The Secrets Of The Frankston Line!

[@WhoDaresWins-B20]

Train Man, I worked for the Victorian Railways from 1961 to 1965 and again from 1967 to 1969. I lived at Bonbeach, and the first station I worked at was Frankston, then all the way up the line as a Station Assistant; A Signal Assistant after securing my Double Line Block, Electric Staff and Staff & Ticket Briefs, I worked at Edithvale Chelsea Aspendale and Mordialloc. I went on the Cheltenham Loop working the Bay Road Box, Patterson Railway Station. Upon my discharge from the Army in 1967, I returned to work for the Railways and ended up Signal Assistant at McKinnon. The section between McKinnon and Bentleigh and McKinnon and Ormond, was the fastest section as there was but 1 minutes between McKinnon and Ormond on the UP and 1 minute between McKinnon and Bentleigh on the DOWN. Mate; I can give you a lot of history on the Frankston Line.

[@melbournerailfan2985]

You didn't get rolled 🤣 Frankston station is something else

[@geoffb108]

Excellent production young man. You have a great future in documentary film making.

[@_LeeTurner]

Aspendale used to have train yards too. Two trains used to park just south of the station. I remember tagging them before my paper-round hahahahaha

[@paulmcleod6061]

The Siding used to come from Aspendale and went towards Edithvale 3 trains used to be stabled there every day.

[@thelionking219]

As of 2016, Centre Road, McKinnon Road and North Road were removed by lowering the tracks beneath the roads and they built new stations at Bentleigh, McKinnon and Ormond. And as of 2018, they removed 2 level crossings at Skye Road, Frankston and Seaford Road, Seaford by building rail bridge over the roads but didn’t include a rebuilt Frankston Station. Then, as of 2020, they removed the level crossings at Balcombe Road, Charman Road and Park road and built new stations below ground in rail trenches at Cheltenham and Mentone. Also in 2020, they removed the 3 level crossings at Eel Race Road, Station Street and Mascot Avenue in Carrum by building a skyrail with a new elevated Carrum Station. Then as of 2021, the level crossings at Argyle Avenue, Bondi Road, Chelsea Road, Swanpool Avenue, Edithvale Road and Lochiel Avenue were removed by lowering the rail line beneath the roads into a rail trench and built 3 new stations below ground in that rail trench at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach. And as of 2023, they removed the level crossings at Glen Huntly Road and Neerim Road in Glen Huntly by lowering the tracks beneath the road into a rail trench which also included a new Glen Huntly Station. Now under construction, they are removing 2 level crossings at Warrigal Road, Mentone and Parkers Road, Parkdale which they will be removed by 2025 by building an elevated rail bridge an a new elevated Parkdale Station. And now they are planning to remove all the rest of the level crossings on the Frankston Line by 2029 and building 4 new elevated stations at Highett, Mordialloc, and Seaford and a new station below ground in a rail trench at Aspendale.

[@edwinlamont4187]

Caufield was a way and works base for many years and the platform was use by them. I remember seeing the trucks and equipment there in the 90's.

[@nicholasgeorge1384]

Thanks for all your hard work , this has been very informative and enjoyable.

[@nickapenianski9696]

I am not sure if anyone has commented about the goods siding at Caulfield here is some history on Wikipedia The station has mostly stayed the same since 1914, with only minor upgrades taking place. In 1977, the goods yard and loading platform was closed to traffic. This platform had been used for cargo, postal, farming, and Caulfield Racecourse horse deliveries during its operational life; however, it was decommissioned after the reduction in use. In 1985, a number of sidings and their associated points and signals were abolished. The station underwent minor upgrades in 1994 and 2015-16, and in June 1996, it was upgraded to a Premium Station. In July 2022, the signal box at the station was closed, with operations handled remotely from the Kananook signal control centre.

[@blackflhtk7443]

Great vid. Your skills as an Historian and KZbinr far outweigh mine as a grumpy old train driver.

[@the_train_man]

Haha, glad you think so. Your knowledge is far bigger than mine though

[@Techno-Universal]

I also just discovered what I believe to be an old abandoned lift shaft at the outbound/Southern end of platform 1 at Toorak station! :)

[@the_train_man]

very fascinating, I must check it out!

[@mendocinobeano]

Great video. Just one little correction. Albert Jacka was the recipient of the "Victoria Cross" not the "Southern Cross".

[@nickhunn5405]

Hey trainman, you said if we've got any into to add, I've got a couple for you... 1. Frankston Train Station featured in the 1959 Hollywood movie On The Beach, and still looked pretty much the same into the '80s. 2. Just by chance I was chatting with some random in a Cranbourne shop - turns out he is one of the switchmen that work the Frankston Switching box. It is the biggest one of only about 3 manual "lever" switching boxes left in the State, something like 42 manual levers - everywhere else is now digitally controlled. He was very proud of his work, and I'm sure if you made yourself known there, you might be able to get a bit of a tour and do a vid. If you have no luck with the switching box staff, I might be able to arrange a meeting with the Station Master who might be able to get you in sideways. Great to see a young bloke with such passion that doesn't involve a gaming console.

[@the_train_man]

Thank you for such the kind words Nick, great to see you enjoying the video. I would love to have a tour of the switching box one day, maybe a video on it, thanks for the kind offerings, I will let you know after lock downs!

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

You beat me to it about "On The Beach"!

