Murtoa was a disused railway station on the Serviceton railway line. The station is no longer used as a passenger stop; it is however still an important location for Pacific National as it is where the Hopetoun line junctioned off the main line.[1]

Murtoa
Station entrance, February 2018
General information
Coordinates36°36′53″S 142°28′14″E / 36.61472°S 142.47056°E / -36.61472; 142.47056
Owned byVicTrack
Line(s)Western SG
Hopetoun
Platforms1
Tracks4
Other information
StatusClosed
History
Opened1878
Closed1993
Services
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Stawell   Western SG line   Horsham
Junction   Hopetoun line   Minyip
  List of closed railway stations in Victoria  

The station is now one of three attractions that make up the Murtoa Museum Precinct, along with the Water Tower Museum and Concordia Cottage.

The station has been brought back to its former glory and is still occasionally used by specialist train trips as a stop.

Inside is a range of memorabilia from its working days and a large model of the station and surrounds at their peak.

The pedestrian bridge over the line was rescued by local residents and is now a feature at nearby Rabl Park.

Much of the station was extensively altered in the 1980s, following the introduction of CTC between Ararat and Serviceton. The signal box was abolished, the number of roads in the yard was reduced and the local signal panel was only switched in if needed,[2] with the former staff depot closing by the end of 1988.[3] Also during 1988, the former turntable was moved to Dimboola.[3]

The station used to have a dock platform for the Hopetoun branch. People in Murtoa have called on The Overland, the interstate rail journey that runs from Adelaide to Melbourne, to make Murtoa an additional stop for the train service.[citation needed] [by whom?]

References

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  1. ^ "Plan to restore railway station". Murtoa Progress Association. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. April 1980. p. 76.
  3. ^ a b "Works". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society. October 1988. p. 314.
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