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Photos from ten years ago Toxic Custard newsletter

Photos and video from April 2005

OK, here we go with another set of photos (and video this time) from ten years ago.

In a blog post back in April 2005, I posted this photo of Brighton Beach station:
Brighton Beach station, April 2005

Here it is in the present day: notice the fence along platform 1 for the purposes of securing the sidings, where trains are now kept when not in use. If you look closely, you’ll also see an additional exit on platform 3. And the small shelter (designed for wheelchair passengers) that was under construction in 2005 is now there, as well as a PSO pod (aka “Baillieu Box”).
Brighton Beach station, April 2015

Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, after a somewhat half-baked “Think Tram” solution was put in to include hook turns, departure-side tram stops (but with inadequate markers and barriers, so motorists ended up parking in them). However the hook turn automated signage has appeared at numerous other intersections, in the CBD.
Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, April 2005

Nearby Kingsway. I must have been snapping the petrol price, but note the mass of cranes in the background — perhaps Crown was being expanded at the time, or perhaps it was north of the river?
Kingsway, April 2005

The Nylex sign being renovated (see this blog post from the time). That didn’t go so well — the clock was switched back on in mid-2005, broke down in 2006, and then switched off when Nylex went bust in 2007. It was restarted for a day or two earlier this year.
Nylex sign renovation, April 2005

A tram in the old battleship grey colour scheme passes Flinders Street station.
Tram passes Flinders Street station, April 2005

The same day I snapped that, I also took some photos of the 7 News ticker above Young And Jacksons. The insertion of “7” between each headline made for some amusement.

Southern Cross, I mean Spencer Street station under construction. Also note to the left, the empty site now taken by The Age building.
Southern Cross station under construction, April 2005

Another snap, looking north up Spencer Street towards Bourke Street, shows some of the size of the project:
Southern Cross station under construction, April 2005

The two photos above are from a panorama that I posted back at the time. Use the scroll bar to move across:

(Another view, from the Collins/Spencer Street corner, was included in pics from December 2004, and a view from the Docklands side from November 2004)

Finally, something for the gunzels — a couple of bits of video of trains of the time, one approaching Spencer Street, the other on Richmond station. Note the old colour schemes (it had been about 12 months since Connex took over from M<Train), especially how dull the old Siemens livery was before it went to the Connex scheme:

By Daniel Bowen

Transport blogger / campaigner and spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association / professional geek.
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia.
Opinions on this blog are all mine.

8 replies on “Photos and video from April 2005”

It’s funny how 10 years ago feels so nostalgic. Thanks for the photos, especially of my railway station, Brighton Beach. Annoyingly, the two morning trains that depart from the siding don’t stop at Brighton Beach making it a long gap between trains for commuters at Sandy, Hampton and BB station.

“Looking down Bourke Street” should probably read “Looking up Spencer Street towards Bourke Street:

What is the antenna atop the pole on the platform at Brighton Beach station? Such antennas used to be very common on houses 10-15 years ago.

Maybe some unknown broadcasting service?

Your photo back then led us to visiting Brighton Beach Station. I said to my partner a day or so ago, I think the battle ship grey trams have gone now, but then one passed us by.

That antenna on the pole is similar, but not identical, to the antennas they used for Galaxy TV which was a pay-tv system that existed for a few years in the late 90’s.

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