Crowes railway line

Crowes railway
Overview
StatusAbandoned
Stations23
Service
TypeVic
History
Opened1 March 1902 (to Beech Forest)
20 June 1911 (to Crowes)
Closed11 December 1954 (Ferguson to Crowes) (Ferguson-Weeaproinah reopened January 1955)
30 June 1962 (Colac to Weeaproinah)
Technical
Line length44 mi (71 km)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
Route map
File:Crowes railway line.jpg
Cutting and 103 mile (166 km) post on the line
Remnants of an embankment near Barongarook

The Crowes railway line was a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway located in the Otway Ranges in south-western Victoria, Australia, running from the main line to Port Fairy at Colac to Beech Forest and later to Crowes.

It was the third of four narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways, opening to Beech Forest in March 1902, and extended to Crowes in June 1911. Nearly 44 miles (71 km) long, it was the longest of the narrow gauge lines. It was also the last to close, finally succumbing in June 1962, although the line had been truncated back to Ferguson railway station in December 1954, only to be reopened to Weeaproinah in January 1955.

Sections of the route have been developed as the Old Beechy Rail Trail.