Railmaps
LightNews LightNews
banner
railmaps.com.au
Railmaps
@railmaps.com.au
3.4K followers 830 following 5.1K posts
Publisher of rail maps & public transport timetables. Photographer, public transport advocate and enjoyer of irony and life’s little incongruities. Ethics matter more than politics.
Posts Replies Media Videos
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: Exactly 38 years ago today, A2 class tram no 281 running a route 111 trip to Port Melbourne leaves the station at Graham Street, January 2 1988. This was just 2 weeks after the line had re-opened as a standard gauge tramway after conversion from a broad gauge heavy railway.
A pantograph-equipped Melbourne A2 class tram in green and yellow livery runs towards us along a section of double track off-road tram track in an industrial setting. A road overbridge is in the background, beyond which, just visible, is a second tram heading in the other direction.
January 2, 2026 at 1:52 AM
railmaps.com.au
The website itself is still going, in fact an updated Melbourne train and tram map is online just today railmaps.com.au/melbourne.htm (with new fares, updates for recent platform tram stops plus a slightly neater map layout). More enhancements coming soon including selectable layers

4/6
Screencap of low-res zoomed out central area of Melbourne train and tram map.
January 1, 2026 at 7:54 AM
railmaps.com.au
New Year's Eve 2026.
Or should it be NYE 2025?
Photo of TV screen showing CNN coverage of New Years Eve celebrations in New York. A sign on the stage announces New Year's Eve 2026.
January 1, 2026 at 2:24 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: Candy-liveried Alco branchline diesel loco 4808 sits at Queanbeyan, NSW, April 2 1987. NSW Railways' 48 class, with 165 members, was Australia's most numerous type of diesel loco, even more so if you add the almost identical Silverton diesels and SAR's 830s.
A hood style branchline diesel locomotive in NSW railways early 1980s Candy livery sits at the head of a rake of goods wagons and alongside some petrol tankers in a railway yard at a railway station in a provincial city.
January 1, 2026 at 1:23 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, Melbourne W2 class tram no 545 on a route 48 from North Balwyn queues behind an SW6, W6 or W7 tram and Z3 123 to use the then-terminus crossover at Lonsdale Street in Spencer Street, Melbourne, December 31 1985. W2s last ran in 1987.
A Melbourne W2 class tram in green and cream livery lines up behind a later variant of W class tram in green and yellow livery to access a safety zone crossover at which a Z3 class tram in green and yellow livery is standing. A number of low rise industrial buildings of early and mid 20th century design line the street on the right, and a handful of 1970s/1980s style cars are running along an otherwise fairly quiet city street.
December 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: Two-car diesel set 731/631 about to depart for Sandgate Cemetery sits next to electric set NC 3 bound for Fassifern at the former terminus at Newcastle, NSW, June 10 1985. Sandgate Cemetery trains, which ran weekends only, last ran four months after this pic was taken.
Looking down from a pedestrian overbridge onto a passenger railway station at a dead-end terminus, we see a candy-liveried streamlined two-car diesel set in the platform at left, and a three car stainless steel Goninan electric multiple unit set in the platform at right. The two car diesel set has a destination board hanging on its front saying Sandgate Cemetery.
December 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
railmaps.com.au
I finally got pics of this happening.
A QANTAS plane flying towards a waxing moon against a blue background sky A QANTAS plane flying right in front of a waxing moon against a blue background sky.
December 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
railmaps.com.au
An example of a dropcentre tram for comparison. Note how the saloons are at the ends with the central area now being lower and where passengers enter. Dropcentres were larger, had greater capacity, and could generally reach higher speeds than the older California Combinations.
On a dull day we see a brown and cream liveried dropcentre bogie tram with penny farthing wheelset beneath each end saloon and four openings in the dropcentre section runs left to right along a centre of road track with the leftmost trolley pole raised to the overhead wire. In the background on a hill directly behind the tram is a large gothic style cathedral of mid grey coloured stone with a main spire of notably lighter coloured stone betraying it as a relatively newer addition.
December 29, 2025 at 1:57 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today’s historic pic: 36 years ago today, Ballarat tram 26 on a BTPS trip in Wendouree Pde, Ballarat, Vic, December 29 1989. Built in 1916, for the Hawthorn Tramways as no 5, she was Melbourne M class no 111 until 1930 then Ballarat no 26 until 1971. She is still at the Ballarat Tramway Museum today
A side-on view of a California Combination single truck tramcar in brown and cream livery running from right to left. The end platforms are open and fitted with crossbench seats, and have safety bars lowered on this side at both ends. There are four windows in the central saloon, with two of the four windows on this side lowered.
December 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
railmaps.com.au
And great to see the City Square area open to the public again. Still some more work needed to finish the two remaining entrances at Town Hall station, but it really makes this part of town feel more liveable again.
Street level station totem announcing Town Hall station, with the town hall building itself and the Manchester Unity building at left in the background with a tram crossing on Collins Street and pedestrians enjoying the city
December 28, 2025 at 4:45 AM
railmaps.com.au
There were very good crowds everywhere today - on trains and in the stations. The weather, free travel, boxing day sales, holidays and visitors in town for no cricket no doubt helped.
Crowds on the platform at State Library station.
December 28, 2025 at 4:33 AM
railmaps.com.au
Some observations from my Munnelation today. It was great to finally get to see Town Hall station.

