The Argus at KellyGang 19/8/1873

OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO BENALLA

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)

The second or middle section of the North Eastern line was opened from end to end yesterday. The first section, which reaches from Melbourne to Seymour - or, strictly speaking from Essendon to Seymour - was opened about 12 months ago with ceremonies and festivities at the expense of the state. There had been a pleasure excursion and banquet some months previously under the management of the contractors when the line was completed as far as the Goulburn River at Seymour. The townspeople of Benalla had the sole conduct of the proceedings of yesterday. The Government reserve themselves for a grand effort in November next when the line is to be finished - or rather opened up to the River Murray at Wodonga about 60 miles beyond Benalla.

To Benalla the present occasions naturally one of great consequence. The shire contains a population of about 4,200 souls, and the occupation of the inhabitants is chiefly agriculture, The substitution of speedy and regular communication between the district and the metropolis for the slow and uncertain communication which has been carried on for many years past is expected to produce great results to settle a large population and to improve the position of the persons already on the land. The goods traffic on the finished parts of the line is already large and the trains average 90 passengers a day. Before the railway was made there was seldom a full coach load. The second section of the line is the one which the traveller must feel most interest in, for it runs parallel with the worst portion of the ordinary road. From Longwood to Glenrowan, the coach passenger was bumped and shaken nearly the whole way, and in dry weather he was smothered with dust. Very little of the bad road has now to be passed over, for the distance from Benalla to Glenrowan is only about 16 miles.

The second section differs considerably from the first. It runs over comparatively level ground. The locomotive does not bury itself in deep cuttings or lose breath in the ascent of steep inclines. On the first section the locomotive has many severe trials to undergo, from the time it leaves Essendon where there is a heavy climb until it reaches Seymour . The difference between the first and the second and third sections is this, that what ever three locomotives can take up to Seymour, two will be able to take on to Wodonga.

The contract for the second section 60 miles in length was signed on the 31st March, 1871 and the amount of tender was £314,993. Portions of the line have been opened from time to time within the last 12 months, at great convenience to the public, but at some inconvenience to the contractors who are considerably behind time, owing to numerous causes, of which a long stretch of unfavourable weather is the chief. The ruling gradient is 1 in 75. A large amount of earth works had been done - quite as much as on the first section if not more - but the effect is scarcely noticed for there are no very high embankments and no deep cuttings.

No less than 104 iron bridges and 74 brick culverts have been erected. The bridges vary in size from those which have one opening 10ft wide to one which has 16 openings of 40ft and one of 120ft. The line skirts the foot of the ranges and thus has to cross a number of streams near the source, before they have had time to unite into a few large rivers. The permanent way has been laid for the greater part of the distance upon an embankment of moderate height. The ballast consists almost entirely of gravel, obtained from pits near Seymour . In a few places slate-like stone has been substituted. Gravel finds great favour with the engineers, because it constitutes as substantial a road as bluestone, and can be much more easily handled.

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