Rach Cottle
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rachcottle.bsky.social
Rach Cottle
@rachcottle.bsky.social
200 followers 200 following 99 posts
PhD candidate - Women on the Victorian Railways (Aus.) | railway history & heritage | women’s history | local history
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rachcottle.bsky.social
Smells like hot Melbourne days and a misspent youth.
Newspaper advert with image of train and text “Enter a new era in Victoria’s public transport”.
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Slightly different to my usual programming, but we were given the keys to the decommissioned Ararat Signal Box A on the weekend. Felt like stepping back in time.
#VictorianRailways #Signalling #Ararat #RailwayHeritage
October 16, 2025 at 7:35 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Lifted my self-imposed ban from the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s bookshop for some early Xmas presents - for me! @historyvictoria.bsky.social
#books #melbourne #northmelbourne #history
October 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Little paper cups for drinking water from VicRail train. Tea cup on paper cup.
#ephemera
#VicRail
#TeaCup
#VictorianRailways
October 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Unfortunately the train wasn’t that “special” - Collingwood lost by 37 points. 😭
#AFL #VFL
#Football
#VictorianRailways
#Collingwood
Geelong Advertiser, 5 July 1967, p 11
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
I’ve returned to the archives and found another 100 boxes from the Victorian Railways. I am resolved that this thesis could take another ten years to write.
#VictorianRailways
#Archives
#PhDLife
September 18, 2025 at 11:41 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
I particularly enjoyed the 5 minute stand-off we had with this right turning lane. I’m voting for hook turns in Bendigo!
September 6, 2025 at 9:29 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Posting a photo of a tram in Bendigo just for @drdrehistorian.bsky.social
We went for a ride but I still argue that the paddle steamer is a superior form of travel.
#BendigoTramway
#Tram
September 6, 2025 at 9:29 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Save the date!
The AEHS 2026 Conference - “Local History: thinking outside the archival box” - will be held 18 July 2026 in Lilydale.
Tickets on sale early 2026.
#SaveTheDate #Conference #LocalHistory #AEHS
September 2, 2025 at 2:46 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
I’m no longer being asked what my thesis is about, rather am I using AI to write it. The answer is NO - I did not come this far to get a machine to do my work. Thesis writing is hard work but rewarding.
Now if AI could do my washing, housework and feed me - that would be fab!
#PhDlife #AI
August 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
New (old) poster from the State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi. No comments about “clean coal” please - appreciate it for the #cat.
#StateCoalMine #Wonthaggi #FriendsOfTheStateCoalMine #VictorianRailways
August 8, 2025 at 4:21 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
This is how we keep warm on #Melbourne #trams
#96 Bourke St, 4:20 pm
@ptua.org.au
@danielbowen.au
July 11, 2025 at 6:47 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Found out where my Grandparents did their furniture shopping. They had every piece in this advertisement!
(Box Hill Reporter, 13 Jan 1928, p 6)
#Trove #BoxHillHistoricalSociety
#LocalHistory
July 11, 2025 at 1:56 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
More “Things That Go By Train”. The Victorian Railways published this full page advertisement in The Sun newspaper on 28 May 1968.
#VictoriaRailways #RailwayHistory #Trains #Advertising
(VR News Letter, July 1968, p 108)
July 9, 2025 at 5:32 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
#Tram folks - what is this box for?
June 30, 2025 at 6:31 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Thesis may be a long way off completion, but Miss 4.5 has just sorted the cover for me - they have colouring in on the cover, don’t they?
I think I can…
#SteamTrain
#PhDLife
#LongestThesisEver
June 15, 2025 at 4:34 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Rising: Swingers - The Art of Mini Golf in the former Victorian Railways Institute at Flinders Street Station - delightful! ⛳️ 🤩
#VictorianRailways
#FlindersStreetBallroom
#MiniGolf
#MelbourneArt
June 12, 2025 at 10:18 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
And not one T&H railway while there! Need to go back to Durham to visit Cottle country.
May 31, 2025 at 4:36 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Of all the items I’ve found while researching my grandmother, discovering she was a champion at the Egg and Spoon Race, Yarroweyah Children’s Events - has to be my favourite.
(Cobram Courier, 8 Oct 1931, p 2)
#FamilyHistory
Children’s Events news text showing Kitty Windsor as winner of Egg and Spoon Race.
May 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
“But if you’re a brain, you’ll go by train”.
Victorian Railways marketing from a special edition of the ‘V.R. News’ produced for the 1958 Royal Show, p 2.
#VictorianRailways
#RailwayHistory
Cartoon depicting two people standing next to car delayed by traffic. Text reads “but if you’re a brain you’ll go by train”.
May 27, 2025 at 6:24 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Around the yard, rail trail works have commenced but the area is scattered with left over rail and point levers. The South Gippsland Tourist Railway operated services from Nyora to Leongatha via Korumburra 1994 - 2016.
#VictorianRailways
#RailwayHistory
Point levers attached to sleepers and rail.
April 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
In contrast to the large, brick station building sits the weatherboard building that was once home to the Korumburra branch of the Victorian Railways Institute (VRI)
#VictorianRailways
#RailwayHistory
Small weatherboard building with “VRI” on panel on side
April 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
On our final stretch of our South Gippsland VR tour, we followed the former railway line to Korumburra to view a recently restored but well fenced Korumburra Railway Station. The station opened in 1891.
#VictorianRailways
#RailwayHistory
#RailwayStations
Large brick building behind chain wire fence
April 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
rachcottle.bsky.social
The Kirrak Area ceased operations in 1968. Over the last 30 years I have observed this once extant site dwindle to remnants of a poppet head and concrete footings.
#VictorianRailways
#RailwayHistory
#CoalMine
April 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
rachcottle.bsky.social
Following our trip to the Eastern area of the State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi we followed the Kirrak branch line, where parts of the formation run through farming properties, out to the Kirrak Area of the State coal mine.
#VictorianRailways
#RailwayHistory
#CoalMine
Sign in overgrown paddock reads Kirrak Area. Remnants of steel tower and water tank.
April 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM