Yarra Valley Railway

The Lilydale-Melbourne railway was extended from Lilydale to Yarra Flats (now known as Yarra Glen) on the 15 May 1888, with intermediate stations at Coldstream and Yering. Part of the structure included a long timber viaduct with 502 openings near Yarra Glen, spanning the Yarra River and the adjacent flood plains. The extension of the line from Yarra Glen to Healesville required a 1 in 40 (2.5%) climb into a 154.4 metre tunnel, with a corresponding descent at nearly the same grade. The Healesville Station opened on 1 March 1889 with an intermediate station at Tarrawarra.

Traffic on the line included timber, livestock, milk and dairy products. Early timetables included regular goods services specifically for transporting milk.

The last regular steam passenger service was hauled in August 1964. From this time until closure of the line in 1980 passenger services were run using Rail Motors, initially with Walker railmotors but due to degrading track quality the Walkers were replaced by Diesel Electric Railmotors (DERMs) from 1978 onwards. After 9 December 1980 no services operated beyond Coldstream and the Healesville-Coldstream section of the line was officially closed to all traffic on 10 March 1983. The Healesville Railway Cooperative was established in 1984 to reopen the line and in 1985 was granted an 'Order In Council' for this section by the Victorian State Government^[1] to operate the line as a tourist railway. It was partially reopened as far as Yarra Glen for tourist charter services in 1986 following major bridgework. However, these services ceased by 1990 when the Healesville Railway Cooperative merged with the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway, who began running trolley services on the Healesville-Yarra Glen section.

During the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 Yarra Glen station came under ember attack and two timber trestle bridges near Tarrawarra were burnt down in a fast-moving grass fire.

Following a track renewal and bridge reconstruction campaign, on 17 July 2010 the official launch of the Walker Railmotor service occurred with the first passenger train service to leave Healesville Railway Station in over 30 years. Mechanical issues cancelled services for most of February 2026.^[2], resulting in the YVR announcing the cessation of all passenger services until further notice. This pause in operations would allow the YVR to focus on rollingstock and track restoration, with a completion date yet to be determined.^[3]

The Yarra Valley Railway runs a railmotor service from Healesville station to a point near the historic tunnel at Tarrawarra. Trains run on Sundays and public holidays, and some Saturdays, crossing the Watts River and travelling under the Donovans Road overbridge.^[4]

The railway is rebuilding the 5-mile-48-chain (9.0 km) section from that temporary terminus to Yarra Glen station. That involves the reconstruction of Yarra Glen and Tarrawarra stations, and the replacement of 14 timber trestle bridges within that section.

In February 2026, the Yarra Valley Railway announced the cessation of all passenger services until further notice. The railway said the move would allow its team to focus on the restoration of the track to Tarrawarra and Yarra Glen, as well as rolling stock refurbishment.^[5]

The railway is in possession of a number of locomotives and carriages, including the following:

Locomotives

More information Number, Image ...

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Notes
J 516		1954	Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire	Stored	Victorian Railways J class coal-burning steam locomotive. Was plinthed in a park in Greensborough from 1975 until being acquired by YVTR in 1990. Stored at Healesville for possible future restoration.[7]
J 541		1954	Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire	Overhaul	Victorian Railways J class oil-burning steam locomotive. Privately owned by a group including the YVR and some of its members. Stored at a number of locations (including Healesville) until 2003, when it was moved to the Puffing Billy Railway for restoration. After restoration, it was loaned to the Victorian Goldfields Railway, where it entered traffic on 5 September 2007.[8] Left VGR in late 2011 for Newport Workshops for an overhaul for preparation to return to Healesville. From 16 May 2025, J541 was offered for sale by tender by Steamrail Victoria Inc., as unclaimed goods.[9]
T 341		1956	Clyde Engineering, Granville NSW	Stored	Formerly on hire to El Zorro.
Y 109 (Y 145)		1963		Stored	Ex El Zorro, Formerly Commissioners Loco Y 109. Renumbered Y 145 2005.
Y 119		1963		Stored	Ex Ettamogha Rail Hub.
Y 135		1965		Stored	Ex South Gippsland Railway.
Y 136		1965		Operational	Ex Downer EDI Newport Workshops. Transferred to Tarrawarra 03/04/2025.
Y 142		1962		Stored	Ex Ettamogha Rail Hub.
Y 157		1968		Operational	Ex Ettamogha Rail Hub.
Y 161		1968		Operational	Ex V/Line.
Y 171		1968		Operational	Ex Ettamogah Rail Hub.
Y 174		1968		Operational	Ex Ettamogah Rail Hub.
W 250		1960	Tulloch Limited, Rhodes NSW	Operational
17 RT			Newport Workshops	Stored	Formerly Sea Lake Shunter.
53 RT		1975	Newport Workshops	Operational	Tarrawarra shunter. Built on frame ex I 181. Formerly Ballarat & Redan Shunter.

