Mount Barker Junction to Victor Harbor

South Australia's first railway was an 11 kilometre horse drawn tramway completed in 1854 from Goolwa, on the River Murray, to the small ocean harbour at Port Elliot. The trams moved freight and passengers between the shallow-draft River Murray Paddle steamers and coastal and ocean-going ships.
The tramway reached its final terminus at Victor Harbor in 1864 - bypassing the need for the treacherous anchorage at Port Elliot. The tramway was extended to Strathalbyn in 1869 via a junction at Middleton, right in the middle of the Goolwa to Port Elliot tramway.
The railway from Mount Barker and Adelaide reached Strathalbyn in 1884 and the Strathalbyn to Middleton section was rerouted to run from Currency Creek directly to Goolwa. The entire line from Mt Barker Junction to Victor Harbor line was officially opened as an upgraded light railway in 1885. The Milang branch line opened at the same time and I covered this an earlier video.
The river port of Goolwa had two stations over the years. The first was opposite the Corio Hotel on the old route to the wharf. In January 1915 a loop line was built directly to the wharf and the lines through the centre of Goolwa were closed.
The line has remained the same alignment since then although the smaller stations in the Mt Lofty Ranges are gone and the Milang branch line closed in 1970.
The Victor Harbor Railway Line, also known as the South Coast Railway Line, has a long history and luckily, around 80 kilometres of it is still in use from the Adelaide Hills town of Mount Barker to the coastal town of Victor Harbor. The part of the line we’re about to travel along from Mount Barker Junction to Victor Harbor opened in 1884 and last saw a revenue train in 1984.
The freight task on the Victor Harbor line was never particularly heavy but like all lines of the day, it moved agricultural produce, such as wheat, barley, and livestock, as well as providing a means of travel to the popular and picturesque holiday spots along the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The Victor Harbor Railway Line became part of the South Australian Railways and, later, Australian National (AN), until it was handed over to SteamRanger to operate heritage tourist trains.
SteamRanger has faced many challenges over the years. It was originally established in Adelaide in 1986 to operate tourist trains on the line. But, in 1989, AN declared the Mount Barker Junction-Strathalbyn section unsafe due to poor track condition and SteamRanger operated services from Adelaide to Strathalbyn were cancelled. That section was eventually renewed with assistance from AN and with funding from the State Government.
Gauge conversion of the Adelaide to Wolseley line in 1995 isolated the broad-gauge Victor Harbor line off from the rest of the network, and volunteers took full responsibility for maintaining the track from Mount Barker Junction to Victor Harbor. It was also then that Steam Ranger’s base was moved to Mount Barker. The Junction Jogger service to Mount Barker Junction section of the line closed in 2007.
SteamRanger runs volunteer operated trains on the line to this day. The Southern Encounter runs all the way from Mount Barker to Victor Harbor in the cooler months. The Cockle Train, between Goolwa and Victor Harbor is popular all year round, particularly in the summer holidays.
REFERENCES:
Railways in the Adelaide Hills - Roger Sallis - 1998 - Open Book Publishers
From the Ranges to the Sea - Peter Michalak - 2023 - Railmac Publications
www.steamranger.org.au
IMAGES:
National Railway Museum nrm.org.au
State Library of South Australia
Weston Langford: westonlangford.com/
MUSIC:
Licensed from Envato

[@mnj640]

Great video Mike. It's such a shame we've lost so many regional rail lines over the years. Imagine if we still had them.

[@Planetrainguy]

This video could not be any better! Probably one of your best videos all about my favourite railway line. I love the drones shots and nboard shots and you've combined it very well to make a really entertaining and interesting video. I also love the google earth bit with the small history of the line, very well edited. 10:03 is quite revealing, Redhen 428 without it's bumper because of the collision, and someone has tagged the 2000's >:( Anyway, it's great that these trains are still running, as they are just so good. Also good to know that the government has stepped up and funded for some track works. When I went to Railfest 2023, I overheard from one of the volunteers that the government still owns the line and steamranger runs on them (that was like 2 months ago, so it may have been a bit different from that) which makes sense for the funding. Whoops, I've rambled on a bit but it is just such a really good video. Actually another thing, Steamranger could have a bloody good chance of almost carbon copying the image at 14:46 when they get 845 operating. Just whack some of the old goods wagons from the yards on and boom, photo recreation! Ok I should stop talking

[@Outdoorstype]

I always appreciate what you have to add, Planetrainguy! Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your kind comments. I worked extra hard on this video as I knew people who know a LOT more about the line would be watching so I'm relieved that it has been so well received.

[@user-zv8ph5du5t]

Great stuff, thanks Mike. Something you haven't mentioned is that not only is the Goolwa to Pt Elliot rail line the first in SA (1854) it is the first steel rail line anywhere in Australia (beating out the Sydney to Paramatta line (1855) which is often quoted as being the first.

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks for adding that info and thanks for watching! You've reminded me of how I wasn't quite sure about that, so thought it best not to get it wrong and left it out. Thanks for clearing it up.

[@maxhobby1701]

Your effort Mike is greatly appreciated especially by those of us who where around time the railway was saved.

[@darylephillips6778]

Wow that was soo good it felt like the audience was there with you .

[@PeterYoung357]

Great video, fantastic production values. SA Tourism should be watching and learning.

[@paulstubbs7678]

7:50 love your lens cleaning technique.

[@derekwalker6727]

Brilliant video, looking forward to the next one, love the history 👏 well done

[@Outdoorstype]

Thank you! It's my pleasure. Thanks for watching! 🙏

[@steveneverenoughtrains7388]

Brilliant work.. the music works so well with the whole clip/.

