This map has been designed around the several main lines in operation at the time. These were:

Melbourne to Port Fairy via Geelong

Melbourne to Serviceton via Ballarat

Melbourne to Bendigo via Castlemaine

Melbourne to Albury via Seymour

Melbourne to Bairnsdale via Traralgon

Melbourne to Woodside via Korumburra

I should note that the definition of a ‘main line’ has been defined by me for the purposes of this map. I based this on service levels, contemporary lines and the layout of the VR timetables and reports of the period. However, given the strong views that gunzels often have about these sort of things, I’m happy to hear out alternative suggestions.

These six main lines are the 15pt thickest lines. The other, thinner lines of 10pt show all other lines. I do not distinguish between gauges or energy sources. The only two other ways that lines are differentiated is the suburban network (shown in light grey) and by line group.

Line groups are in one of six colours according to the main line to which its timetable was aligned. For example, the Clarkfield – Lancefield Line is shown in the colour of the Bendigo Line because passengers wishing to travel on this service would take a Bendigo train to Clarkfield and change to another train bound for Lancefield. The timetables of both lines were harmonised so that waiting times were minimised.

The only exception to these rules is the Overland or ‘Adelaide Express’ as it was previously known. This is the single brown line that extends west along the Serviceton Line from Flinders Street Station. The reason for showing this separately is that it had a different stopping pattern specific to this service, and was designated as a separate line by VR (unlike the other interstate trains to Albury, Mount Gambier and Pinaroo).

Each separate line indicates a change in trains – i.e. where passengers would have to disembark and then board another train to continue on their journey. This is one of the main features of this map that distinguishes it from existing maps like this one. It’s worth mentioning here as a sidenote that I don’t think that there is necessarily anything wrong with these – just to point out that my map emphasises service patterns and connections rather than infrastructure or geographic accuracy.

Finally, there are five types of stations indicated on this map:

Major interchange – station where four or more lines meet Minor interchange – station where three or two lines meet Terminus – the last station on a line Station – at least one train makes a scheduled stop Request stop – no trains make a scheduled stop

The definition of what constitutes a ‘minor’ or ‘major’ interchange is arbitrary for the purposes of this map, as usual.

There are no request stops left on the Victorian rail network, but as can be seen on the map they were a regular feature. The VR timetable describes it thus:

“Trains so marked will not stop unless required to pick up or set down passengers. If you intend to alight, tell the guard at the preceding stop. If you intend to join, tell the person in change of the station. If there is no one in charge show the signal provided.”

There are a few still in operation in other states.