Railways of the Otway Ranges

Nick Anchen

ISBN 10: 0980764009 / ISBN 13: 9780980764000

Published by Sierra Publishing, 2011

Nick Anchen, Sierra Publishing. Situated in the Victoria's south west, the Otway Ranges rise from the plains to meet the rugged, shipwreck-strewn Bass Strait coastline along the dramatic Great Ocean Road. With abundant rainfall and luscious rainforest containing some of Australia's most spectacular waterfalls, the wild and beautiful Otways contain visual delights like few other regions of Victoria. The magnificent stands of tall timber attracted sawmillers to the district, and before long the Victorian Railways began constructing lines to different parts of the Otways. Some of these were extraordinary in their engineering ingenuity, fascinating in character, and wonderful in scenic beauty. As a result, the timber industry flourished, and the railways were well utilised. 'Railways of the Otway Ranges' explores the Wensleydale, Forrest, Beech Forest and Timboon branch lines, including personal recollections from the era, and a fascinating array of photographs. Seller Inventory # 9780980764000-SECONDHAND

Synopsis:

Roads throughout the Otways were rough and ready, becoming utterly impassable in the wet winter months, with freight charges ruinous. Various railways into the Otways were proposed, and eventually four separate lines were built, followed by a sprawling network of timber tramways – the crucial ingredient of the timber industry which expanded to become one of the state’s largest. These railways and tramways were the lifeblood of remote bush communities, bringing in all manner of supplies, hauling timber out, and giving the sparse population of bush dwellers access to the outside world.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Railways of the Otway Ranges
Publisher: Sierra Publishing
Publication Date: 2011
Binding: Paperback
Book Type: Paperback