In the early nineteen eighties, the clocks were to be removed, maybe they even were, which lead to outrage and the government backing down and reinstalling the clocks, after converting them to electrical operation.
Formerly they were operated by a man, yes always a man, with a long stick to adjust the hands for the next train on various lines, as well as drop down boards, showing a bit more detail, such as 'Express South Yarra to Malvern', which I don't think happened back then. As a young teen, I think the train used to stop all stations from Oakleigh to Flinders Street, but with often a wait for a platform in the railway yards before the City Loop opened in the 80s. I learnt the stations off by heart.
So, lets have a look at the clocks. I recently saw a photo of the clocks from the early 1980s and the one on the far left was for the Lilydale line, which as was noted on the sign, change for Healesville. From the date on the photo from when the line was cut back to Lilydale was a few months, so it is forgivable for it still to be mentioned on the sign.
All is good with these clocks, except St Albans is now Sunbury and Broadmeadows is now the Craigieburn line.
Not all trains had clocks at the main entrance, so to the side are clocks for other lines.
But two lines are missing, the Epping and Hurstbridge train lines, the former now known as the Mernda train line. Why is this so?
No doubt it is to do with Princes Bridge Station, which I think was platform connected to Flinders Street Station, and just on the other side of Swanston Street. I remember it as being quite horrible and feeling a bit snobby about those who had to use the station. The trains served places very alien to me.
Federation Square was built where the station sat.
So yes, those two train lines used a different railway station, but it was connected to Flinders Street Station.
There weren't protests when Princes Bridge Station was demolished, and no doubt it had its own clocks to display train departure times. I must have used the station as I remember it smelt bad.
P often mentioned Flinders Street station and the clocks when we first got together. He also talked about the 6 o'clock swill which I gather was an unpleasant experience when walking to the tram stop after work.
ReplyDeleteMemories embedded in his mind forever!
JayCee, the worst thing was at the lead up to 6, they would buy a few beers and drink them quickly on empty stomachs, with a subsequent gastro intestinal upset...messy, perhaps on the train or tram on the way home. The public bars, men only aside from barmaids, were designed to be hosed out. The swill ended in 1966, so P must have heard about it rather than experienced it.
DeleteProbably. He arrived there in 1964 and did go to work straight away as he was told it wasn't worth attending school for the last year, so he may possibly have seen it. I'll have to ask him.
DeleteThose iconic meeting places stay in our memories forever don't they? And I at least mourn when they are removed.
ReplyDeleteOh yes EC. The memories and if I think about the clocks as I cross the street, I remember the history and the crowds that used to cross there, the station being the sole station to serve the suburbs back then.
DeleteI'm a sucker for the clocks set to different destinations!
ReplyDeleteBob, me too. Even in hotels where they might have a few clocks, there might be London, Paris and New York.
DeleteWe were in Melbourne last week and because you had previously mentioned the clocks I glanced at them , they are an institution. We also stopped at Anzac station to change for the Toorak Road tram.We were able to peer down into the train station , when does it open? My GD gets the 72 tram up to Uni everyday and she said she has never used a train! 😳 . That’s how handy trams are in Melbourne though it does take her 40 minutes to get to Carlton.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you change at Anzac Station to the Toorak 58. I think the tram announcements suggest that. But quite a few people go on to my stop at Toorak Road and change there. I can't think of a better way for your GD to get to Uni than by the 72, even after the Metro line opens. Driving and finding a car parking space would take just as long.
DeleteLove it when there's different clocks with different times right next to each other. Seems exciting for some reason.
ReplyDeleteKirk, the tease of the exotic foreign places?
DeleteWhich genius wanted to remove the clocks in Flinders St station in the late 1980s? I hope he is still in gaol for trying to destroy a city's heritage.
ReplyDeleteHels, it pains me to say this, but it was Steve Crabb in charge of public transport then, in John Cain's Labor government. The gov did quickly back down.
DeleteThe clocks were real icons. I always love the look of the station whenever I took a photowalk there
ReplyDeleteRoentare, it is impressive, as you see tourists taking photos from outside St Pauls.
DeleteI remember seeing those clocks in 1962 in the January, my very first visit to Melbourne, I was in awe of the clocks. Those were the days when you got all dressed up to travel and visit a city..lol
ReplyDeleteMargaret, thanks for the reminder about people dressing up to visit the city, and they certainly did, as I remember my mother and grandmother doing so.
DeleteIt’s not often these days for me to be waiting to cross the road at Young and Jackson’s but there’s always a feeling of excitement when I do. Crossing the road in the crush - seeing the clocks and wondering how long until our next train leaves - wondering because the Lilydale line is on the side facing Federation Square.
ReplyDeleteThat revamp when the gates were added and the concourse changed spoilt it completely
Interesting Cathy. Where were tickets checked before the electronic gates were added? I can't remember.
DeleteProbably only ramps and not escalators and lifts then.
DeleteThere's always an element of excitement at railway stations. Not, I suppose, if it involves daily commuting.
ReplyDeleteJB, especially if in black and white with steam trains belching their heat and steam.
DeleteTrain stations, arriving, departing, going someplace new and exciting, returning the comfort of home. Portals to the wider world.
ReplyDeleteWithout the stress of airports.
DeleteIt does seem rather silly to have two stations, one across the street from the other. Then again we have that too, with St. Pancras and King's Cross. I can see how the clocks would be the sensible meeting place!
ReplyDeleteSteve, I think I remember you can walk from one to the other without coming to surface. Everything old is new again, and the yet to open underground Town Hall Station is joined to the current Flinders Street Station, and the same will be the case for Melbourne Central and the new Museum Station.
DeleteThat is amazing that someone used to change the clock manually. Times have changed so much, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteThe railway museum in Merida was really a history of railway transportation in the state with videos and images projected on walls. There were no old trains like the museum in York (UK) so it wasn't really a place for photos although still quite interesting.
Pat, I can't remember what the screens inside would have been like then. Primitive, I guess. Ok, thanks about the museum.
DeleteThank you for sharing this fascinating history!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Darla.
DeleteIf those clocks could talk!
ReplyDeleteOh yes. So many stories.
Delete