[@johnsergei]

My grandfather was in charge of the Toorak goods yard, when I was a child. He often took me to work and Every second Sunday, he was on duty at the ticket office of the adjacent station. I remember him closing up the goods yard in the evening. One thing he'd to is put the stations handgun into the safe. The VR had a lot of cash on the move back then. My father lived at 33 Cromwell road, my bedroom overlooking the railway. There were lots of diesel locomotives on this line in the 1970s, down trains in notch 8, climbing the grade from South Yarra, on the closest track too and the house is above the railway. The tracks were 2 down and two up (from the house, East to West. It was re arranged for the City Loop down, up, down, up. Accept during peak times, the outside tracks were exclusively freight and country passes. What! Not enough trains for ya? Mom lived bellow the tracks near East Camberwell station, no locos, but for a short goods once or twice a week, but still, often 5 emu in 5 minutes or so during peaks, like dad's. You're correct in the date of those inner stations. This line was quadrupled, just before electrification. when built, in about 1990 or many just before, my dad's house would have likely towered over Cromwell road, before the street was raised for the rail bridge. There may have already been a bridge over the then double track?

[@the_train_man]

That sounds awesome John, hope you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing your anecdote, I am jealous of your experiences! Sounds awesome, hope you made great memories!

[@johnsergei]

@@the_train_man My (maternal) grandfather took me to places the public could no access, Flinders Street signal boxes, loco depots and locos themselves & he always gave me the Victorian Railways Newsletter, a magazine a bit like Newsrail. In my final years in Melbourne he showed me a lot of attention. I'd just turned 12 when I left, to live in Adelaide, with my father's side of the family. For 1976 and 7. Trains were not part of my life. My father's mother moved alongside the railway lines at Parafield Gardens later in 1978. We were there a lot. There were several freight trains and short loco country passes or Bluebirds a day, nothing like Cromwell road though and these basically raced passed, no time for roaring and the country passes were usually doin line speed or close 115 km/h. She was there for years, but in the early 80s I spent a couple of years right on the main South line at Lynton. Every evening freghts and the Overland would tackle the Adelaide Hills. The grade had already knocked the speed out of the trains, which always had multiple lashups 3 or 4 locos were common and sometimes more, though usually hauled dead. Sometimes some locos came off at Tailem Bend, as it flat after that. The house shook and you couldn't here the TV as the giants roared slowly past. Downhill trains were not quiet ether, dynamic brakes in full. VR C class had just started running through to Adelaide, they were mighy impressive. Apart from ten years near Thornbury station recently, I have not lived near a railway line for 36 years now, yet in a 10 year period I was alongside 4 ( including my grandmother, where I often spent the night), all by chance too. There are so few heavy trains on these lines now, what's the point? & The modern locos are mostly quieter and much more powerful. Despite the sheer tonnage of the modern intermodal trains, two, sometimes 3 locos, is all you need, even for the Adelaide Hills.

[@johnsergei]

@@the_train_man Finest memory? The trainwhaching I did in the Adelaide Hills a few years after I lived along the line. Brake vans were gone by now and I'd wait at night in a tunnel lay by for a freght train. You would believe what a lady up of C class and Alco locomotives sound like in a tunnel. Well I was young and adventurous + I could read railway signals. I always left after the train had passed and once down a dirt access track, came a security patrol at Upper Sturt tunnel. I was well clear and there is no lighting in the bush, they soon drove away. As well as Socks and EMD 2 strokes from Victoria (mostly C class), you had a sound you may not be familiar with, English Electric. The SAR 900 class. For a period in late 1983, triple 900s toiled past my kitchen window, getting the Overland up the grade. Riding a 900 is amazing huge cab, huge square nose. Bit like buying Ina long Bonnet truck just much bigger an another story higher. You see over the roof of suburban busses, even up to the roof of low carriages like Harris trains. And I can't describe how locos ride, nothing like the cars, very rock and rolly. A bit like swinging to music in you chair. "Yeah, chair, that would be nice" says the steam !oco fireman as the shovel goes crunch!

[@the_train_man]

That's pretty impressive John, I truly appreciate the stories, cool how you remember all that. How cool it would have been to sit at home, trains rumbling past, I am truly envious! Your stories have me thinking of times a couple of decades ago, when most of you experiences occurred, in which trains and locomotives had more character and made the distinct noises that make so many people fall in love with trains. Thank you.

[@johnsergei]

@@the_train_man The memories are a bit sad too. What has happened to the railways has been utter vandalism. Of the 5 railway lines if lived next too (and all by chance, nothing to do with with my grandfather, who didn't live near a railway), the Epping line 2002-2012 had no diesels, only a few work trains a year so that was nothing special. Evey evening 5 or 6 freghts and the Overland would toil, slowly up the Adelaide Hills and about the same number comming down to Adelaide in the morning, I missed most of the latter Inc the Overland, usually, I was at work. Today you rarely see more than 2 freghts go past in 6 hours at anytime and sometimes nothing. And Hawksburn? I think only the Hastings steel trains are left The freght through here was constant, during the evenings and despite the use of L class locos. Many freights were diesel hauled. One of the saddest aspects is once interstate travel used to be a great adventure for me. Now it's just a chore on a bus or car. Every evening the Spirit Of Progress left Melbourne for Sydney at 6:45. Followed by the Southern Araura at 8. The Overland, a train even longer than the Araura at times was waiting on platform 2. Then the Intercapial Daylight from Sydney arrived and the Overland departed. After that, we still had the Vinelander to go. Not one of these trains runs today and none have been replaced. The interstate trains were all different designs. The Overland cars had a stable style exit door, a common feature on SAR rolling stock and in America. That means you could safely have the top half of the door open. On my first trip to Melbourne in 1981, I wasn't used to even surbuban train speeds. I returned from the club car after Tailem Bend, only to find my carrage in darkness and the countryside flying past at what seemed like 140 km/h, in the moonlight. Felt and sounded like 160 when I went to the vestuable and opened the top part of the door, in reality it was about 110-115 the max permitted. I have since been to the UK where HST trains have an opening window as they have slam doors. Try that at 200 km/h. This feature will also be gone soon. Despite their age HST still holds the top speed record for a diesel train.

