From the Archives, 1956: Transport chaos as Melbourne blanketed by fog

First published in The Age on July 6, 1956

FOG BLANKETS CITY AND SUBURBS

Road, Rail and Airline Traffic Dislocated

Heavy fog blanketed the city and suburbs last night.

• Slowed traffic to snail’s pace;
• Disrupted tram and rail services;
• Grounded aircraft;
• Hampered shipping and caused an increase in minor accidents.

Followed After Fine Day

Collins Street blanketed in fog. Credit:The Age Archives

Following a fine mild winter’s day, the fog began to close in on Port Phillip Bay early in the afternoon.

It spread over Bayside and western suburbs and closed aerodromes at Essendon and Laverton.

It then spread slowly over southern and eastern suburbs and early last night an almost impenetrable fog hung over the whole metropolitan area.

Transport services over most areas were considerable delayed.

Along St Kilda Road trams were frequently held up, and at times more than 30 trams were delayed.

At 10 o’clock the services were running at half speed.

Road traffic throughout the metropolitan area was slowed and badly hampered.

Along main arteries such as St Kilda, Dandenong, Geelong, Sydney and Heidelberg roads traffic was reduced to walking pace.

Fortunately only minor traffic accidents were reported.

Police and ambulance officials said that this was due to the care exercised by drivers.

Melbourne Airport was closed shortly after 4 pm.

At 10.30 pm 21 planes had been diverted to the emergency aerodrome at Mangalore.

Only one plane landed at Essendon – a passenger-bearing DC3 from Davenport, which took advantage of a 60-second lift in the weather to come down.

Ship Held Up

The incoming freighter Neptunia was held up at in the Bay. She lay at an anchor overnight and is expected to dock at 7 o’clock this morning.

Two inter-State vessels, the Ailpena, and the Kamona, were delayed in sailing.

The lighthouse keeper at Point Lonsdale last night said the fog was so bad he could not see whether ships were entering or leaving the Heads.

The fog horn on the lighthouse had been going almost continuously since 2.20 am yesterday.

Train Cuts

At 5.30 pm trains on western suburban lines had been delayed for periods ranging up to 15 minutes. Northern and south-western lines were also affected.

Ten trains were cancelled on the Essendon, Sandringham, Williamstown, Oakleigh, Fawkner and St Kilda lines.

Scores of signalmen were called out to help guide drivers past signals obscured by the fog.

Early this morning crowds thronged Flinders Street station as late services were delayed by the fog.

Schedules were up to 40 minutes behind and trains which should have left the city about midnight, could not get away until after 12.30 am.

The last train was cleared at 12.40 am.

Incoming services were also held up and the concourse, usually deserted shortly after midnight, was still crowded with people at 1 am.

The effects of the fog were felt at the missing persons bureau, Russel Street headquarters, where an extraordinary number of inquiries concerning missing persons were received.

In all cases those concerned had been held up in arriving home by traffic delays.

Most Viewed in National

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article