Alvie Ballast Siding
Line: Alvie
Distance from Melbourne: 167.070 km
Track Diagram: View
Google Maps: Satellite / Map
Opened: August 18, 1925
Closed: January 17, 1950
Alvie Ballast Siding opened in 1925 for the loading of scoria quarried from the side of a volcanic cone at Lake Coragulac. Two temporary sidings was previously been located nearby during construction of the line, operating in 1923 and 1924 respectively.
The dead end siding was 280 metres long and running to the quarry face itself. The points faced Colac, with empty trains running to Alvie to run around, then returning. The scoria was used for railway ballast, with the quarry being opened as required every two or three years, and loaded onto trains.
By the 1930s the scoria was moved by a contractor by road to Alvie or Coragulac sidings, to avoid the need for a locomotive to idle while the train was being located. The last use of the siding was in 1939, but it was not formally abolished until 1950. The quarry was sold to the Colac Shire Council.
Events
August 18, 1925 | Opened |
January 17, 1950 | Closed |
Line Opened
June 21, 1923 | Line opened Colac to Alvie |
Line Closed
December 17, 1954 | Line closed Alvie Junction to Alvie |
Diagrams
NOTE: Diagrams are not to scale.