[@realaussiemale567]

The pioneers mother was named Elsie. There is a street named Elsie grove after her.

[@michaeljones1432]

Hi T.M. .. Love all your vids, i lived in melb (carnegie) and "rode the trains" 1st with my dad, 2nd with my bro, 3rd with school chums then, 4th with other mates, i also caught trains from Carnegie, Glenhuntly and Ormond to and from work from 15 yo, to City Come to Perth (where i am now) and do your "thing" here

[@WayneKline]

Hey, just found your Channel today, by accident I have to say. Great videos, well done. You want a suggestion for one, well how about the Broadmeadows, or should I say now the Craigieburn Line! 😃 Thank you & well done!

[@the_train_man]

Thank you Wayne for the kind words, I will get a craigieburn video up this summer just for you

[@WayneKline]

@@the_train_man Thank you very much for the response. Pascoe Vale was my home station for 26 years. Essendon was my school station for 5 years. Now in Singapore. Heard you mention London Underground, it is awesome. Love London. Geoff Marshall is awesome, does fantastic work. You take care, good night. Please take good care and stay safe!

[@realsquee8844]

Just discovered your Chanel , it’s great content !

[@the_train_man]

Thank you very much! It's always great to hear new people joining the channel :)

[@binaway]

Frankston station was featured in the 1959 Hollywood movie 'On the beach' with Hollywood stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins.

[@the_train_man]

Yes, I read about it after the video, very fascinating!

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

@@the_train_man There's a fascinating book about it, "When Hollywood Came to Melbourne", by Philip R. Davey, which is, unfortunately, not that easy to get hold of. (Dr Davey does contribute a commentary to the DVD of the film, though.)

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

There are shots on the platform (Gregory Peck disembarking from a Harris train to be met by Ava Gardner!) and from the station exterior in this film.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

The pre-1986 Frankston Railway Station was featured prominently at the beginning of the apocalyptic film, "On The Beach" (1959), in which Australia (or at any rate the southern part of it) was the only place on earth in which human beings were still alive after a global nuclear war.(The film was set in the then futuristic date of 1964.) However, the cloud of radiation was drifting downwards, and the various characters in the film only had 5 months to get their lives in order and make their peace with the world! It featured some heavyweight Hollywood stars (some of them portraying Australian characters, with varying degrees of convincingness!), and Ava Gardner (a party girl with a penchant for alcohol and men) meets Gregory Peck (a ramrod straight US naval commander) on the platform of Frankston as he has just disembarked from a blue Harris train. There's actually a great two-part documentary on the film's locations: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eImUl3SPYt-Mqa8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIuXga2tq9qLqbM You are a young genius, Max, both as a railway historian and a documentary film maker!

[@matthill7654]

The siding at Seaford was about 100m off the end of platform 1 and went to Seaford Rd... 2 trains would be layed up here...

[@neilmansfield8329]

This is a great video

[@tubester4567]

I've been to all of those stations! Moorabbin was the stop to watch Stkilda games in the VFL. StKilda played at Moorabbin from 1964 to 1992. The 4 stations Hawksburn, Toorak, Armidale, and Malvern are beautiful old stations, so well built and will last forever.

[@the_train_man]

Thank you tubester4567, happy to hear you have great memories of the line. I hope the first 4 stations on the line stay how they are for many decades to come and it would have been pretty cool going out of the city to watch the footy, hope that comes back in the future. Thanks!

[@mvnorsel6354]

I also took the train from Thomastown to watch the Saints in the 80s. Sad place not many wins. Perhaps 2020?? Here's hoping.

[@tubester4567]

@@mvnorsel6354 My team is North Melb but went to Moorabbin when North played Stkilda every year.

[@mvnorsel6354]

@@tubester4567 I didn't even think about the other teams visiting.

[@paulmcleod6061]

The Stations from South Yarra to Caulfield were built for a royal visit when the two Princes visited in 1920. The royal train travelled out to Caulfield and back, also if you notice the crypts under the ramps are where they put the caskets awaiting the train to the Springvale Memorial Park.

[@the_train_man]

Goodness me this is some amazing information Paul, how did you come across this? Thanks for sharing!

[@RiffRaffMama.]

I grew up in Parkdale and went to school in Mentone, so I spent a lot of time all along the Frankston line when I was younger. Loved this video. Some of the stations have changed so much, but it looks like Parkdale remains pretty unaltered from when I last lived there in 1996.

[@markspublictransportvideos8429]

Carrum best station on the Frankston line i'm so happy to call this station my home station i live a few minutes away to Carrum. I get to witness this amazing views of Port Phillip bay and you can see the city and Portsea, Mornington and Frankston as well

[@the_train_man]

It is such a beautiful station, I was amazed when I first arrived and I am sure I will revisit it several times more!

[@markspublictransportvideos8429]

@@the_train_man Carrum main station entrance opens on Saturday

[@carriebizz]

It's changed so much now

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

I have always been told that the level crossing that used to exist at the Nepean Highway in Moorabbin was the first level crossing in Melbourne to have boom gates installed at it. My mother grew up in that area during the 1950s, and she clearly remembers them. The Seaford rail siding was next to the football ground. It was on the same side of the tracks as the City bound trains.

[@the_train_man]

I'm 100% sure about the first boom gates in Melbourne, however I have been told that Warrigal Road in Mentone was the first, although Nepean Highway may have been the first! Thanks for the information on the Seaford sidings, didn't know too much about them, thanks!

