Glenbrook Deviation (1892) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenbrook Deviation (1892) |
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|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Closed; superseded by the Glenbrook Deviation (1913) |
| Owner | RailCorp |
| Locale | Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia |
| Termini | Lapstone Bottom Points (east) 33°46′01″S 150°38′26″E / 33.766943°S 150.640596°E Old Glenbrook station (west) 33°45′54″S 150°37′23″E / 33.764901°S 150.622918°E |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| System | Main Western line |
| History | |
| Opened | December 1892 |
| Closed | 25 September 1913 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | approx. 5 miles (8 km) |
| Number of tracks | Single (since removed) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
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Invalid designation
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| Official name |
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| Type | Local government heritage (built) |
| Designated | 27 December 1991 |
| Reference no. | G018 |
| Type | Railway line |
| Builders | Department of Railways |
The Glenbrook Deviation was an important section of railway track in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It was part of the Main Western line. This railway section was built between 1891 and 1892. It was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long. The deviation replaced an older, difficult section of track called the Lapstone Zig Zag. However, this new deviation had its own problems, especially with its tunnel. It was closed in 1913 and replaced by an even newer railway line, which is still used today.
Contents
History
Why a New Railway Was Needed
Back in 1890, railway engineers decided they needed a better way for trains to cross the Blue Mountains. The old section, called the Lapstone Zig Zag, was very tricky. It made trains take a zigzag path up the mountain, which slowed them down and limited how long they could be. To fix this, they planned to build a new section of track with a tunnel.
Building the Deviation
Work on this new railway section began in March 1891. The line started at a place called Bottom Points. It then went into a valley before entering the new tunnel. This tunnel was about 2,165 feet (660 meters) long. It had a continuous steep slope, or gradient, of 1-in-33. This means for every 33 feet the train traveled, it went up 1 foot.
After leaving the tunnel, the line curved and went up slightly. It then rejoined the original railway line at Glenbrook. The place where the old Glenbrook Station used to be is now near the Great Western Highway, close to a skate park.
Problems with the New Tunnel
Even though the new deviation got rid of the difficult Zig Zag, it soon caused its own problems. The main issue was the design of the tunnel.
First, the steep 1-in-33 slope inside the tunnel made it hard for trains to climb. Second, and most importantly, the tunnel had very poor ventilation. It was a single-track tunnel, meaning it was quite narrow. There was also a curve inside, which made the air flow even worse.
As trains went through, smoke and fumes from the locomotive would fill the tunnel. Passengers often struggled to breathe. Sometimes, trains would even start slipping on the tracks halfway through the tunnel. This forced the engine crews to reverse the train out to get fresh air. In one serious event in 1908, a train backing out of the tunnel crashed into another train waiting at the entrance.
A New Solution for the Railway
Because of these problems, work started on yet another new railway section in 1910. At this time, the Main Western Line over the Blue Mountains was also being made into a double track (two tracks instead of one).
The second Glenbrook deviation was built to replace the problematic 1-in-33 section. This new line had a much gentler slope of 1-in-60 across Glenbrook Gorge. It opened in 1913 and is the railway line still used today.
What Happened to the Old Tunnel?
During World War II, the old Glenbrook tunnel found a new use. It was used to store bombs and ammunition, keeping them safe.
After the war, the tunnel was used for a surprising purpose: it became a mushroom farm! This continued until 2016. The upper part of the tunnel has been cleared. However, years of leftover material inside make it unsafe for people to explore. The lower part of the tunnel, which benefited from the mushroom farm's runoff, is also difficult to reach.
