Fyansford Cement Works Railway


The Fyansford Cement Works Railway was an industrial railway near Geelong, Australia, built by the Australian Portland Cement Company to carry limestone from its quarry to its cement works at Fyansford.
The railway was notable for including a tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in Victoria, apart from the underground sections of the Melbourne City Loop. It had a fleet of one diesel and 11 steam locomotives, the majority of which have been preserved by heritage railway operators, in particular the Bellarine Railway.

History

The line was built in 1926, replacing an earlier overhead ropeway from the quarry to the main works. The railway had two main sections: one from the works depot to an older quarry, and a longer track which used the tunnel and connected to a newer quarry. The length of the main line from the new quarry to the depot was. The rail track had a gauge of, one not often used in Victoria, where the predominant rail gauge was.
The cement works railway operated until 1966, when it was replaced by an above-ground conveyor belt between a new crushing works on the quarry floor and the cement works. At the time of its closure, the railway's motive power consisted of a diesel-electric locomotive, and six steam locomotives, which were donated to preservation societies.

Locomotives

Of the original twelve locomotives, seven are still in existence today. With the relocation to Queenscliff of the Australian Standard Garratt from the Australian Railway Historical Society Museum in May 2013, all six steam locomotives existing at the time of the line's closure are now in preservation at the Bellarine Railway.
NumberBuilderYear builtWheel arrangementStatusNotes
1Beyer Peacock, Manchester, England19382-6-0/0-6-2 GarrattScrappedSome components from this locomotive were integrated into sister locomotive No. 2 when it was overhauled.
2Beyer Peacock19382-6-0/0-6-2 GarrattStored at the Bellarine RailwayWas on display at the Puffing Billy Railway's museum at Menzies Creek until 2010, before relocation to the Bellarine Railway for eventual restoration.
3Victorian Railways, Newport Workshops19454-8-2/2-8-4 Garratt'In workshops at the Bellarine RailwayThe last remaining complete Australian Standard Garratt. Moved on 31 May 2013 from Australian Railway Historical Society Museum at Newport to the Bellarine Railway, for restoration.
4Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States19160-6-0TStored at the Bellarine RailwayOriginally used at naval base in Henderson, Western Australia, acquired by APC in 1926, along with loco 5.
5Vulcan Iron Works19160-6-0TStored at the Bellarine RailwayStored in park in Ringwood before removal for restoration.
6Hudswell Clarke & Co., Leeds, England19030-4-2TStored at the Bellarine RailwayOriginally used as a shunter at the copper smelter in Wallaroo, South Australia. before acquisition by APC, along with locos 7-9. Named Wesley B. McCann after being donated to the Belmont Common Railway.
7Hudswell Clarke0-4-2TScrappedSee no. 6
8Hudswell Clarke0-4-2TScrappedSee no. 6
9Hudswell Clarke0-4-2TScrappedSee no. 6
10Perry Engineering, Adelaide19260-4-0TScrappedOriginally used by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria in construction of the Hume Weir. Acquired by APC in 1946, along with loco 11.
11Perry Engineering19260-4-0TUnder restoration at the Bellarine RailwayWas on display at the Puffing Billy Railway's museum at Menzies Creek until June 2010, when it was relocated for eventual restoration.
D1Clyde Engineering1956Bo-BoOperational at 707 OperationsBought new by APC and named Wesley B. McCann, sold to the Victorian Railways in 1966, regauged to 5'3" and renumbered T413