| Eastern Railway (western Australia) |
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It was later changed to the line east of Perth , Western Australia , as the line progressed east in the 1880s . Perth was then the location from which miles were measured. 1880'S SNAPSHOT From the West Australian Government Gazette of 1885, January 5th we find the following information: -
This was the completed first two sections of the Eastern Railway, and at this time (1885) the third section was open for tender. FIRST ROUTE The original line ascended the escarpment around Greenmount Hill passing through Boya , Darlington , Glen Forrest , Mundaring and Sawyers Valley before turning north to Mount Helena (White's Mill later known as Lion Mill). It was delayed in construction at a site of difficult construction which was named 'Devil's Terror' - a location between Darlington and Glen Forrest. A creek had to be diverted at this point. However, it quickly became apparent that this route was too steep for the increasingly heavier trains and engines required for the route. As a result, another route was quickly devised in the 1890's. Following the completion of the Second Route, this line became known as the Smith's Mill Branch, then the Mundaring Branch, and later as the Mundaring Loop. Dates: Bellevue - Chidlow: opened 11th March 1884, 'closed' between Boya and Mount Helena 24th January 1954, Bellevue - Boya, and Mount Helena to Childow - closed 13th February 1954. Sections
SECOND ROUTE The route via Swan View , John Forrest National Park , Hovea , Parkerville and Stoneville , through to Mt Helena opened within a decade after the original route. Its grades were less strenuous and the line didn't suffer from the more serious problems of the first route. The line was originally only a single track and featured Western Australia's first (and only until 1990) railway tunnel. See Swan View Tunnel . As traffic increased the newer route was duplicated, with the second track bypassing the tunnel, resulting in a slightly longer journey for trains heading across the Darling Scarp . Dates: Belevue - Mount Helena Opened: 01 July 1896, Closed: 13 February 1966 Sections
THIRD ROUTE In the 1950's it became clear to the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) that the original Eastern Railway alignments were not suitable for the future traffic and loadings that they were going to be carrying between the coast and the country east of the Darling Scarp. It was not until the 1960's that a new eastern railway route was commissioned to run through the Avon Valley (further north than the existing Eastern Railway alignments). This new route was built using heavy continuously welded rail laid on new concrete sleepers. It features much milder grades and is designed for faster train speeds. It is a dual gauge (Stevenson Standard Gauge an Anglo Cape Narrow Gauge ) double line throughout its entirety, also including a few crossing loop sections, where there are 3 tracks. These loops are located at Jumperkine , Moondyne and Toodyay West . Numerous cuttings were also constructed, including the deep Windmill Hill Cutting east of Toodyay. This new route was opened in 1966 and coincided with the closure of the earlier two routes of the Eastern Railway. Dates: Midland - Avon Yard Opened: 13th February 1966 - still operational.
-- CURRENT CONDITIONS The original Eastern Railway alignments still survive today, in the form of a shared path used for cycling, horse riding and walking. Over 80km remain as a path, all the way from Bellevue near Midland right through to Clackline. See Railway Reserve Heritage Trail The original section from Fremantle to Perth to Midland is still in use as part of ). - REFERENCES
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