These roof supports are attractive. Are they meant to evoke the cathedral above? I know it's hardly a like for like comparison, but they reminded me a tiny bit of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Tri-point columns at Town Hall station Quad point columns at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
December 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM
railmaps.com.au
D'oh Tracks. Of course.

The symbolism only just got through my thick skull.
Placard on a pillar at Town Hall station describing the indigenous artwork depicting animal footprints in the station - titled Tracks.
December 28, 2025 at 3:26 AM
railmaps.com.au
Achievement unlocked.
Roundel nameboard at Town Hall station (Sydney) Station nameboard at Town Hall station (Melbourne)
December 28, 2025 at 3:21 AM
railmaps.com.au
Melbourne has turned it up to 11 today.
A station name pillar for State Library station with a B class tram heading north beneath a blue sky on a sunny day with city high-rises behind and a bike lane in the foreground.
December 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM
railmaps.com.au
I am in a very good place today!
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: The southbound Canberra Monaro Express formed of a DEB set with a 620/720 class 2-car diesel attached at rear, calls at Michelago, NSW, October 10, 1983. This is the only time I saw a 2-car diesel on this line (so I went for a ride). No trains now run here.
Taken looking out through a window on the right hand side of a passenger train, looking forwards while stopped at a passenger station in a rural location. The platform in the foreground is earthen-topped, and the fence at right is formed of white painted vertical sections of re-used rail supporting horizontal wooden beams. The station building in the middle distance is a light green painted brick and stone building with an awning projecting towards the front of the train.
December 28, 2025 at 12:59 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: The station at Lethbridge, Vic, November 4, 1986. Lethbridge is 99km from Melbourne on the broad gauge Geelong to Ballarat line. Note the pushbike on the platform and the motorised rail trike. Railmotors last called here in 1978 but goods trains do still run through here today.
Taken looking across a railway yard in a rural location, we see a single platform passenger railway station with a large two-storey station building constructed of indigenous volcanic bluestone. The platform is also faced with bluestone, has bluestone edging and is earthen topped. It is a bit overgrown with bushes and shrubs at the near end encroaching onto what would have been the passenger area. Two tracks run in front of the platform. On the track nearest the platform is a motorised rail trike, and a pushbike is resting against the station building beneath the awning. A single lens searchlight style colour light signal stands facing trains at the far end of the platform.
December 27, 2025 at 12:52 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: The northbound Cooma Mail from Cooma behind candy liveried EMD diesel 42209 and an unidentified 48 class Alco branchliner, arrives at Goulburn, NSW, October 27 1984. After connecting with the up Riverina XPT, the Mail would continue north stopping at Southern Highlands stations
A dark photo on an overcast day of a short passenger train of non air-conditioned carriages hauled by two diesel locomotives arriving at a passenger station in an industrial provincial town.
December 26, 2025 at 2:01 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today’s historic pic: 37421 hauling the 1640 Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness train, with what appears to be a peat fire near Achnasheen, Scotland, UK, April 28 1988. This highland railway is today served by modern DMUs. There’s no sticking your head out the window nowadays though!
Taken through an open window on the left hand side of a passenger train looking forwards, we see a BR class 37 diesel locomotive three cars ahead of us, hauling BR blue and grey liveried coaches along a single track in the Scottish highlands. Wooden fences line the sides of the track, with treeless brown coloured fields covering the landscape and extending up to the hills in the distance. A fire is burning on the hills in front of us with white smoke drifting up and leftwards with burnt ground covering the hills behind the smoke.
December 25, 2025 at 12:33 AM
railmaps.com.au
Merry Christmas everyone!
Alien characters waving from the base of the bank of escalators at Melbourne's State Library station.
December 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
railmaps.com.au
Today’s historic pic: Exactly 40 years ago today, broad gauge 1500V DC electric loco L1157 hauls the down Gippslander into Morwell, Vic, December 24 1985. The Gippslander was a day-return train between Melbourne and Bairnsdale. This line was de-electrified in 1987 but VLine DMUs still run here today
A streamlined carbody style electric locomotive in VR blue and gold livery hauls a passenger train with a carriages in a mixture of tangerine and blue & gold livery along a double track electrified broad gauge railway track in a provincial town location.
December 24, 2025 at 1:08 AM
railmaps.com.au
Paul Kelly once sang "From St Kilda to Kings Cross is thirteen hours on a bus". Well, "From Town Hall to Town Hall" doesn't scan quite as well (Kelly's the master songwriter of course). Nor I'm not going "to her door" on Olympic or McCafferty's (nor any other busline). But let's see how this goes...
Roundel station nameboard at Town Hall station.
December 23, 2025 at 4:21 AM
railmaps.com.au
Today's historic pic: SRA NSW Alco diesel 4433 and the up North Mail ready to depart for Sydney at Tenterfield, NSW, November 2 1984. The North Mail, an overnight sitting and sleeping car train from Sydney to Moree, Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield, last ran in 1988 and no trains now run here.
A black and white image, taken from trackside at ground level just beyond the end of a platform at a passenger railway station, showing a 44 class Alco diesel locomotive, flat end leading, at the head of a passenger train sitting at the platform with the brick and stone station building on the platform at right. A wooden post and rail fence is in the lower foreground.
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
railmaps.com.au
I must have fallen asleep for 3 days.
Boxing Day Sale on Now
December 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM