The History of West Coast Railways - VTV episode 3a

[@DandamanV]

Wow, had no idea that those steam engines were actually in regular revenue service so recently. Amazing piece of locomotive history!

[@davidblowe9096]

Despite the rises in fares WCR proved to the state government that rail was viable to regional centres 👍

[@AdmiringSparks]

This is why I love the Victoria rail system

[@Bradleystrains]

Went past our house when I was a kid for years. My mother knew some of the drivers and station staff from her high school days. Wonderful video mate. One of my favourite companies I'm modelling now.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Thanks for your comment! That’s quite cool, i was unfortunately a few years too late to see WCR in operation. Would have been interesting knowing the drivers. I’ve got a Powerline BZ in WCR myself, I’ll eventually turn it into a proper set whenever a B class becomes available again.

[@Bradleystrains]

@@MetroManMelbourne yeah I was a Camperdown boy then near Warrnambool line ran past my bedroom window that's why I'm into trains lol, you'll get there mate I got 2 s class locos doing a kitbash w class and got a few coaches 2 baggage one of the vlx wagons and two guards vans. It takes time to get a collection going trust me. Youll have to post your layout if you have one? I'm working on mine on my channel based on Timboon and mount Gambier. Mixed vr vline era

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Awesome video mate. It's pretty intresting the history of WCR. It's sad to hear about what happend to them at the end. But at least a lot of the rolling stock and locomotives are still around today.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

it is quite good. Interestingly some preserved carriages still have their full WCR refurbished condition. ACZ255 even still has WCR curtains.

[@blancomputers1]

R766 is now localed in NSW in the Hunter Valley after Standard Gauge Converstion full restoration took over 14 years.

[@DaleDix]

R711 is owned by the City of Bendigo. When WCR folded steamrail were given permission to bring it back into service.

[@Robert-qi6mb]

A great little video.

[@shootinputin6332]

Having grew up in the Bool', I rode these trains plenty of times. My favourite memory was in 2001, heading to Summer Camp, in the retro carriages with the cabins. So old-school, and cool. Wish there were more cabins around still.

[@mattk183]

WCR was so retro!! Like you say, the old carriages

[@michaelroper4237]

i used to love going down to the local station and seeing two Rs and twenty carriages hurtling through South Geelong

[@MetroManMelbourne]

I can imagine that would have been an amazing sight

[@michaelroper4237]

@@MetroManMelbourne WCR did some crazy and random line ups in those days

[@pauldalton1357]

Not quiet 20 Cars 😂 But 10 to 12 Cars was not unheard off, these days running 8 -> 10Car trains that exceed the length of the platform would’ve VLP having conniptions regards Safety Issues of all doors not being in a platform… of course back in those days of WCR our dear friend common sense was indeed that more COMMON… The Infamous ‘Look before you leap / check a platform is available before alighting’ visual aid signs posted next too external vestibule exit doors & PA announcements 📣 were made regularly…

[@griffinrails]

amazing video, i'd love 3B to be on the hoys roadlines shepperton services the murraylander would have been awesome to see operating.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

might do something on hoys only problem is there's not much to talk about I do agree that the murraylander would have been great, tbh i hope the mount barker train goes well and they expand it to tailem bend.

[@brucewilliams8714]

@@MetroManMelbourne Re Hoy's. Used it for all its existence it leased all its locos and rolling stock from VLine, and its conductors were former VLine staff from the previous service The trains all had current VLine livery. The conductor operated the snack bar, closing it temporarily when approaching stations before Seymour. After Seymour it ran express to Broadmeadows, then to Spencer Street. When VLine resumed operations there was a full-time attendant in the snack bar, and most staff returned to VLine employment. Hoy's did have on-board celebrations for children's birthdays. It was an interesting, if brief, experiment.

[@mattk183]

Really good job, amazing work, now I know even more about the WCR. This was such a good film, you are to be commented.

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[@joelpackett7582]

This video was as delayed as WCR when their B and S class cracked But the video was well made so makes up for all that!

