J541 at Maldon.	J541 rests at Maldon, while a kid in a pram is lowered down to join the photo line!
K160 and J541-J515 at Maldon.	K160 with J515 at Maldon.	Side profile of J541 at Maldon.	J541's middle set of drivers at Maldon.
K160 looks on as J541 moves away from J515 at Maldon.	J541 heading over to the depot at Maldon.	K160 with J515 at Maldon.	Stored passenger car with no brakes at Maldon.