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

@@the_train_man My grandparents lived in Seaford, and 2 trains used to be stabled alongside of the football ground every weekend when I would go there to visit them during the 1980s. They may have gotten vandalised because they were sitting in the open with no fences surrounding them.

[@the_train_man]

Haha, that's amazing that there wasn't a fence! How times have changed.

[@WickedFizz999]

All the stations on this lines look the same to me. This line reminds me of Sydney

[@AdmiringSparks]

Wow I remember when this came out it’s been a while

[@thies7831]

Filmed with a phone camera in selfie mode. It is all mirror reversed, even the writing on your hoodie. Until 4:17.5:07. Back to selfie mode. Keep a mirror handy for getting the real vision ...

[@WesJones1]

Just discovered your fascinating channel thanks to KZbin. Keep up the awesome work. You definitely have a wonderful imagination in putting your videos together and making them interesting. You have found a niche that is scratching a lot of peoples itches and you have certainly done your homework in researching each video. Good on you. Keep up the great work!

[@WesJones1]

Not sure if you have come across this old video of the manually operated boom gates at Neerim Rd kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHrWmJqerLqfbJo

[@AlienCyborg-gs6pw]

Hey Train man im still anwsering from the St Kilda video you did, was it Danny a good mate who lived a few streets behind me, i havnt seen him for a while.

[@AuMechanic]

The trench only runs a short distance each side of Cheltenham and Mentone not all the way between. BTW both road bridge crossings have been completed at Mentone and Chelt and are open now but not the stations yet, test train will run through this weekend I am told Also, Cheltenham used to have a siding on the Nth side of Park road and Mentone on the Sth side of the station that was a Briquette yard.

[@the_train_man]

Thank you for the extra information about both stations' past. Shame about the lock downs, not sure how I will film the progress to put into a video.

[@AuMechanic]

@@the_train_man Its a bit hard to do now Ive got a pile of images Ive taken of the progress but not much use for video. Was planning to post them on Twitter but never got around to it.

[@the_train_man]

I hope to get out in a month or two to film, I filmed a little bit before much construction occurred, a before and after would look great. If you aren't using the photos, I would love to use them if you send them to [e-mail] thanks

[@BTgla]

Yes I remember the Sensing Murder Episode for the Kananook Station abduction :( They still haven't found the murderers yet.

[@rajivmurkejee7498]

I think you meant to say that Albert Jacka was the first Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War One

[@johnlang4198]

Malvern goods siding was on the other side of Glenferrie Road to the station.

[@pauloconnor2980]

1879. Train man, that's the same year the Tay Bridge in Scotland, collapsed!!!

[@jessesands4099]

11.54 You Review My Local Railway Station Chelsea!🤗🏚️🛤️🚇🏖️⛱️🌅

[@stilley78]

Wow man! I only found this channel about two days ago and you really are a wealth of knowledge- you're a train freak, lol. Keep up the good work. I am going to have to keep watching

[@richardjohnson2927]

Dude, loving your videos! Couple of extras about the Franga line, which may have been mentioned in other comments... Around Edithvale, if you look to the North side of the tracks you will catch a glimpse of a set of baulks for the old siding. They are well buried in the bushes, so you'll need a sharp eye! Also, Frankston is the last remaining site in the Melbourne Metro system to use Two Position Signalling and Disc Signals. A bone of contention for Trainee Train Drivers, but interesting to see. Keep up the awesome work Train Man!

[@COLINJELY]

In Frankston-Dandenong Rd, Frankston North, just near the Long Island Golf Course is the old District Foresters House and the nearby Pines Estate. Presume timber would have been loaded at Frankston?

[@krisdevalle]

I read somewhere that the Mentone station buildings will be preserved and restored and back in place as mixed use commercial once the project is completed.

[@the_train_man]

Yes! Very exciting to see their re-use and restoration, I believe they will be placed in the same spot as they are now, with the tracks below in a covered trench. Thanks!

[@krisdevalle]

@@the_train_man Thanks for the reply - I live in Aspendale and I like how you liked the station, despite it really being rather ordinary. When you are down on the beach you can hear the train horns quite clearly. I have a mate who just finished training and qualification as a driver for Metro, she has lots of cool stories about the lines.

[@the_train_man]

@@krisdevalle That sounds awesome, pretty jealous of your friend! I love how the stations is built with lighter shaded materials, fits right in with the beach! Great to hear from you again!

[@nickapenianski9696]

Patterson station did open in 1961 so you were right

[@johndelaney2957]

Only saw you yesterday another great video.

[@the_train_man]

Thank you John, happy to hear you are watching several videos, appreciate it!

[@johndelaney2957]

@@the_train_man A page you might like on Facebook is Australian rail maps.

[@the_train_man]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look into it!

[@johndelaney2957]

@@the_train_man ok let me know what you think..

[@brucemoyle7610]

The stations Hawksburn to Armadale are in a cutting and look the same because they were rebuilt in the 1909 regrading project. Until then, Toorak Bank was very steep. The siding at Toorak left the line on the down side of the up local line, and must have ended somewhere near Toorak Park. Never knew what goods it carried. The ornate lift building on platform 1 at Armadale always fascinated me, what was it for, and when was it last used? Malvern Goods - that I CAN help with. The sidings were on the up side of Glenferrie Road, in front of where Malvern Central shopping centre now stands. I well remember a pair of GY wagons in the siding regularly with briquettes from Morwell in the mid-1980s, the yard had firewood and stuff as well. I reckon the tracks were pulled up around 1990-ish. 1988 sounds about right. Caulfield - notice the platforms are wide apart, because there were once six tracks through the station, the middle ones were bypass tracks for goods trains. I remember the L class electrics sounding wonderful in regenerative braking mode passing through. I think the signal box closed roughly when these tracks were removed. Glenhuntly - where the car park now is used to be the goods yard. There used to be a ventilated van parked where the toilet block is now, I swear it sat there for a decade. The Neerim road gates were manual gates (yes, crossing keeper in little cottage running out into the traffic) until the 1990s. The Glenhuntly gates were also manual, but cranked by what looked like a ship's wheel in the old signal box, on the site of the old one. There was a footbridge over the station back then. The down platform buildings are mostly original, untouched by the 3rd track project. Back in those days, I have witnessed trams being derailed by the signalman forgetting to reset the catch points many times, but only heard about the most famous oops incident 3rd hand. The story goes that all the right levers were pulled for a tram except the voltage lever, which left 1500Vdc live in the tram square overhead instead of the correct 600Vdc. The tram "went very fast then stopped" is how it was described.

