| Historical notes: | The Main Northern line between Sydney and Newcastle was constructed in two distinct stages and in the earliest years, was worked as two separate railway systems. The line between Sydney (actually the junction at Strathfield) and the Hawkesbury River was opened on 5 April 1887, with the terminus being on the southern bank of the Hawkesbury River. The line between Newcastle and the northern bank of the Hawkesbury River (near present day Wondabyne) was opened in January 1888. The line was completed through between Sydney and Newcastle with the opening of the massive bridge over the Hawkesbury River in 1889.
The Main Northern line was opened from Newcastle (near Hamilton) to Gosford on 15 August 1887 and few months later, was extended south to Mullet Creek, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River. The line was constructed as a ‘single’ line, but many structures along the way were built to accept future duplication. By 1912, duplication had been completed between Newcastle and Gosford. At the time of the opening, stations along the route included (amongst others) Broadmeadow, Adamstown, Cockle Creek, Teralba, Fassifern, Morisset, Wyee (then named Norahville), Wyong, Ourimbah and Gosford.
South of Broadmeadow, the first significant railway feature at the time of railway construction was the 526 feet long (160 metre) Tickhole Tunnel which was opened with the line in 1887. The tunnel was built in anticipation of the future duplication. A single line was laid through the tunnel, although the line was duplicated in 1891. After passing through the tunnel, the original line descended downgrade at 1 in 50 grade, through Cardiff station (original location) and on to Cockle Creek.
The waterway known as Cockle Creek was crossed on a substantial steel bridge, with the line continuing on to Teralba. From Teralba, the original line climbed at a steep 1 in 40 grade before descending (also on 1 in 40 grade) to Fassifern. After Fassifern, the original line climbed toward Awaba, also on a relatively steep grade.
Between Awaba and Wyee, through Dora Creek and Morisset, a number of relatively steep grades were encountered in both directions. Of particular note is the railway location known as Hawkmount. Hawkmount is located between Awaba and Dora Creek and was (and still is) a significant barrier to the railway, and at the time of railway construction, presented a lengthy climb at 1 in 40 grade to trains in both the up and down direction. A number of steep (but shorter) grades were encountered between Dora Creek and Wyee.
Between 1899 and 1902, deviations were constructed to ease the grades from 1 in 40 to 1 in 75 for up (loaded) trains in the Adamstown to Wyee section. Deviations of various lengths were built at Cardiff, Teralba-Fassifern, Fassifern-Awaba, Awaba-Hawkmount, Dora Creek-Morisset and Morisset-Wyee. Regrading and deviations meant longer track lengths, a result of the cuttings and curves needed to bypass the steep grades.
The original 1887 bridges were replaced by stronger structures at Cockle Creek and Dora Creek, and new stations were constructed at Cardiff, Cockle Creek, Dora Creek and Wyee due to regrading and deviations. Over the years, new stations have been built at Sulphide Junction (to serve Cardiff Workshops and since removed), Boolaroo Racecourse (1910-1942), Boolaroo landing (1942) and Booragul (1926).
Electrification of the main line between Gosford and Newcastle was opened in May 1984, an extension of the Sydney-Gosford electrification which had been completed in 1960. The new electrification project involved new or rebuilt platforms, station buildings, footbridges, overbridges and underbridges, line side buildings, sidings and myriad structures in that section in order to permit the operation of the wider electric passenger rollingstock and electric locomotives.
To permit the operation of double-deck interurban electric cars through the relatively tight Tickhole Tunnel between Kotara and Cardiff, a second tunnel, immediately adjacent to the original tunnel was built c.1983. The new tunnel is on the north side of the original Tickhole Tunnel and serves the Up main line, while the original tunnel serves the Down line.
Author’s Note : The line between Sydney and Newcastle is not the ‘Great Northern Railway’. When the line between Newcastle (near present day Civic) and East Maitland (Victoria Street) was opened on 20 March 1857, the Governor Sir William Denison, re-named the previously planned ‘Hunter River Railway’ as the ‘Great Northern Railway’ (G.N.R.). This is why a number of railway stations in the Newcastle to Wallan-garra section bear the initials G.N.R. on their facade but not so with stations in the Strathfield to Newcastle section. |