The Ghost Train Walk Tour is run by John Oakes in conjunction with the ARHSNSW. It is a bushwalk along the old alignment of the South Coast Line. When the line was altered, it became longer, with an easier grade (to benefit freight trains) and less tunnels between Waterfall and Stanwell Park.

I recommend going on the tour - its a good way to get some fresh air and exercise, see part of railway history and get your feet wet/muddy while walking through some old tunnels. If you are interested in going on any part of the tour, please contact ARHSNSW and leave your details with them so they can pass them onto John Oakes.

It is interesting to note that most of the old tunnels have been used at one stage or another as mushroom farms. The conditions inside the tunnels make it ideal for growing mushrooms. Some remains of the mushroom farm 'railways' can be seen in some of the photos below.

The image below shows the current alignment (solid dark line) as well as the old one (broken line).


 

Above: Waterfall station. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Above: The Old Railway dam near Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Waterfall

Above: The Old Railway dam near Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Waterfall

Above: The site of the old Waterfall tunnel, looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Waterfall

Above: The site of the old Waterfall tunnel, looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The western side of the new Cawley culvert. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The eastern side of the old Cawley culvert. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The old alignment above old Cawley culvert looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The old alignment above old Cawley culvert looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The old cutting north of old Cawley culvert looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: Cawley curve above new Cawley culvert looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The northern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The northern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: Inside the northern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: Inside the northern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: Inside the southern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: Inside the southern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The southern end of old Cawley tunnel looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The remains of the mushroom farm at the southern end of old Cawley tunnel. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Cawley

Above: The remains of the mushroom farm at the southern end of old Cawley tunnel. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The new (eastern side) of Wilson's Creek culvert at Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: Inside old Wilson's Creek culvert looking towards the new (eastern side). The curve shows where the old and new culvert were joined. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: Inside old Wilson's Creek culvert looking towards the new (eastern side). New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The northern end of old Helensburgh tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The northern end of old Helensburgh tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The northern end of old Helensburgh tunnel looking towards Helensburgh. New South Wales. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: Inside the southern end of old Helensburgh tunnel looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The southern end of old Helensburgh tunnel looking towards Waterfall. New South Wales. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: The old Helensburgh platform and old Metropolitan tunnel looking South. The track is not the original track, it was donated by the Metropolitan Colliery who use the tunnel to store water to wash coal. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The old Helensburgh platform and old Metropolitan tunnel looking South. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: A sign near the old Helensburgh platform. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: A fence near the old Helensburgh platform. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: The old Helensburgh platform looking north towards old Helensburgh tunnel. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The old Metropolitan tunnel looking south from old Helensburgh platform. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

Helensburgh

Above: The old Metropolitan tunnel looking south from old Helensburgh platform. New South Wales. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: Inside the old Metropolitan tunnel. New South Wales. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: Inside the old Metropolitan tunnel. New South Wales. May 8, 2009.

Helensburgh

Above: The new Helensburgh station. New South Wales. March 13, 2004.

 

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Page Created: 28/10/99 Last Updated: 11/09/09

All photos are property of Anita Lukaszyk unless stated otherwise.
Please contact me or the owner if you wish to use them.