A report on the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway as supplied by Rod Smith.
As at Monday evening, YVR had lost five of the six bridges, including the heritage-listed Yarra River bridge from almost the start of the straight at Gas Works curve (which is where the road veers away from the railway) to Melba Hwy, including the station yard.
Yarra Glen station building survived: the member who has lived at the station since it was set on fire in 1998 fought the fire and embers away until CFA arrived to put out the hot spots including to the trolley shed at the down end of the yard. All of the bridge-gang shed has been levelled; also the majority of serviceable sleepers and timbers in the yard.
A second fire front at Tarrawarra destroyed: bridges 20 & 21 on the flat at 33 1/2 MP, all track between Lubra Bend 32 1/2 MP to just short of the last curve into Tarrawarra. YVR has lost seven bridges and around 5 km of track so far.
On Mon.9 or Tues.10.2, Healesville had/has a fire which has been burning all day and has escalated into a major problem with residents being evacuated from the north and northwest of the town. YVR members were in attendance at the station 24 h per day, with a good fire system there to protect the buildings and rollingstock.