September 1855, the company reported to have received a shipment of two carriages, wagons and other stocks. Also, two locomotives from London sent in July were still expecting daily. However, first Australia made locomotive was also prepared for usage. The Ariel locomotive built in Geelong in 1856 was in use until the 1890s. Also in late 1855, four miles of the permanent line from Cowies Creek station to Geelong station was completed and the accommodation at the terminus were almost finished the building process. On the southern side of the line, ten miles of earthwork was completed, which was from Geelong station and Duck Ponds, and ready for trial. In the last quarter of 1856, the railway company operated trial passenger train running between Geelong and Duck Ponds (now Lara) stations. Duck Ponds was also the transition station from the Geelong line to Williamstown where the line would continue via the junction. Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company by that time has been acquired by the colony government and the contractors that were responsible for the Williamstown junction's project was still in the negotiating process due to the labour shortages. Also, the partnered company announced that they would confine their construction to the six miles of the Melbourne and Williamstown portion and approximately 70 miles from Melbourne to Alexander which remained untouched. Then the service extended to Little River in January 1857. The 38.5-mile railway line to Newport completed on 8 June 1857 and started offering service since 25 June 1867. Extension The next phase of the project is to extend the new line to Ballarat in 1858. The line was opened for service in April 1862. In 1855, a newspaper commented that neither the colony or the investors would receive full advantages of the line construction unless the line was extended to Ballarat and other western gold-fields to increase reciprocity. The alluded line from Geelong to Ballarat would significantly enhance the company's value. The extended project was proposed in the previous session of Legistrative Council in September with high hopes. However, the press also cited that the company's Executive was "folly" to propose for the extension due to the fact that the construction for the permanent line was behind schedule and the company was not ready for the operation. Therefore, a strong effort from the company to extend the line would be required unless the colony government proceed