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Little River Station
Line: Geelong
Distance from Melbourne: 47.561km
Track Diagram: View
Google Map: View
Opened: Thursday, 1 January 1857
Opened with the line in 1857, the original station was opened 300 metres to the west on the other side of the Little River. The present station building and goods shed at Litter River were erected in 1864. Little River was known as Bulban between 1910 and 1912. Serving the township of the same name, the station also served as an important crossing point in the single line section.
On the night of April 2, 1884 the station was the site of a head on collision between an up Ballarat via Geelong passenger train and a down Geelong goods. The drivers of both trains were killed, as well as a passenger. The line was using 'staff and ticket' rules at the time. The station master at Werribee had gone away without leave, with an employee without telegraph experience being left in charge, while the SM's daughter had knowledge of the system. The employee gave the train staff to the driver of the down goods and was sent down the line, while the SM's daughter telegraphed 'line clear' to Little River, who then despatched the passenger train into the same section in the opposite direction.
The siding through the goods shed was disconnected in 1970. A second platform (platform 1) was provided on duplication to Lara in 1981. Today the shed and station buildings remain although boarded up, with the station is merely wayside stop for Geelong trains. The station is unstaffed. Additional platform shelters were provided to platform 1 (Melbourne bound) in 2006. Purple Viclink signage was installed in June 2008.
Events
Line Opened
| Thursday, 1 January 1857 | Line opened Little River to Lara |
| 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, 25 October 1970 | Line duplicated Werribee - Little River |
| Thursday, 4 June 1981 | Line duplicated Little River to Lara |
Safeworking
| Friday, 5 August 1898 | Large Electric Staff provided Werribee - Little River - Lara |
| Thursday, 2 February 1911 | Manor opened. Large Electric Staff section now Manor - Little River |
| (Monday, 27 April 1914) | Miniature Electric Staff provided Manor - Little River - Lara |
| Sunday, 15 July 1928 | Automatic and Track Control provided Manor - Little River - Lara |
| Sunday, 25 October 1970 | Manor closed. Automatic and Track Control section now Werribee - Little River |
Diagrams
NOTE: Diagrams are not to scale.
Photos
9 of 28 images found displayed. These will open in a new window
Signals protecting the up end of Little River |
Goods shed and platform 1 viewed from the down end |
Signage on platform 1 |
Station building and lamp room on platform 2 |
Street side of the station building |
Street side of the station building and lamp room |
Signals at the up end of Little River |
Signals at the up end |
A long way from Kansas? |