[@MetroManMelbourne]

very true

[@JordysRailVideos]

Nice work

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

I love the livery its very nice

[@tucoramirez6058]

Used to take the West Coast train sometimes as far as Geelong if I was running late for the 5:40pm out of Spencer Strasse. The lady conductor was very kind to allow me to sit in first class. I guess she would mark it in the log as a higher category ticket to get a larger subsidy. A win-win situation.

[@pauldalton1357]

The Subsidy was only paid on Economy Class Fares & even then; only for the sector Sth Geelong -> W’bool & V.V… Where as First Class Fares were clear profit, hence why a arrangement with The W’bool Co~op Society (Now Also Defunct) was entered into; that allowed it’s members to book up First Class Tickets to Co~Op Society Accounts & pay them off later…

[@Lachtrain]

Great video

[@shefan]

Next: The vinelander, transporting Mildura

[@vsvnrg3263]

pleasant viewing. do you have a title for any videos showing the super r's like i see in your video?

[@TR2100]

Nice vid, a bit more effort with the photograph credos wouldn’t go astray - I’m usually happy to provide full resolution copies of images when requested.

[@WeldinMike27]

One of the r class locos connecting/drive rod came off at high speed somewhere near Colac. Luckily she stayed on the rails.

[@pauldalton1357]

That was R711 when it thru the ‘Big End’ at Birregurra… R766 did a similar incident at Little River which demolished the entire running board when the king pin came lose & the main rod smashed clear…

[@nato344]

WRC ran the TranzScenic services in New Zealand for a couple of years too.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Oh interesting, didn’t know that.

[@withinjapan2024]

Cool vid always wondered where they went

[@garynewton1263]

Why would they have ceased with Trams on this route? It serves the stadium. I believe this the road I walked along in 2010 from Southern Cross to Lorimer street to go to work. That long building on the west side is the old Locomotive sheds right? Hope it renains intact, its a beautiful building.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

Well since you did a video on West Coast maybe you could do a video on the less know private operator Hoys Roadlines? It ran services to Shepperton until 2004, just a suggestion :)

[@MetroManMelbourne]

I was going to do that once but probably not now, it’s not the most interesting thing

[@Trains_Travel_NZ]

You missed a small but interesting side note. For a short period of time WCR operated Tranz Scenic passenger services in New Zealand

[@JsetYT]

Will you do "SSR"? I get it's not V/line

[@MetroManMelbourne]

no

[@JsetYT]

@@MetroManMelbourne ok

[@PurpleHusky1994]

West coast railways in the Eastern states?

[@shootinputin6332]

South-West Victoria.

[@gman83090]

It's so ironic that the West Coast railway line between Warrnambool and Melbourne they still run the n class locomotives and carriages under VLine so all it is is just a private company that ran VLine trains between Melbourne and Warrnambool that's all West Coast railway was

[@sheldonsvalbe1325]

it wasnt the tracks ect that ceased WCR. it was the passing of 1 of the Co-Owners Gary McDonald RIP But Edward has made it keep happening 👍😀

[@cliffleigh7450]

A well put together video but with one flaw - you are speaking too fast. It's like you have to get through the script in a certain time, but that makes it hard for the listener to absorb what you are saying. This unfortunately applies to some of your other videos also - a shame seeing that they are otherwise very good.

[@warhamsterful]

Good old Wally Rail.

[@xnatov2334]

imagine if they were still running to this very day?

[@garynewton1263]

Shame there's no train to Portland/Port Fairy.

[@KJB1331]

There was once, I remember going to Portland once on a railmotor when I was a kid. Not 100% sure but I think it went via Ararat.

[@davidfrost481]

Why West Coast?

[@michaeljones9861]

Warrnambool is on the 'West Coast' of Victoria

[@garynewton1263]

Oh wrong video. Disregard my comments!

[@mtonmt]

blue

[@mtonmt]

great video

[@fatneek1]

thanks for informing me miss! i learnt alot about west coast crips! if you want to add me on snap reply to my message uwu. ty miss metro