Walhalla hit by major flooding
Just as this issue went to press initial reports came in of serious flooding at the Walhalla Goldfields Railway.
Storms described as the worst in decades hit Victoria State on Thursday 10th June, torrential rain and winds of 120km/h lashing the state. A quarter of a million homes were left without power and at least one person died while entire towns were evacuated as the Bureau of Meteorology issued a host of major flood warnings.
Writing on its Facebook page, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway reported initially that its workshops at Thompson had been flooded, filling with mud washed down from a spring high in the cliff above the sheds.
However further inspections as the flood waters subsided revealed far greater damage along the 2-mile long 2ft 6in gauge line, with track, bridges and building infrastructure all affected.
“Unfortunately WGR has suffered far worse than expected,” the statement read. “there is significant flood-borne debris and floating tree logs wedged against several bridges, with some undermining.”
Damage at Thomson included mud caking the loco and carriage sheds, and several areas where the station access road had partially collapsed alongside the river.
A video put out by the railway showed that bridge supports had been undermined with the footings exposed above the river.
“It will be quite a while before the various sites can be properly inspected and a recovery plan prepared,” the WGR statement added.
Those wanting to assist the line’s recovery efforts were advised not to travel to it but to make a donation on its website at www.walhalla.com.au