The railway line was opened between Sydney and Hurstville in 1884 and between Hurstville and Sutherland in 1885. The line between Hurstville and Sutherland (with the exception of Como Bridge) was duplicated just 5 years after opening to cater for all the rail traffic. A steep grade faced Sydney bound trains through Oatley and southbound trains between the Georges River and Sutherland. It was decided by the Chief Commisioner for Railways to ease the grade by deviating the line. The new deviation, opening in 1905, was only 27m longer than the original route. The new and old alignments were simultaneously used until the first electric train in Sydney ran to Oatley on March 1, 1926. The old alignment at Oatley remained for some time, until the local council decided to fill it in and create a park. Como Bridge remained single track until 1972, when a new double track concrete bridge came into use. These days, the old bridge is used by walkers and cyclists travelling between Oatley and Como. It is very popular, especially on weekends.

The old alignment is quite easy to find. Basically, it runs from the wash plant at Mortdale Maintenance Centre, through Oatley Memorial Reserve, alongside a big green water pipe and over Como Bridge. When leaving Mortdale station by train (heading south), look to your left and you will see the Maintenance Centre (the big shed) and the 'wash plant' (the smaller shed). The track through the wash plant is part of the old alignment. If you get out at Oatley station, turn right, walk a few metres and you are on Oatley Parade. Turn left and keep walking along Oatley Parade until you get to a round-a-bout, which is Hurstville Road. You should see back of the Maintenance Centre and the buffer stops and the end of the wash road. There might be a security guard in a car near the buffer stops. Go through Oatley Memorial Reserve (sandwiched between Oatley Parade and Oatley Avenue), cross the road and follow a water pipe until you get to a path and see train tracks on your right. It can be a bit muddy alongside the pipe, so if you don't want muddy shoes (or, in my case, muddy bike tyres), just go along the road (according to the 2005 CityLink UBD Street Directory, it is 'Myra Pl') to the right of the pipe. Keep walking a bit more and you get to Como Bridge. On the other side of the bridge, through the green gate, you can see one of the platforms from old Como station. How easy was that? :-)

For more information, have a read of John Oakes book, 'Sydney's Forgotten Illawarra Railways'. It should be available from the ARHS bookshop at Redfern. The book is all about the history of the Illawarra line and the deviations created to help ease the grade for heavy trains.

Above: The view from the 'wash road' at Mortdale Maintenance Centre (MMC) looking towards Oatley. July 31, 2005.

Above: The view from Oatley Memorial Reserve looking towards the 'wash road' at MMC. July 31, 2005.

Above: The view from Oatley Memorial Reserve looking towards MMC. July 31, 2005.

Above: A water pipe runs along the old alignment from Oatley Memorial Reserve across the Georges River. July 31, 2005.

Above: A water pipe runs along the old alignment from Oatley Memorial Reserve across the Georges River. July 22, 2005.

Above: Old Como bridge is popular with walkers and cyclists between Oatley and Como. July 22, 2005.

Above: The remains of the 'up' platform at Old Como station. July 22, 2005.