Rail Geelong

South Kensington Station

South Kensington was once an important freight centre and junction. Today it it a minor suburban station, junction to little used freight lines, and a run around location for V/Line services from the Eastern line.

Private sidings around South Kensington included the Four and Twenty Pies factory to the north east (now demolished and an industrial park), a warehouse and silos the the east as Sidings 'B' (now with rail service), and two sidings to the north: Kensington Abattoirs and Kenstore (the first in the process of demolition, the second now residential).

According to the 1953 General Appendix the Abattoirs line terminated 1340 feet on the down side of Footscray Road (now known as Kensington Road) level crossing, with sidings for the Commonwealth Government provided at the terminus. The line ran parallel to the main line at least as far as the level crossing. It was known as Siding 'C' and used a Train Staff lettered for 'South Kensington - Abattoirs Line' with shunting not permitted beyond dwarf signal 13 without it. This signal was for up trains from the siding, and was located behind the up platform.

Freight lines went off the the east towards Weighbridge Junction and Melbourne Yard, while to the west was the line to Sims Street Junction, the Bunbury Street Tunnel, and South Dynon. The North Dynon sidings were located to the south of the station platforms and goods lines, and remain in use today.

Until quadruplication of the lines to Footscray, it was also where the suburban and country lines from the city merged. With the track upgrade the station was rebuilt, with the up platform (number 1) rebuilt on stilts, the other platform left as is. It is also believed that the subway and station building were provided at this time. The station building is to the south-west of the subway entrance, and is of brick construction and tucked up against the retaining wall.

A local signal box once existed at the up end of the down platform, but could switch out with the telephone connected to North Melbourne Junction box. In 1993 control of the area passed to Metrol, along with the rest of the inner suburban area.

Events

Line Opened

Track Amplified

Safeworking

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Photos

9 of 15 images found displayed. These will open in a new window

Up end of station	Down end of platform 1	Overview of platform 1
Platform 1	North Dynon	Up End
Yards looking towards Melbourne	D209_0930	D142_4227_skn

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Sources

• Andrew Waugh - http://www.vrhistory.com/
• ARHS Tour Notes - Colac day tour, 1997
• VR General Appendix 1953