Laburnum railway station
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox station
Laburnum railway station is a commuter railway station on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, which are both part of the Melbourne railway network. It serves the eastern suburb of Blackburn, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It opened on 13 July 1958,<ref name=vicsiglaburnum/><ref name="ddjul58">Template:Cite magazine</ref> with the current station provided in 2007.<ref name="vicsiglaburnum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
Laburnum station was named after the locality of Laburnum, itself named after the shrub of the same name.<ref name="vplaburnum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="heraldsun">Template:Cite news</ref> The original station had two side platforms, with a substantial brick building on Platform 1, and a small brick shelter on Platform 2.<ref name=vicsiglaburnum/> In that year the hand-operated gates at the former Middleborough Road level crossing were replaced by with boom barriers.<ref name="somersaultjan90">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The crossing was in the up direction from the station.<ref name=vicsiglaburnum/>
The Middleborough Road grade separation project involved lowering the line eight metres below the road. That required the rebuilding of the station, and the removal of the bend in Laburnum Street beneath it. In October 2006, the station buildings were demolished and, on 29 January 2007, the rebuilt station opened.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As part of the project, provision was made for the future installation of a third track.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Toot Toot – drive slowly signEdit
Laburnum was once known for having a sign reading "Toot Toot – drive slowly" under the railway bridge which crosses Laburnum Street, because the street was narrow and had a sharp bend at that point.<ref name=vicsig>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Drivers would often sound their car horns, as instructed by the sign, to warn oncoming, and possibly unseen, traffic that might be approaching the narrow underpass. Infuriated neighbours frequently attempted to remove the sign by painting over it, but to no avail, because the local council would restore the sign every time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
When the station was rebuilt following the 2007 grade separation, the road underpass was substantially widened, so the sign was deemed unnecessary and was removed. A plaque was erected which commemorated the sign and outlined its history,<ref name=vicsig/> although that has since been removed.
Platforms and servicesEdit
Laburnum has two side platforms and is served by Lilydale and Belgrave line trains.<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref><ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
Platform 1:
- Template:RouteBox all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
- Template:RouteBox all stations and limited express services to Flinders Street
Platform 2:
- Template:RouteBox all stations and limited express services to Lilydale
- Template:RouteBox all stations and limited express services to Belgrave
Transport linksEdit
Kinetic Melbourne operates two bus routes via Laburnum station, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:
- Template:Color box: Box Hill station – Ringwood station<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
- Template:Color box: Box Hill station – Westfield Doncaster (deviation)<ref>Template:Cite PTV route</ref>
GalleryEdit
- The Laburnum Railway Station 'Toot-Toot' sign.jpg
Plaque commemorating the Laburnum Railway Station 'Toot-Toot' sign, January 2008
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Melway map at street-directory.com.au