Intro

A Timeline of the construction of Upper Ferntree Gully  to Gembrook Line

Pre construction period

Wed 4 Dec 1889 UPPER FERNTREE GULLY is opened as a broad gauge terminus station.

Tues 28 June 1898 Parliamentary Standing Committee recommend construction of the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook narrow gauge railway.

Mon 15 Aug 1898 Construction of the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook line authorised by the Colonial Parliament.

Construction period

Tues 1 Aug 1899 COMMENCEMENT of the Gembrook to Ferntree Gully railway line construction.  50 men began operations by felling timber on the route

Tue 22 Aug 1899 TENDERS called for the supply, of not less than 500, of 20,000 messmate sleepers

Wed 4 Oct 1899 a PETITION was presented by Cr. Crichton, signed by 60 ratepayers, asking for a deviation-in the line at the Emerald township.

Tue 14 Nov 1899 400 men now employed on the Line work. 

The Railway Department CONSTRUCTING THE   ROLLING-STOCK, consisting of two locomotives ( 3A & 4A ) , a passenger carriage and  van and 22 waggons.

Wed 6 Dec 1899 a PETITION from 54 residents of Macclesfield, it was resolved to urge the Railway department to grant a site for a station at that place, between Emerald and Cockatoo, on the Ferntree Gully to Gembrook line, the settlers to provide funds for the purchase of land for the necessary roads. 

Thurs 7 Dec 1899 Death on the line - During Construction Stephen Clancy aged 38 whiles working in the 7 mile cutting on the Gembrook Railway line - died suddenly - supposed from Sun Stroke .

Tue 9 Jan 1900    The shire council to urge the Government to open the first, section of the Ferntree Gully to Gembrook railway at as early a date as possible. This would be as far as Emerald and would be a great boon to the residents.

Sat 10 Feb 1900 300 men now working on the construction of the Ferntree Gully to Gembrook line

Fri 6 Apr 1900 Loco 3A Built by Newport On V.R Register 6/4/1900 – Apr 1900 UFTG. - initial allocation of a new locomotive Apr 1900 - Jul 1901 UFTG. 

Wed 25 Apr 1900 Loco 3A (new), first loco on the line, does its first trial trip on the Upper Fern Tree Gully - Gembrook Railway

Wed 25 Apr 1900 Delays in opening Line for traffic as far as Emerald.

Tue 22 May 1900 BUBONIC PLAGUE - The family of Michael Larsen, a labourer on the railway relief works between Gembrook and Ferntree Gully stricken with plague.

Wed 13 June 1900 Loco 4A Built by Newport On V.R Register 13/6/1900 – Jun 1900 UFTG. - initial allocation of a new locomotive Jun 1900 - Feb 1906 UFTG

Wed 27 June 1900 About 10 miles of the line and engine is run from Upper Ferntree Gully on the line.

Sat 30 June 1900 The rolling-stock for the line being built at the Newport workshops.  - two engines, costing £1,850 each, two passenger cars, and 40 goods waggons-open, insulated. and louvred-which will cost nearly £6,000.

Wed 1 Aug 1900 Due to Bad state of the roads -  The Commissioner of Railways has granted to the residents along the Gembrook line the privilege of having goods conveyed in the trucks along the line as far as the engine runs.

Sat 4 Aug 1900 Due to Bad state of roads - residents of the district, goods are now conveyed over the line as far as Emerald in ballast trucks when it is possible to do so.

Sat 11 Aug 1900 350 men are employed upon the line, and special traffic is now being conveyed between Ferntree Gully and Emerald, the halfway point.

Tues 18 Dec 1900 Line Officially opens  

Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook narrow gauge railway officially opened, with stations at MONBULK (2 tracks), MENZIES CREEK (2 tracks), EMERALD (2 tracks), DEVON (2 tracks) and GEMBROOK (3 tracks). 

Stops also at WATER TANKS, and COCKATOO CREEK for water

Historical Research by Jennifer Baker - Looking for the Evidence