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Rail Motors

More information Number, Image ...

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Notes
22 RM		1948	Walkers, England	Operational	Walker Railmotor.
24 RM		1948	Walkers, England	Scrapped	Walker Railmotor. Ex Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society, Huon
55 RM		1928	Newport Workshops	Under Restoration	"Super DERM". Ex South Gippsland Railway
58 MT		1952	Martin & King, Clayton	Under Restoration	Walker Railmotor Trailer. Ex Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society, Huon
64 MT		1954	Martin & King, Clayton	Stored	Walker Railmotor Trailer. Ex Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society, Huon

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Carriages

More information Number, Image ...

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Notes
1 BW		1911	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Ex Steamrail Victoria
32 BW		1914	Newport Workshops	Under Restoration	Ex Steamrail Victoria
34 BW		1914	Newport Workshops, Smith & Party	Stored Operational
35 BW		1914	Newport Workshops, Williams & Party	Stored	Ex Steamrail Victoria
43 BW		1925	Newport Workshops, Owens & Party	Underframe Only	Ex Steamrail Victoria
62 BW		1926	Newport Workshops, Barber & Party	Underframe Only	Ex Steamrail Victoria
ACN 9		1981	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational
ACN 12		1982	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Transferred to Tarrawarra 12/09/2023
ACN 15		1982	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Transferred to Tarrawarra 27/03/2025
ACN 18		1982	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational
BN 8		1981	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational
BN 11		1982	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Transferred to Tarrawarra 12/09/2023
BN 13		1982	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Transferred to Tarrawarra 27/03/2025
BN 17		1982	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational
BRN 38		1983	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational
BRN 40		1983	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Transferred to Tarrawarra 27/03/2025
BRN 44		1983	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Transferred to Tarrawarra 12/09/2023
BRN 47		1983	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational
BDN 2		1981	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Formerly BN 2.
BTN 253		1957	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Formerly 3 AZ.
BZN 272		1957	Newport Workshops	Stored Operational	Formerly 2 BZ. Transferred to Tarrawarra 03/04/2025

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Guards Vans

More information Number, Image ...

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Notes
3 CA		1960	Newport Workshops
4 CA		1960	Newport Workshops
17 CW		1935	Newport Workshops	Stored	Ex South Gippsland Railway
58 Z		1932	Newport Workshops	Stored	Ex Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society, Huon. Former Wondonga Breakdown Van.
19 ZD		1879	Williamstown Workshops	Stored Operational
619 ZD		1928	Newport Workshops		Ex Steamrail Victoria
24 ZF		1962	Newport Workshops	Stored	Ex South Gippsland Railway
68 ZLP		1967		Stored

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The Yarra Valley Railway currently runs on a section of track from Healesville to the Tarrawarra Tunnel. The rest of the line between the stop board outside the Tarrawarra Tunnel exit and Yarra Glen is currently being restored.

Panoramic shot of Healesville Station with the railmotor 22RM sitting in the platform

• Tourist and Heritage Railways Act

• Yarra Glen test train, Newsrail, January 1986^[10]
• General news: the Healesville railway, Newsrail, January 1986^[11]
• The Yarra Glen Railway, Newsrail, March 1986^[12]
• General news: Full steam ahead to Healesville, Newsrail, April 1986^[13]: 114