The Cudgewa line opened in stages between 1889 and 1921. The first section from
Wodonga to
Huon opened on 10 September 1889. It was extended to
Bolga on 18 July 1890,
Tallangatta on 24 July 1891,
Shelley on 13 June 1916 (the highest station in Victoria),
Beetoomba on 10 April 1919 and
Cudgewa on 5 May 1921. The line would feature 1 in 30
grades and large trestle bridges to account for the mountainous terrains and flood plains which the line went through. In 1919, the line was used to carry materials for the construction of
Hume Weir, and three years later a spur line connecting Ebden to the weir was opened. In the 1960s, Cudgewa became the
railhead of materials for the
Snowy Mountains Scheme. During this period of time 2 trains would run away down the steep gradients eventually derailing. This would lead the VR to purchase
T class T413 which became the regular diesel locomotive on the line after purchase in 1967. It was the only locomotive of the class with
dynamic brakes. The last passenger service from Wodonga to Tallangatta ran on 30 September 1961 with a
102hp Walker railmotor. On 21 April 1978, the last regular goods train ran, ==References==