industry converted to natural gas and homes were converted to other forms of heating. Electrification was cut back to Warragul in 1987, with suburban-style trains providing the services from there to Melbourne. Electrification was further cut back to Bunyip in 1998, before ceasing entirely beyond Pakenham in 2001. The line east of Sale was closed in 1994, but was reopened to Bairnsdale in 2004. In 2005, the Regional Fast Rail project upgraded one of the two lines between Pakenham and Traralgon. This project also included removing the remaining electrification infrastructure from Pakenham East to Traralgon, with the exception of a heritage-listed length in Bunyip. Branch lines A branch line was built north from Warragul in stages from the 1890s, reaching Noojee in 1919. It was closed in stages from 1954 to 1958. In 1910, the narrow gauge Walhalla branch line was completed through mountainous country from Moe to Erica and Walhalla. The Platina to Walhalla section closed in 1944, Erica to Platina in 1952, and Moe to Erica in 1954. The northernmost section, between Thomson and Walhalla stations, has been reopened as a tourist railway by the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, and provides regularly scheduled trains. A branch line was also opened from Moe to Thorpdale in 1888, which was closed in 1958. The Yallourn branch was opened from Hernes Oak (between Moe and Morwell) to Yallourn in 1922 to serve the adjacent power station development. It was replaced by a line from Moe to Yallourn in 1953 because its route was required for brown coal mining, but the new line closed in 1987, having been disused since the late 1970s. The Mirboo North branch line was opened in stages from Morwell to Mirboo North between 1885 and 1886; however, it was closed in 1974. The route of the line was partly dug up as part of the Hazelwood open cut mine. The Maryvale paper siding also connects to the main line at Morwell and remains open today for regular freight traffic. The loop line via Maffra was opened from Traralgon to Heyfield, Maffra and Stratford in 1887, which was closed in stages between 1987 and 1993. A branch line was opened from Maffra to Briagolong in 1889 and closed in 1952. There used to be several timber tramways running to a number of the stations between Pakenham and Yarragon. Significance The expansion of the railway in the late 1870s helped