Brompton Anywhere to Go: Brompton goes to the Great Victorian Rail Trail (the Goulburn Valley rail trail)

Friday, May 20, 2016

Brompton goes to the Great Victorian Rail Trail (the Goulburn Valley rail trail)

Last Saturday Brompton and I went out for a long ride to the Great Victorian Rail Trail which follows a trace of the old Goulburn Valley Railway track branching from Tallarook toward Mansfield via Yea.

Great Victorian Rail - Australia's Longest Rail Trail

The main northeast line from Melbourne reached Tallarook in November 1872. Ten years later, in 1882, a rail line was surveyed as far as Yea and the construction contract awarded. The route followed the curves and undulations of the Goulburn Valley, hugging the steep walls on the south side of the river. The terrain was not easy. In the first 11.2 kilometres to Trawool there were 17 curves and 68 changes of grade. The first train from Tallarook to Yea arrived on Tuesday 20th Nov 1883. Initially the return Tallarook to Yea train service was a daily Goods and Passenger train combined. The track speed was 60 km/hr. After nearly 15 years, work began on the Yea to Mansfield line on 27 April 1887. The first train steamed into Mansfield on 6th October 1891. In 1977, Tallarook to Mansfield (via Yea) passenger rail motor service terminated and soon all the services ended.

(source: Great Victorian Rail Trail Official Page http://www.greatvictorianrailtrail.com.au/）

[Route Data]

Distance 85.9km (return)

Maximum difference in elevation 73m

Average % of slope ascent 2.1% descent 2%

Acquired elevation ascent 444m descent 430m

Early in the morning, Brompton and I were a part of the herd of bikes aboard the V-line trains from Southern Cross Station toward the places where are welcoming bike lovers.

Arriving in Tallarook Station where the Great Victorian Rail Trail started.

Yea is about 40 km from the station. Mansfield, where the trail ends, is 135 km away.

The trail continues with a dozen of slopes of moderate ascending and descending.

Beautiful meadow!

The brompton encountered a beautiful, gentle horse and greeted to him.

Arriving Yea, a small but cozy town in the mid of the Goulburn Valley.

It already past 4 hours before reaching Yea.

After a short lunch break at Yea, I carried on my trip for another half hour. However, it was almost time to turn back the way to Tallarook Station in order to catch 4:30 train. I finally decided to end up a today's trip before reaching Cheviot Tunnel situated between the towns of Yea and Molesworth.