Fred's Films: ARC Cement Works Geelong [excerpt]

[@stevecharman8420]

My grandfather was forced to work there for a few years when he emigrated from Scotland in the early 1920's (indentured labour). I watched the chimneys come down about 16 years ago. It didn't go smoothly, they were built to last.

[@darylcheshire1618]

That diesel now T413 is the only T class with dynamic braking. Apparently there was a tunnel up a steep incline. I saw an old movie with a steam shovel operating. I thought they were lumbering things but this shovel was operating at quite a pace.

[@brucewilliams8714]

What a great record. Thanks to Fred for filming and to ACMI for preservation. I remember the "cementies" well.

[@marleneboyd-wilson1268]

Great video of the old steam trains which were of great interest to Herne Hill State school children. We could hear the train coming for mikes so though it safe to walk along the railway lines just following the tracks.The train moved along beside Maurice Street, crossed Church Street and headed off to cross the Ballarat Road. Pennies were placed on the line and flattened by the train. I followed the tracks all the way to the Cement works where my uncle Janes Boyd had done the rigging away up on the top of the huge chimneys.

[@railtrolley]

This line was built to service the Lime pit nearby. The manufactured cement powder was moved up the hill by conveyer to the Victorian Railways sidings at the top of the hill, which can be seen in the film. The Garratt loco at 0:58 went to the Museum at Williamstown. Many of the steam locos went to the Bellarine Peninsula Railway, which was operating out of Belmont Common at the time. The blue and gold D1 diesel was sold to the VR, converted to 5'3" and auto couplers and renumbered T413. It survives today. The railway line was replaced by conveyor, the remains of it are now visible from the new Geelong Bypass Rd. One of the few remaining relics, as the whole plant is now closed and demolished. This place always fascinated me in how it solved the problems of varying geography. Can't have been very many "split level" cement plants with 2 different rail gauges.

[@TheBoilermakerno1]

All of the Steam locos are at the Bellrine Railway Queenscliff Vic

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

TheBoilermakerno1 The two Garrett’s are at Queenscliffe. Both dismantled in the open the Vulcan 0-6-0 ST likewise also dismantled it is doubtful that any of these steam locos will steam again. Main reason lack of funds lack of volunteers and the overall railway only runs to Drysdale. The salt air conditions at the railway is another problem Many exhibits are stored outside

[@rsinclair6560]

​@@michaelnaisbitt1639well why not lobby Government to get the Australian War Memorial Museum in Canberra to get the ASG overhauled since it was art of the desperate times during world War two. Australian designed and built in a hurry.

[@rsinclair6560]

T

[@rsinclair6560]

T413 was used on the Cudgewa line due to the steep grades.

[@smitajky]

The rail has gone. Replaced by a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has gone. The factory has gone. The VR siding has gone and now the by pass road has cut through where all of this was. Yet we need more cement than ever before. The world is a funny place.

[@rsinclair6560]

THAT IS EXACTLY HOW I WOULD CARRY PASSENGERS BETWEEN LEBRINA AND WYENA.

[@danthetainman4586]

G33 is looking a bit worst for wear and it looks a lot better since the bellarine railway is fixing it up and after that they will start on the other locos from the cement works some time in the furture

[@Leopold5100]

O.M.G. look at all that pollution ....

[@Gaspode_]

It's mostly steam. And a little bit of soot, but that lands on the ground near the line. The combined output of the cars people drove there to see them was probably more polluting.