Your Journey

Today you will travel in a restored railmotor along a section of the former Daylesford branch line between Daylesford and Bullarto, a distance of about nine kilometres.

Starting at Daylesford Station:- The brick buildings on the passenger platform were constructed in 1881, and the timber and corrugated iron goods shed in 1882. The large new shed is primarily for the restoration and maintenance of railmotors. Immediately after leaving the station the railmotor passes over the East Street Bridge, a steel plate girder bridge constructed in 1890 to replace a timber bridge.

Just past the 75mile post, the earth-works of the old railway to Creswick and Ballarat can be seen curving away to the right as the railmotor rounds a curve to the left.

After two unsealed roads are crossed, a three mile climb up a steep 1 in 50 grade is commenced near mile post 74. The line winds and twists in typical branch-line fashion through picturesque forest and farm country on its way to Musk. At curves with a speed limit lower than the rest of the line, a curve board indicates the direction of the curve and the maximum speed in miles per hour a train may travel while rounding the curve.

Musk Station: The timber edged earth platform with a ramp at each end has remained essentially the same since the station was constructed in 1882. Although hundreds of similar platforms were constructed by the Victorian Railways, the platform at Musk is the only example in use today. The original timber buildings on the platform were replaced in the late 1960’s by the “mallee shed” shelter on the platform today.

The line again passes through heavily timbered forest and fern gullies before the last 1 in 50 grade to Bullarto. Bullarto Station is 2452 feet (747.4m) above sea level and today is the highest station in Victoria. In the 1930’s Bullarto had a small, well kept passenger station with an attractive garden, a corrugated iron goods shed, long goods loading platform and a cart weighbridge. The accurate restoration of the Bullarto station facilities and environment to represent the 1930’s is planned when finance becomes available.