Grades Home

Grades books showed a wealth of information on the physical characteristics of a line, as shown in the explanation of symbols above. In steam days it was very important for both the driver and fireman to really know their tracks as this determined how the loco was fired and driven. In later days the grades book ceased being issued to train crews but track maintenence people still need them. Lines will be added as I get time to scan and stitch them together.

NOTE: When the diagram page is opened you usually have to scroll to find the diagram!

The book on the right was issued in 1923 and is a fascinating read on how the "department" wanted their drivers to operate the train.

I have just obtained an almost complete set of VR track charts from 1929, apart from showing gradient information they also show track layouts for the entire state! Pages that contain a track chart in addition to the diagram from the grades book are identified by a "TC"

Line sections shown in green have timetables or other historical info added to the page. Most of the safeworking dates comes from the "Weekly Notice extracts 1894 - 1994" by Lambert/Jungwirth and is used here with permission.

Explanation of track chart symbols

Northern & Midland	Western & Southwestern	North Eastern	Eastern & Southeastern	Suburban
Melbourne to Bendigo TC Bendigo to Echuca TC Eaglehawk to Swan Hill (Yungera) TC Barnes to Deniliquin TC Toolamba to Echuca TC Heathcote Junction to North Bendigo TC Elmore to Cohuna TC Castlemaine to Maldon - Shelbourne TC Redesdale Junction to Redesdale TC Carlsruhe to Daylesford North Creswick to Daylesford Clarkefield to Lancefield TC Lancefield to Kilmore Castlemaine to Maryborough Bendigo to Kulwin TC Korong Vale to Robinvale TC Wedderburn Junc. to Wedderburn TC Moama to Balranald part 1) TC Moama to Balranald (part 2) TC Woomelang to Mildura - Yelta TC Kerang to Stony Crossing TC Redcliffs to Meringur TC Ouyen to SA border TC	North Geelong to Warrenheip *Melbourne to BallaratTC Ballarat to Ararat TC Ararat to Dooen TC Horsham to Serviceton TC Newport to Sth Geelong TC Sth Geelong to Port Fairy TC Ararat to Portland TC* Gheringhap to Maroona TC Geelong to Queenscliff TC Ararat to Maryborough TC Ben Nevis to Navarre Stawell to Grampians TC Lubeck to Bolangum Murtoa to Patchewollock TC Terang to Mortlake TC Moriac to Wensleydale TC Birregurra to Forrest TC Colac to Crowes TC Colac to Alvie TC Irrewarra to Cressy TC Newtown to Cressy TC Camperdown to Timboon TC Horsham to Carpolac TC Hamilton to East Natimuk TC Dimboola to Yaapeet TC Jeparit to Yanac TC Branxholme to Casterton TC Hamilton to Coleraine TC Koroit to Hamilton TC Heywood to SA border TC Buninyong line TC Waubra line TC Ballarat racecourse TC ***Ballarat Cattle yards TC	Melbourne to Seymour TC Seymour to Benalla TC Benalla to Wodonga TC Wodonga to Cudgewa TC Bowser to Yackandandah TC Everton to Bright TC Springhurst to Wahgunyah Tallarook to Mansfield TC Cathkin to Alexandra TC Bowser to Peechelba TC Wangaratta to Whitfield TC Benalla to Tatong TC Mangalore to Cobram TC Murchison East to Colbinabbin TC Rushworth to Girgarre TC Numurkah to Picola TC Strathmerton to Tocumwal TC Shepparton to Katamatite TC Benalla to Yarrawonga TC	South Yarra to Warragul TC Warragul to Kilmany TC Sale to Bairnsdale TC Bairnsdale to Orbost TC Dandenong to Leongatha TC Leongatha to Port Albert TC Alberton to Woodside TC Warragul to Noojee TC Moe to Walhalla TC Moe to Thorpdale TC Traralgon to Stratford Jct. (Maffra line) TC Maffra to Briagolong TC Morwell to Mirboo North TC Nyora-Wonthaggi TC Korumburra to Outtrim TC ***Koo Wee Rup to Strezlecki TC	Port Melbourne line St.Kilda line Sandringham line Outer Circle line, (Alamein line) Flemington racecourse line Williamstown line *Upfield line TC Glen Waverley line Epping line (Clifton Hill to Whittlesea) Hurstbridge line TC Richmond to Healesville TC Lilydale to Warburton TC Ringwood to Upper Ferntree Gully TC Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook (includes "Puffing Billy" track) TC Caulfield to Stony Point TC Baxter to Red Hill TC **Baxter to Mornington TC