This sign is before Marlo Road (actually an extension of Nicholson Street - or vise versa) goes under the Princes Highway. [On the northwestern side.]
The 'script' on the left-hand side of the visual (but 'non-linear') Time Line is:
"There was much excitement with speeches and a band when the Bairnsdale Railway Station opened on May 8th 1888. The first Stationmaster was Mr Woodcock. The station office building is much the same as it was originally, except for the astern extension, which was necessary for a refreshment room when the line was extended to Orbost. (Excerpt riding on the footplate memories of the Bairnsdale train Alban Pearce Gippsland Heritage Journal No. 9)
"There had been active agitation for the rail service extension from Bairnsdale to Orbost from 1904 however it took five more years until in 1909 that the Victorian parliament passed an act authorising the extension of the Melbourne - Bairnsdale rail line to Orbost. Work began in 1912 and Mrs Catherine Kilmartin turned the first sod on Roberts' farm near Bruthen. It was estimated the project would cost in excess of 385,000 pounds (Gippsland Journal No. 17)
"The train line was officially opened on January 12 1916, but not used as a passenger line until April 10. The Snowy River Mail reported on Friday, January 7, 1916. (sic)
"'A demonstration to celebrate the establishment of railway communication with Orbost will take place on Tuesday afternoon when a train will arrive conveying a large number of Melbourne and other visitors. On arrival of the train the line will be formally declared open for traffic, but as there is a lot of work to do yet the Commissioners will not be able to take it over for another month or six weeks ....'.
"The newspaper report of the opening describes the special train of four corridor carriages and a large van bursting through the ribbon stretched across the trail to officially open the line. The day had been stormy, "With clouds of dust sweeping the streets… but there was a large attendance with the Orbost population being well represented." The report goes on to describe the high number of dignitaries from Melbourne who arrived with their families - 140 in all. Distinguished visitors included the Governor, Premier Sir Alexander Peacock, and the Minister for railways Mr Mckenzie, several other state members and MPs and railway personnel.
(The Governor stayed two weeks fishing and shooting, visiting Mallacoota, Eden and Buchan Caves.) There were many speeches with a similar theme of the hope of extending the line through to the NSW border in the near future. The Premier then promised a special Wednesday picnic train to Nowa Nowa for the children and this duly took place.
"The line was never a paying line so by 1935 the passenger section of the line was disbanded. In 1952 diesel locomotives replaced steam locos. In 19080 it became clear that the rail line was fated, the last train left Orbost crossing the Mitchell River into Bairnsdale on August 1987.
"Engineering Feats
"Along the rail track construction there were numerous engineering feats including bridges over the Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo Rivers and a fine trestle bridge, which is still standing near Nowa Nowa in the Colquhoun Forest.
Snowy River Flood Plains
"Remains one of the most impressive spans of timber construction, which presented a particular problem for engineers. It was overcome by building the viaduct which has remained a feature of the maize flats for many years.
Tent Life on the Orbost Line
"The railway camps were infamous for lawlessness with brawling, sly grogging and thieving occurring frequently."
And then, on the right-hand side of the sign:
Connecting the East Gippsland Region
"'When I was a little girl living in East Bairnsdale, the steam train used to run from Bairnsdale to Orbost, stopping as required at the small sidings. I remember catching the train at Bairnsdale with my mother and brother and travelling in the second class 'dog box' to Bumberrah, where we would be met by Grandma Howlett in the jinker. From there we drove down to Johnsonville, and had to cross the Tambo by punt.'
"Later the family lived in Lakes Entrance and would sometimes holiday at Bruthen which would take a full day of travel. 'The boat left the Bairnsdale Wharf to return to lakes at 4pm, it always blew warning whistles - one blast at 3.30 pm, two blasts at 3.45 pm and a third blast at 4 pm. Before each blast, the cry would be heard from the captain, "Hold your horse's head", in case the sudden hoot of a whistle frightened the animals, causing them to plunge and rear."
(Memories of Childhood Journeys 1915 - 1922 Glad Scarce 1991).
[Photo, probably of the children waiting to have their free picnic ride on the new train]
East Gippsland Rail Trail
"The East Gippsland Rail Trail starts at Howitt Park on the east bank of the Mitchell River at Bairnsdale, past farmland for 10 kms to Nicholson (sealed surface) with its spectacular bridge over the river. Then 22 kms on to Bruthen and across the Tambo River, up into the Colquhoun Forest en route to Nowa Nowa and Lake Tyers at the 59 km mark. The section from Nowa Nowa was opened 28 January 2006.
"This extension of the Rail Trail is approximately 2.6 km, running adjacent from Burn Road, crossing the Snowy River via an existing pedestrian track into Orbost township on the west side of Lochiel Park, finishing at Marlo Road to the final destination on the iconic Snow River. This completes a nearly 100 km rail trail.
www.eastgippslandrailtrail.com
In the centre of the large sign is the representation of the Rail Line from Melbourne, to Bairnsdale and to Orbost, with the various stations and side lines, and the years they were finished, and the years that they operated until closing.
The Central part of the sign
Visited: 1628, Thursday, 12 May, 2016