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railmaps.com.au
Railmaps
@railmaps.com.au
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.
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.
January 2, 2026 at 1:52 AM
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
January 1, 2026 at 7:54 AM
New Year's Eve 2026.
Or should it be NYE 2025?
January 1, 2026 at 2:24 AM
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.
January 1, 2026 at 1:23 AM
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.
December 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
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.
December 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I finally got pics of this happening.
December 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
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.
December 29, 2025 at 1:57 AM
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
December 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
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.
December 28, 2025 at 4:45 AM
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.
December 28, 2025 at 4:33 AM
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.
December 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM
D'oh Tracks. Of course.

The symbolism only just got through my thick skull.
December 28, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Achievement unlocked.
December 28, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Melbourne has turned it up to 11 today.
December 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I am in a very good place today!
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
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.
December 28, 2025 at 12:59 AM
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.
December 27, 2025 at 12:52 AM
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
December 26, 2025 at 2:01 AM
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!
December 25, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Merry Christmas everyone!
December 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
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
December 24, 2025 at 1:08 AM
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...
December 23, 2025 at 4:21 AM
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.
December 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
I must have fallen asleep for 3 days.
December 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM