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Forty years ago today, I was in the central Victorian city of Bendigo. Here is VLine Melbourne to Swan Hill train number 8081, headed by X44 with a then-new N class loco assisting, heading north away from Bendigo station Exactly forty years ago today, October 5 1986 1 of 5

Bendigo retained a section of its former electric tramway network after its closure in 1972, and has run it as a tourist attraction and heritage tramway since then Here is 1917-built tram no 25 in Pall Mall and Charing Cross, Bendigo Exactly forty years ago today, October 5 1986 2 of 5

Tram 25 ran as Melbourne P class no 133. Bendigo bought it second hand in 1947 and it has run in Bendigo ever since then. Here she is in Arnold Street near the depot, then at Central Deborah terminus, and in High Street in front of the cathedral. Exactly 40 years ago today, October 5 1986 3 of 5

Whilst about one third of Bendigo's tram network was saved, the rest of it closed in 1972 and the tracks were removed or covered. But in 1986, this short section of the long-closed Quarry Hill line on the rail overbridge was still visible. Exactly 40 years ago today, October 5 1986 4 of 5