[@1BCamden]

very, very nicely done, what a wonderful piece of work

[@Outdoorstype]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@JohnJoseph-xw5zk]

Excellent video, it's good to see the largely inaccessible bridges between Strath and Currency creek.

[@glenn9229]

what a cracking good video, capturing all the beauty of this line. Great drone work is the cherry on top....really good. Thanks so much for an outstanding tribute to one of SA's secrets

[@Outdoorstype]

Many thanks!

[@maxhobby1701]

Fabulous Mike a great effort your commentary was a wonderful adjunct to the experience. It was another facet of the historical and modern story of one of South Australias greatest assets which was nearly lost had it not been for the expertise and enthusiasm, proven arguments put I Up by a wonderful man whom in my view should have been Railway Commissioner of the SAR. Mr Dean Harvey.

[@Outdoorstype]

Glad you enjoyed it, Max. Cheers.

[@christopherwheeler2749]

Excellent video!

[@yanpingjoshua]

Nice video Mike! Love the drone shots, they look fantastic! And I recognise some of the shots you took on the train! Love the ending part with the music, it is so cool!😃❄

[@Outdoorstype]

Thanks for coming along, Josh. It was great to have you on board.

[@yanpingjoshua]

@@Outdoorstype My pleasure! Thanks for having me!😁❄

[@Ghastly10]

This is such a cool video, all these years I never knew that the line branched off from Middleton, to Strathalbyn / Mount Barker. It is great to see an old but refurbished SAR 830 Class "Mustard Pot" diesel being part of the Steam Rangers in service locomotive collection. 😊 It is interesting at 10.03 to see some 2000 Class "Super Chook" rail cars in the yard, have to wonder if Steam Ranger have plans for them.

[@Outdoorstype]

Maybe they could turn the chooks into a graffiti art display?

[@Jeffzzzaus]

What greaat little video, well done.

[@DomQuartuccio]

Nice video, I make a small cameo at Victor during the Rx's layover.

[@Outdoorstype]

That is so cool! Thanks for watching, Dom.

[@Antony_Jenner]

Thanks Mike, a wonderful video to say the least. My son and I were at Milang a couple of weeks ago, Had a really good chat with the volunteer. It really is a pity the Milang line closed, personally I think it should be reopened as a tourist line and maybe bring some well needed money to the little Port. Anyway well done mate!

[@Outdoorstype]

The Milang Railway Museum is amazing isn't it? Thanks for watching.

[@Rheilffordd]

Excellent video Mike, and sums up the post-service history of the line really well! What software did you use to animate your map of the line? I really liked it and added a great touch. Cheers

[@Outdoorstype]

Cheers, Rheilfford. I use After Effects and Premiere Pro for the animation.

[@omalleetours3456]

A lot of hard work has gone into this production. Unbelievable what you’ve achieved with this video!

[@Outdoorstype]

It's a shame that only one chocolate eclair from the Port Elliot bakery was harmed in the making of this video.

[@polly3213]

Well done Mike. .Live down here and had tear in my eye. Very well done letting the train sounds in nicely with what I can only describe as slick editing. The last shots of night working locos brings back fond memories of 520 working hard back to Mt Lofty after a day at the coast. Excellent drone work and I for one appreciate your effort for all the incredible detail.. 10 out 10 ..

[@Outdoorstype]

Thank you so much!

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Thanks for sharing this great video.

[@Outdoorstype]

My pleasure

[@laok]

fun fact the minister roads and infrastructure is allso the Minister for Energy and Mining meaning oll gets a say with enny project so these train lines will never be reopened fully

[@Outdoorstype]

Yeah, roads won the transport battle years ago. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jimcrawford5039]

Such a shame a lot of lines have closed in S.A. I don’t think there are any country trains running there any more, correct me if I’m wrong. Love your vids. Cheers from Wagga.

[@Outdoorstype]

SteamRanger and Pichi Richi are the only heritage trains, but no country passenger trains in SA, Jim (unless you count The Overland). Thanks for watching!

[@garynewton1263]

Another question: Did the Milang line branch off at Finniss or Sandergrove? And was there ever a Sandergrove station?

[@Outdoorstype]

It's all in the opening animation, Gary.

[@claytonmoody265]

Fantastic Production well done.

[@arholker]

Thank you very much.

[@Outdoorstype]

You are most welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@garynewton1263]

Such a shame the mongrels have ruined Mount Barker Junction station. I remember in the early 80s going through there on the Overland on oyr family vacation from Melbourne to Wallaroo. The station looked great in those days. Also can anyone tell me was there ever a 'Gemmell' station? And is there is Bugle Ranges station?

[@Outdoorstype]

There were 'platforms' at both but more like sidings than stations.

[@paulstubbs7678]

Nice vid, Its been quite a few years since we were over there, I never got to explore the railway, we were kind of hugging the coast and didn't venture much to the inland towns. We were staying in Adelaide and just did the odd day trip here and there. We did take a ride on the Granite Island horse drawn tram kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKHYnat-Z7iBZ9E (sorry about the quality, video tape days) and had a good look around there. We didn't see any rail activity when we were there, maybe it was not running. As we have no children we tend to take our holidays just after all the little ones go back to school, whilst this does make for a quieter experience and easier on accommodation/caravan sites, it does mean some tourist activities are not running. Unfortunately we are now in our sixties and the wife has a wheelie walker, meaning a lot of this is now impractical.

[@Outdoorstype]

Isn't it amazing how far our cameras have come since 1997? Thanks for linking that vid, Paul.

[@glennmcc64]

Too bad the run from Strath to Goolwa is closed to passengers atm

[@Outdoorstype]

Happy they're renewing the infrastructure though.