The Argus at KellyGang 3/9/1872
OPENING OF THE RAILWAY TO SEYMOUR
The opening of the first section of the North-Eastern Railway line was successfully accomplished yesterday. An unusual amount of traffic in the western portion of Collins street at an early hour in the forenoon, when few persons are seen upon the pavement, told such of the public as were on the watch of the interest which was taken in the event, and informed them of the numbers who in- tended to celebrate it. Carriages hurried along in company with the omnibuses and cars, and when the Spencer-street station was reached, there was much to remind one of the bustle and excitement of a race day. The guests of the Government were remarkably punctual; and persons who walked or drove down leisurely, so as to arrive 10 minutes before the hour fixed for the departure of the first train, found the carriages filled, and 250 or 260 ladies and gentlemen waiting patiently for the engine to finish its breakfast, and come forth to take them away to the Goulburn. Consequently no crowding could take place, and those who were not early enough for the one train found themselves in capital time for the next, which presented itself at the platform as soon as the place was vacant His Excellency, accompanied by the Hon Miss Manners Sutton, the Hon. Robert Manners Sutton, Mrs Terry, Lieutenant Rothwell (pirate secretary), Lieutenant Terry (ADC), travelled in a special carriage, which formed portion of the second train. The Ministry, as the hosts of the occasion, were all present, viz.:-Mr Francis, the Chief Secretary; Mr Gillies, the Commissioner of Railways; Mr Langton, the Treasurer; Mr Stephen, the Attorney-General; Mr Casey, Minister of Lands; Mr Mackay, Minister of Mines; Mr Cohen, Commissioner of Customs; Mr Kerford, Solicitor-General; and Mr Fraser, Minister of Public Works. Then there was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, who was supported by several members of the late Government, viz.: Mr Grant, Mr R Walsh, Mr M'Lollan, Mr Longmore, Mr O'Grady, as well as most of the other members of the Legislature Mr Stevenson, the Attorney General of South Australia, was among the guests. Next in order came representatives of the City Council, former members of Parliament, and the heads of the public departments. Each train consisted of nine carriages, and the passengers numbered about 550.
The journey became interesting as soon as the familiar turning off to the Flemington Racecourse had been passed, and the gardens around Essendon into view. The first train stopped for a few minutes at Essendon. Nobody at the time knew why. Probably most persons thought they had to wait until the line was clear ahead; but what time could they have for thinking about it when once their curious eyes caught sight of an object like a dovecot mounted high upon a pole, at the corner of a paddock close to the line? Some man, not only good but enthusiastic in his goodness, had erected a wooden box, upon whose sides were painted, in staring white letters, copies of several verses of Scripture. The words were evidently intended for travellers by rail, to suggest to them the fearful risks they ran, and to fit them out with consolation beforehand. If the wire fence round the paddock had been in better repair, a better opinion might have been entertained of the owner of the box, but lines scored under words that required emphasis secured due attention to the warning.
The delay occurred over a dispute between the engine and a goat for the possession of the line. The engine hurled the goat out of existence, but some of the blooding fragments got into the damper - a vulnerable portion of the iron monster - and minutes elapsed before they were pulled out again, so the encounter was not wholly one-sided. Attention was next occupied with the lovely green fields, and the gardens which occupied the valleys and the hill sides, and with the lines of pine trees which crowned some of the high land, until the party became aware of the fact that the engine was struggling bravely with a heavy load upon a long and steep incline. This was the test-point.
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