Shell Refinery
Line: Geelong and Warrnambool
Distance from Melbourne: 64.209 km
Track Diagram: View
Google Maps: Satellite / Map
Opened: June 22, 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.
Block trains of fuel were introduced in 1973 to Wodonga, and to Mildura and Shepparton in 1982. Fuel haulage was deregulated in 1985. By July 1996 the refinery was the only rail served despatch point for petroleum in Victoria, destinations being Bendigo (California Gully), Kerang, Mildura, Shepparton, Swan Hill and the Wodonga Coal Sidings. Diesel was also railed to Portland, Dimboola and Geelong for locomotive depot use.
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
February 2, 1954 | Connection provided to Shell Oil Coy Siding under construction. |
June 22, 1954 | Shell Siding opened for traffic |
May 30, 1977 | Dead end extension of Shell Siding removed |
Line Opened
November 1, 1856 | Line opened Lara to Geelong |
June 25, 1857 | Line officially opened between Geelong and at temporary terminus at Greenwich. A ferry was used the complete the journey to Melbourne |
October 3, 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 |
January 17, 1859 | Williamstown line finally completed to Melbourne. Geelong trains can now operate direct to Spencer Street Station |
Track Amplified
February 8, 1959 | Line duplicated Corio to North Geelong A |
Diagrams
NOTE: Diagrams are not to scale.
Photos
Nine of 24 images found displayed. Click them to enlarge.
Viva Energy cranes parked between jobsDecember 25, 2021 |
More pipes and such everywhereDecember 25, 2021 |
More pipes and such everywhereDecember 25, 2021 |
Storage tanks on the west side of the railwayDecember 25, 2021 |
Storage tanks on the west side of the railwayDecember 25, 2021 |
All sorts of pipes everywhereDecember 25, 2021 |
Web of pipework through the refineryNovember 20, 2021 |
LPG storage bulletsNovember 20, 2021 |
LyondellBasell polypropylene plant forms part of the Shell RefineryNovember 20, 2021 |
Sources
- Geelong - The First 150 Years
- http://www.vrhistory.com/ - Andrew Waugh
- Newsrail - October 2005, page 306
- Newsrail - October 1996, page 314
- Vicrail Report - Distribution of petroleum products in Victoria