Albury – Sydney Trains Start From Here
(Public domain, State Library of NSW collection)
In 1847-48 all three colonies had adopted England’s 4’8 1/2″ standard rail guage, but in 1851 Sydney-Parramatta was privately built to the Irish 5’3″ standard and parliamentary rivalry saw this become the new standard guage. Albury benefited as a wealthy border stopover, and the Sydney-Melbourne line did not become standard guage until 1962.
In Chapter 53 of A Distant Prospect, Phoebe and her father Roderick Raye embark on a wonderfully colourful adventure to Ballarat, Victoria, to visit his family. (Roddy nicknames their destination “Bally Rat”.)
Phoebe had devoted herself to learning how to do for her father all the things her mother used to do for him. She was determined to look after him.
‘Some weeks ago I found out my grandparents’ address and I wrote them,’ she explained. ‘My grandmother wrote back and told me I was welcome to come and visit, so I made arrangements. Dad was very worried when I told him what I had planned. He didn’t like the idea of me travelling all that way by myself on a train.’
‘Indeed, indeed. The like of you scheming such a thing as that. And how long will it take you?’A steam locomotive at Albury in 1930.
(Public domain, Biggest Family Album unknown contributor, 1992)‘Overnight from Sydney with a change at Albury and then on to Melbourne. Change at Spencer Street, then tally ho to “The Bally Rat”,’ she concluded in a manner that was very much like her father. ‘Nearly two whole days,’ Phoebe had her journey all worked out.
‘Two days in a train all by yourself is it? Little wonder your da was worried.’
‘He didn’t like the idea of my visiting my grandparents alone, either. I can look after him as much as I please, he says, but he won’t have me batting for him. So he decided to come. We’re leaving on Monday.’
…
‘They’re both mad as hatters so they should get along quite well together, and doubtless they’ll return with enough stories to fill a book,’ remarked Mrs Epstein.
And they certainly did!
The 1862 Ballarat station served the goldfields and still retains its 19th century grandeur.