[@joeandjan]

Loved this one as it's my line and Carrum Station is my Station. Thanks for covering this and for all the history and information provided by you.

[@the_train_man]

No problem Joe, glad you enjoyed this video on your home line!

[@jessesands4099]

15.10 Frankston Railway Station Features In The 1959 Film On The Beach Starring Gregory Peck Ava Gardner And Fred Astaire!🏚️🛤️🚇🏖️⛱️🌅

[@adammurphy6845]

Another Train Man masterpiece! Always excited when you put out a new video

[@the_train_man]

Thank you Adam, great to hear you liked the video, hope you like more of my videos in the future!

[@JordysRailVideos]

Chelsea did have a siding on the Frankston side of platform 2

[@the_train_man]

That's interesting, thank you for the information!

[@JordysRailVideos]

@@the_train_man www.victorianrailways.net/signaling/completedia/chelsea69.html

[@kkgibbon]

Thank you for doing my line

[@SeraFMataira]

No that’s cool I got my questioned answered, but seriously bright future ahead for you bro! Good to see the young generation stepping up like yourself

[@the_train_man]

Thank you! Good luck, let me know how you go in the future!

[@graemecastleton545]

Hi trainman, very enlightening video. First boom gates were at toorack road on the glen waverly line in 1956. The first flashing lights were installed at Warragul road Mentone in 1923. Keep up the good work. Goods sidings were at Toorak, Malvern, Caulfield, Glenhuntly, Moorabbin just to name a few ! The road crossing between Mordialloc and Aspendale was controlled by a Wig Wag signal until replaced with flashing lights in the 1960s.

[@the_train_man]

Thanks for the extra information! I understand I have mixed up some of my facts, but thank you for the information on the wig wag signals, didn't know that, thanks!

[@paulhicks3595]

Albert Jacka - VICTORIA CROSS recipient.

[@the_train_man]

silly mistake from me, been given heaps for it haha

[@jacintaedwards1123]

Mr Train Man, correct.....There was a goods siding at Malvern. I remember riding my bike along it around 1984 when I used to go to the local record store there. Malvern Central SC was quite small in those days and in the late 80s it was built over the goods sidings.

[@desparky]

Great video. I grew up in Seaford in the 70's and travelled that line so many times. Another historic fact about Frankston - It was in the 1959 Hollywood film "On the beach". If you're into bike riding and trains, there's so many old "Rail Trails" that I've ridden that would be great to make vids of. For example, the Red Hill line that came off the Stony Point line at Bittern. Part of the line is now a horse/bike trail from Merricks to Red Hill. Heaps more, with great history of our country. Keep up the good work.

[@the_train_man]

I appreciate the support :) and great to hear you enjoyed! I go camping near Merricks and Balnarring and will definitely do a video on the Red Hill Line when I go at the end of the year, thanks for the suggestion! I will for sure look to ride along more trails, especially looking forward to the Warburton Line, thanks!

[@desparky]

@@the_train_man I've watched a few of your vids now, and love them. Looking forward to watching future ones too. Regarding the Red Hill line, It's fairly easy to follow where the branch line went from Bittern to Merricks (where it goes through private properties now) when you look in Google Earth. I think the Balnarring Station was where the skate park is now. You can also see the raised ballast alongside the left hand side of Frankston-Flinders Road just inside the property fence lines as you approach Balnarring from Bittern. Where the trail ends up in Red Hill (near the bike skills park) you can see the remains of the turntable foundations. Keep up the good work.

[@the_train_man]

@@desparky Thanks for the tips, I will take them on when I do the video, thank again!

[@pauloconnor2980]

This video is doing my head in. Most of it has been backwards but at Carrum it seems OK.

[@realaussiemale567]

Building the new station at Frankston did nothing to rid the area of the scourge of drugs, violence & alcoholism that has always plagued that part of Frankston.

[@thies7831]

Once the tunnel from Stony Point to French Island will be built, they will be relocated to that place, enticed by a free fare.

[@terrywalsh458]

Albert Jacka was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, not the Southern Cross!

[@the_train_man]

Thanks Terry, I knew it was the Victoria Cross, can't believe I said Southern haha, sorry!

[@craigalden9416]

Love for you to do some videos on what upgrades you would like to see on stations other than the metro rail level crossing upgrades…. Minor or major….extra shelters, platform regrading etc… for passenger comfort…. Great work.

[@sunflower_1990]

Need to do a video on the Geelong line..My housemate said there used to be an extension where trains used to go from South Geelong to Queenscliff but that extension shut down however there is a train that runs only from my hometown Drysdale to Queenscliff and back..🚂🚆

[@johnd8892]

I traveled on a steam special train from Flinders Street to Queenscliff about 1968 when I was young. D3 to Geelong then a K class to Queenscliff. Usual passenger trains were a Walker railcar.

[@davidcuulong9935]

The 4 lines between South Yarra to Caulfield are called the Up & Down Caulfield Local Lines (Pakenham & Cranbourne trains) and the Up & Down Caulfield Through Lines (Frankston trains). Toorak Goods Yard was at street level on the south side of the station where there are now townhouses. The goods yard could only be accessed from the Up Caulfield Through Line and branched off from the up side of Armadale and climbed up the side of the embankment to the goods yard, road access to the goods yard was from Orrong Rd and near the down end of platform 1 at Toorak is a brick tower that was the office for the yard foreman, the points & signals for the line branching off the Up Caulfield Through Line towards the Toorak Goods Yard were controlled from a small signal box at Armadale which is still there at platform level on platform 2 under the station building. Toorak Goods Yard was never electrified and so only diesel loco's could shunt there. Malvern Goods Yard was adjacent to the Down Caulfield Local between Wattletree Rd & Glenferrie Rd, behind what is now Malvern Central shopping centre. The goods yard could only be accessed from the Down Caulfield Local Line and there was a small signal box (like Armadale) which controlled the points & signals in/out of the yard, the signal box is still there on platform 3 under the station building. Road access was from both ends of the yard. The yard was electrified so both diesel & electric loco's could shunt there. Caulfield - the platform you call a goods platform and want more information on was never a goods platform, nor the platform for regional trains from Orbost, nor a parcel dock, nor a briquette siding, it was originally for unloading/loading horses and was called the Horse Dock, in later years it became the Works Siding where track maintenance machines would be stabled. The original Works Siding was adjacent to the Down Dandenong Line between Queens Ave and the rear of East Caulfield Reserve. Trains from Gippsland always ran through the main platforms. The electric parcel coaches would always run in both directions from the Dandenong & Frankston lines through platform 4 where the parcels office used to be. Caulfield Goods Yard was on the other side in the curve of the Frankston Line where there is still an extended siding that parallels the Up Frankston Line most of the way from Neerim Rd. Caulfield Goods Yard had 6 sidings and 'A Siding' which parallels the Up Frankston Line used to extend through to Glenhuntly where there used to be Glenhuntly Goods Yard between Neerim Rd & Glenhuntly Rd. In the Caulfield Goods Yard one of the sidings was for a fire wood retailer (Clarke Bros or Clarke's Fuel Merchants?) who had wagons railed in of briquettes from Morwell, Mallee roots from the north west etc. In the same siding as the fuel merchant was the goods platform. In the Caulfield Station area there were also additional tracks between platforms 1 & 2 and 3 & 4.

[@the_train_man]

Wow, thank you for all the information, especially on the Caulfield platform, didn't know any of that! I have seen photos of the old Toorak Goods Yard, interesting its incline up the embankment Furthermore, thank you for the information on the Malvern Goods Yard, not sure many people know as much as you about it. Hope to hear from you again soon!

[@badwolfgirl95]

This is brilliant. Well done :)

[@romanbellic1721]

2:56 that platform is not a goods siding it’s the old platform for regional trains from orbost to the city it served from 1879 to 1925

[@the_train_man]

Thanks for the info Lachlan, I wasn't too sure, interesting to hear about it!

[@darylcheshire1618]

Caulfield was the depot for signals and boom gates and related equipment, probably that platform was to transfer equipment, I mainly saw track repair equipment in that siding. Not sure of the original purpose.

[@the_train_man]

@@darylcheshire1618 You've got it spot on! It was originally a horse dock, before being converted to a works platform

[@BrillOBuffalo]

Actually incorrect. The works platform primarily catered for 'weed trains' which ran down all lines clearing the pit of weeds.

[@jacintaedwards1123]

So trains to Orbost back then didn't start from Flinders Street or Spencer Street?

[@malcolmblair7989]

Hi, great work. Have you seen the old boomgate clocks at Centenary Park, Chelsea. I believe they were in place to let you know how long until the boom gates were to open at Chelsea and a number of other stations in the area.

[@donarcher7002]

The Marshalite countdown clocks were on the traffic lights, not very accurate either. We used to watch them as kids to see when the lights changed to green, not much good for the local street racers as they were quite out of sinc with the lights. collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/408344

[@hudsonxxxxkirk5261]

and it opened on 28 May 1961.

[@RiffRaffMama.]

The "-leigh" in Bentleigh is an old word meaning "valley" ( ̶v̶a̶l̶ley=leigh), as are "-vale" and "-dale" (valley̶=vale=dale), which makes place names like "Springvale", "Oakleigh", "Parkdale" and "Aspendale" make more sense now, doesn't it?

[@boofheadgerry]

Trainman, I am quite impressed by your various clips and I have to admit I have learn't a few things about the Melbourne suburban rail network. That is coming from a person on the 'wrong' side of 50. To pick up on two points from this. The Malvern goods yard was located on the north side of the South Yarra/Caulfield rail line just west of Glenferrie Road. I believe there is a shopping centre carpark located in some of the area where the former Malvern goods yard was located. As pointed out by another person, the short platform just east of Caulfield railway station on the north side of the tracks was actually used by the VR Ways and Works Branch. When I was at school, I can recall going through Caulfield on the Frankston trains and there would be some of the Ways and Works carriages stabled next to that platform. However keep up the good work, your clips are excellent.

[@daffindogtown]

Jacka was a Victoria cross winner !

[@the_train_man]

That's right! Hoped you liked the video!

[@the_train_man]

Haha just realised my mistake! Sorry!

[@ianwoff7000]

More great work, bloke! How about a doco on the Mornington line?

[@the_train_man]

Sure thing, might be hard to film, due to it not being on a current train line, but I will give it a go soon!

[@ianwoff7000]

@@the_train_man I believe a stretch of the line is still operated as a tourist steam train experience (or at least it was).

[@ianwoff7000]

@Brad Allen I never had the pleasure of travelling on the line when it was still open, Brad (my family moved to Melbourne too late!), but I love Mornington and environs, and think it would make a great doco.

[@ianwoff7000]

@Brad Allen It's only a limited section of the original line, with Mornington station long gone, running as far as Tanti, I think. It would make a great doco if Max could get himself a berth on a steamer once we're past the whole COVID-19 thing (but not cheap, I dare say!)

[@ianwoff7000]

@Brad Allen I don't know the history of the line at all well - always imagined it was a continuation from Frankston, rather than a branch from Baxter!

[@benno2468]

I miss your videos man, when are you coming back?

[@the_train_man]

10 minutes :)

[@benno2468]

@@the_train_man can't wait man, really loving your videos.

[@punkrockzoologist9449]

You should definitely do a video on the Hurstbridge line. It's Melbourne's last fully in-use heritage railway line, and it goes through some really beautiful bush.

[@the_train_man]

I've done most of the filming for it! Should be coming this week or next week :)

[@johnsmyth3127]

Why are videos always horizontally reversed - ie., have left and right swapped?

[@ctwentysevenj6531]

The Malvern good siding was located on the city side of Glenferrie road. At Cheltenham there was a goods siding on the other side of Park Street on the Charman Rd side. Its catenary was removed in 1980 and the track removed in 1985. That stub siding was built in 1956 due to the grade separation works at Moorabbin station. It was use to stable suburban passenger trains not as a goods siding. Btw Albert Jacka was the recipient of the Victoria Cross. Brighton Beach station is the station closest to the sea.

[@barneyforsdike1427]

...at Diamond Creek on the Hurstbridge line? If so it would be great if you could feature it in a future video. (Sorry about the break in my text. The phone got dropped!)

[@the_train_man]

No worries about the phone drop haha, glad you enjoyed this video! I am sure it would have been a shock to see the new Frankston Station, a stark contrast to what you would have been familiar with. I am certain that the iconic trestle bridge is still up and running, and will definitely feature in a Hurstbridge Line video, that should be coming within the next month! Thanks!

[@b_stay0325]

i am excited for the Sandringham line and the Lilydale and Belgrave lines, and Mernda line, and Upfield line.

[@the_train_man]

Sandringham Line coming next!

[@b_stay0325]

@@the_train_man ok.

[@b_stay0325]

@@the_train_man thanks for letting me know!

[@b_stay0325]

This is absolutely something random but I've watched all and i mean all of ur vids.

[@the_train_man]

Haha, that is amazing to hear, proud of you! Don't mind the really high pitched voice in my older videos.

[@johnboyd6943]

Great series of videos but why is your footage flipped horizontally? And this happens in all your videos, not just this one. Apart from the flipping they are most entertaining and informative.

[@the_train_man]

Thanks John. The flipping of videos was a rookie error, my apologies for that, I was quite sad when I realised that multiple videos of mine have this issue. Other than that, glad you enjoyed the videos, the flip has been fixed in recent videos :)

[@timmyjimmy134]

Great vid. Quick question. Did you mis-quote the passenger numbers for Ormond? Seems quite low considering the passenger numbers for neighbouring stations.

[@the_train_man]

It's interesting you mention this Tim. I said in my video that passenger numbers were 824,199, and this number was from 2018. In 2019, the most recent number, the passengers decreased to 766,372. Compared to Mckinnon, this number is quite high, I agree that the numbers are surprisingly low, although you may have misheard me in the video, I am since improved my 'talking' skills, and hopefully won't slur my words as much as I did in some of my previous videos. Thanks

[@timmyjimmy134]

@@the_train_man Thanks for the reply and answer. I must have misheard. I did think you said 100k +, but not to worry. Talking skills are ok in my opinion.

[@darylcheshire1618]

Aspendale, Edithvale, Bonbeach were the same as Parkdale with interlocking gates

[@the_train_man]

Thanks for the extra information Daryl, didn't know about that, hope you enjoyed!

[@darylcheshire1618]

I have a book called something like Electric Railways of Melbourne published in the early eighties and gives a run down of every line and photos. Might be one in The Railfan Shop.

[@the_train_man]

Wow, might look into getting the book, thanks!

[@monogramadikt5971]

i recon you should have pestered local councils for period photos of the stations back in their haydays to include

[@benwhite6261]

As always, awesome video. It’s pretty cool how the Frankston line changes so much going down it. I reckon between Mordi and Seaford is the most beautiful stretch of line on the network with the bay views. The future looks bright for the Frankston Line with all the upgrades happening. The Cheltenham and Mentone designs look especially sick. It’s amazing even the improvement so far. I still remember going down to Southland and getting pictures of it at basically every stage in its construction! As always, some of my favourite videos on KZbin. Great stuff

[@the_train_man]

Thanks Ben! Glad to hear you liked the video, interested to see the Southland construction! Have to agree the beach stretch of the line is the best! Thanks!

[@benwhite6261]

The Train Man haha, tracking Southland’s progress in the two years I did was really cool! I was even there for the opening with the transport minister! I’m happy to send all the construction pics if you’re interested in them

[@the_train_man]

Would love to have a look, send them to the email in the description if you would like to!

[@ThisGuyCarlo]

Is it me or did the cut between Hawksburn and Toorak Station barely change?

[@AUSSIEJOCKSAU]

You Legend! Another Great Vid brother. Thankyou for educating us, especially the ones that weren’t born in this great State Victoria. I agree, Carrum is my fav station for views of the Bay & Frankston is a marked improvement. Looking forward to your next Vid. Thank you for taking the time to do this & stay safe! 👍👍

[@the_train_man]

Thank you Douglas! I really appreciate the support, and happy to hear you liked it so much. The Melbourne Train System is my biggest passion and educating people who enjoy the videos is an amazing feeling, hope you like the Sandringham Line (for my next video). Stay safe!

[@letsnotargue]

Good work.....excellent video 👌👌👌

[@the_train_man]

Thanks Blair, glad you enjoyed :)

[@bradleytrevaskis7744]

The Train Man .... hey bud hows the video of Spring Vale Cemetery line off SpringVale station. going. and any chance doing general motors

[@the_train_man]

Hey Bradley, great to hear from you again! I am still thinking about the Springvale Cemetery Line, might not be the next video, but it will be coming soon. As for General Motors, a video on some abandoned stations will also be coming soon! Thanks!

[@bradleytrevaskis7744]

@@the_train_man cant wait to see young man !

[@bradleytrevaskis7744]

whats next ?

[@the_train_man]

Sandringham Line!

[@bradleytrevaskis7744]

@@the_train_man cool.

[@sambennett8067]

Keen for Stony Point Line Video Keep up the good work

[@the_train_man]

Me too, as soon as lockdown's ease, I might look into it. Thanks Sam!

[@hazptmedia]

Nice!!! Do Werribee and Sunbury next plz

[@hazptmedia]

Garboman #521 ok

[@the_train_man]

Hey man, happy to hear from you again, they are high on the to do list, look out for them soon!

[@maryanndawidowicz3484]

My favourite train video

[@the_train_man]

Happy to hear that, thanks for the support!

[@samuelgreen2881]

Abandoned Mildura line secrets

[@the_train_man]

Love the idea!

[@tomhenry6440]

12:46 I watch K&K on Netflix on my tv

[@Kevin-go2dw]

As a brief history of the line you did very well, however I would need a mirror to say the images were good. Toorak siding was on a higher level where the station entrance is. You might notice the rising grade between Armadale and Toorak next to the up line. Glenhuntly had a siding between Neerim Road and Glenhuntly Road. The building on platform 3 at Glenhuntly have not been rebuilt. McKinnon at one stage had unique "Lattice" boom gates. Both Moorabbin and Patterson had provision for a third track long before the third track was installed. You could almost make a few more videos of this line just with extra details and vision.

[@the_train_man]

Agreed, thank you Kevin for the feedback, I need to ensure that the videos are re mirrored, they are filmed on a phone. Also, thanks for the extra information on the sidings, abnormal boom gate, and third track provision. I might do a redo of these videos in a few years, I will include this information. Thanks again

[@nicolleparrentpredl7790]

11:13 Edithvale, not Edithdale

[@a7128]

Thanks - do you know much about the goods yards above Toorak station (now a housing estate)? It was there until 70s- remember walking over the old footbridge

[@the_train_man]

I am aware of it, and have seen the abandoned tracks heading up to it, but there is little information on it, there are no pictures of the actual yard that I have seen, just of the ramp leading up to it, sorry. Thanks for watching!

[@a7128]

@@the_train_man maps-collection.library.unimelb.edu.au/historical/1945melb/l_sheets/849a3c.jpg Here's an aerial view - the houses facing west on Orrong Rd were demolished this year. The footbridge is visible and it looked like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4mxqotvaMadqbc&ab_channel=Gezza1967

[@kbguthriehomes2343]

You miss the old signal tower at Frankston station. Was also the drop of point for the staff to make sure the track was clear heading down to stony point. You should do a updated version of all the new stations

[@griffinrails]

WOOHOO! This was awesome, and I can't wait for the Stony Point line video! Some extra info for that video: Video Game modder Zeak was working on a recreation of it's famous B class for Chris Sawyer's Locomotion, however it never got finished. Walter 1940's website hosts an A class and a H type coach that could be used to replicate it easily, however the coach is in the wrong livery. Also, could you do a video on the Hurstbridge line? Maybe you could do a video similar to Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions on the Holmesglen crash?

[@the_train_man]

Some awesome stuff Griffin, happy to hear from you again, Might ask you more about the Stony Point line when I do the video! The Hurstbridge Line will be done within a couple of months, thanks!

[@WesJones1]

Yeah Stony Point FTW 👍

[@liamdstuff]

@@the_train_manand it never came...

[@stevereaburn7626]

10:50. If it's not Aspendale, which station is closest to a Beach?

[@the_train_man]

I believe it is Seaholme on the Werribee Line is the actual closest station, although it'll be close

[@AdmiringSparks]

yay another video

[@the_train_man]

Hoped you liked it!

[@pauloconnor2980]

Caulfield had until recently, lunar lights to indicate to drivers the route they would take.

[@cliffleigh7450]

Not many secrets revealed! For instance the original station building at Sth Yarra - shown in the photo at the 7 second mark - is still there. It is hiding behind the platform 1 ramp and has the original entrance on Toorak Rd. Also no mention of the now built-on ground level goods yards at Toorak - accessed from a long ramp from near Armadale which is still there. The goods lift on platform 1 at Hawksburn and the signal box under the ramp at Armadale are also still there but not mentioned. Also Mc Kinnon station was home to a unique set of hand-operated metal boom gates! There are many other "secrets" too numerous to mention - perhaps you should have asked someone your fathers age?

[@thedon-e6514]

Hey Trainman, Love this and your other videos, keep it up! I am currently a Frankston line user, but grew up on the Belgrave / Lilydale line. I remember the old Parcel trains. It would be great to see a video on them.

[@the_train_man]

Yes, the Belgrave and Lilydale lines are on the to do list, I hope you enjoy it when it comes out, Thanks for the support!

[@chappo91rulz]

Did you know if you take the 1st letter of Malvern Armadale Toorak Hawksburn and South Yarra it spells the word Maths