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Shell Refinery
Line: Geelong
Distance from Melbourne: 64.209km
Track Diagram: View
Google Map: View
Opened: Tuesday, 22 June 1954
Opened in 1954 to serve the Shell Oil Refinery, a number of sidings branch off the main line to cater for oil traffic. An overhead gantry is provided to fill tanker cars with refined petroleum products (both diesel and petrol) for distribution throughout the state.
By 1977/78 an average of 12 tank cars of fuel was being despatched a week, with Shell sending 17,900 tonnes that year, along with 5,457 tonnes by Caltex and 2,791 tonnes by Esso. The refinery itself had a production capacity of 5,077,000 tones a year.
By about 2002 Swan Hill and Wodonga stopped receiving fuel by rail. By 2005 only Mildura and Shepparton remained rail served. In 2007 Shell begun to cease the distribution of fuel by rail in Victoria. The last depot served was at Shepparton, with the last train running in early 2008. The tank cars used for the service have been stored at North Geelong Yard, as well as the shunting float used to move the wagons at the refinery.
Events
Line Opened
| Saturday, 1 November 1856 | Line opened Lara to Geelong |
| Thursday, 25 June 1857 | Line officially opened between Geelong and at temporary terminus at Greenwich. A ferry was used the complete the journey to Melbourne |
| Saturday, 3 October 1857 | Temporary Greenwich terminal and stub line closed. Geelong line now connected to the partially completed Williamstown line. A ferry complete the journey from Williamstown to Melbourne |
| Monday, 17 January 1859 | Williamstown line finally completed to Melbourne. Geelong trains can now operate direct to Spencer Street Station |
Track Amplified
| Sunday, 8 February 1959 | Line duplicated Corio to North Geelong A |
Diagrams
NOTE: Diagrams are not to scale.
Photos
4 images found. These will open in a new window
Tank car filling station at Shell Refinery, Corio |
Tank car filling station at Shell Refinery, Corio |
Tank car filling station at Shell Refinery, Corio |
Tank car filling station at Shell Refinery, Corio |