Walhalla Line
The Walhalla Line was one of four narrow gauge lines built in Victoria and operated by the Victorian Railways and was perhaps the most scenic with a number of long trestle bridges at the Walhalla end. Originally built to bring supplies to what was a thriving gold mining town, by the time the railway was constructed it was instead mainly used to take materials away.
The line ran at a loss and was closed in stages in the 1940s and 1950s and the tracks were removed, leaving only the former right of way. Part of this was even removed due to the creation of a reservoir at Moondara.
In the early 1990s the Walhalla Goldfields Railway was established to rebuild s ection of the line from scratch between Thomson and Walhalla. At the time that reconstruction began only a few derelict bridges remained. The line was built in stages first between Thomson and an intermediate point named Happy Creek and then in 2002 the line opened into Walhalla. The line has performed an important role since it reopened, twice providing the only transport into the town when the road was closed due to landslides.
With steam recently being reintroduced on the line, the next task is to restore the track between Thomson and Erica. This part of the line currently operates as a gravel rail trail. There are no plans to restore the track between Erica and Moe.