The line that couldn't

Whilst tromping around in the marshy area opposite the bird hide at Jerringot Wetlands recently, I made an interesting discovery. As I skirted the edge of the swamp near Barwon Heads Road, I stumbled across an elevated causeway which lead me right through the middle of this otherwise very waterlogged area. Naturally, I followed it to see where it went.
The course took a gentle curve from Barwon Heads Road and lead me round towards the car park of the golf course where it disappeared into nothingness in the grass and weeds near the gateway to the car park. The route I took was grassy (albeit overgrown) and relatively firm underfoot, unlike the surrounding land which was all swampy.

The causeway through the wetlands

By the time I had completed my short walk, I knew what I had found and also had a fair idea of what it had once belonged to. I had seen it mentioned whilst researching an earlier blog post. I was walking along what I suspect is the only surviving remnant of the old Belmont Common Railway from the 1970s.


Belmont Common Railway.
Taken from http://www.brownfam.com.au/ROLL110/ROLL110.htm

My first tip off came when I discovered some scattered blue metal such as that used on railway lines, lying on the ground. Then, just to confirm my suspicions, I spotted a couple of old wooden sleepers embedded in the grass, slowly returning to nature. Definitely a train line.
A quick check of Google Earth when I arrived home provided further evidence. A thin, green band can be seen curving through the wetlands from the intersection of Barwon Heads and Settlement Roads towards the road leading to the golf course.
Now it was time for a little more investigation. Where did the line run? What was its history? I knew the basics but not much more. My brother soon revealed that he remembered traveling on the train as a small child and being terrified by the steam whistle. I have no memory of it, however further research revealed quite a few details.

The Belmont Common Railway line. This image compiled for me
by Chris Bridge shows Google Earth overlaid with a 1978 Melways
Map and his rough estimate of the planned line. The red line
shows the section of track which which was built whilst the peach
shows the intended section which was never completed. The latter is
based on details from the following article:
http://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/members/Trolley_Wire/152%20-%20Trolley%20Wire%20-%20Jun%201974.pdf

The Belmont Common Railway as it was known was established in 1970 and later that decade would evolve into the Bellarine Peninsula Railway. However, it all began in 1966 when the Fyansford Cement Works shut their private railway line (1926-1966). Fortunately, the six remaining steam engines and one diesel loco which the company had used to carry limestone to the works on the hill were all preserved.
As part of this process, in 1968, two of the smaller engines were handed over to the Geelong Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society who opened a museum site on Belmont Common (near KMart) and in 1969 began running services on a short length of track. In its day it was the only operational main line railway museum in the country and soon extended across the common as far as Breakwater Road. By 1974 there were four engines with a variety of rolling stock offering rides for tourists on Sunday afternoons and public holidays.


Belmont Common Railway with KMart in the background.
Taken from https://www.flickr.com/photos/24609616@N05/sets/72157626420795881

One of the engines acquired by the Belmont Common Railway was engine #4 a 0-6-0T built in 1916 in Pennsylvania, USA at the Vulcan Iron Works:


Engine #4 on the Australian Portland Cement Company line at Fyansford.
Taken from: http://www.brownfam.com.au/ROLL50/ROLL50.htm

Engine #4 on the Belmont Common Railway

Engine #4 in 2007, restored and running on the Bellarine Railway (photo
courtesy of Wikipedia)

The second was engine #6 - a 0-4-2ST built in 1903 by Hudswell Clarke & Co., Leeds, England. It and three others were originally used in South Australia by the Wallaroo and Moonta Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd in their copper mines but were purchased for use at the cement works when the copper mine closed.

Engine #6 at the Fyansford Cement Works.
Taken from: http://www.brownfam.com.au/ROLL50/ROLL50.htm

Looking at photos of engine #6 during its time on the Belmont Common Railway, it is seen sporting the name "Wesley B McCann" which was the name of the manager of the Fyansford Cement works, however at the works, this was the name used by the diesel engine and not (as far as I can tell) by #6.

Engine #6 at Belmont Common Railway. Taken from the Stephen Haby
Collection, National Library of Australia

Initially it was intended to extend the Belmont Railway in a full loop around the common and back along the river with a further extension planned to take the line towards Queen's Park, but after the track was several times affected by flooding along the river, it became clear that this plan was unfeasible.

Engine #6 pushing a tourist service on Belmont Common.
Taken from http://www.brownfam.com.au/ROLL110/ROLL110.htm

Fortuitously however, in 1976 the decision was taken to close the Geelong-Queenscliff branch line and the Belmont Common Railway took the opportunity to move operations to Queenscliff. Fundraising during 1976 and 1977 along with a government grant enabled the line to be regauged to the narrower 3ft 6in used by the Fyansford engines and in May, 1979 the first services ran, carrying tourists between Queenscliff and Laker's Siding on the reopened line which was soon extended to Drysdale Station.
Today, from its humble beginnings on the Belmont Common, the Bellarine Railway has expanded to include engines and rolling stock from across the country and in recent years, the six surviving steam engines from the Fyansford Cement works have been reunited on the Bellarine Railway.