136 - Lapstone Zig Zag

Short description:

Explore historic Lapstone rail and tramway routes.

Map details:

CMA Penrith 1:25,000. See also BITSR 2/38.

Start:

Lapstone Station.

Route:

From the station head south and up Explorers Road to the corner with Governers Drive. Near the corner once past Explorers Road is a foot track into Darks Common Reserve. Follow this track in a generally west direction using the sun behind you as a guide until the track joins the obviously constructed level but disused tramway line.

Turn left and follow the rail line through cuttings to the end. There are a couple of lookouts over Glenbrook Gorge to the left and to the right are Ross Lookout, Williams Lookout and Chalmers Lookout, though how to get there is still to be determined.

After morning tea at a lookout head back down the rail route, past where you joined it earlier, on to Explorers Road where you should be emerge opposite a continuation of the rail route in Tunnel Gully Reserve.

Near the end of the rail route you need to turn right and proceed down hill, otherwise the rail route meets an untimely end with a big drop off. The correct route meanders downhill and at the ends falls reasonably steeply to a prominent manhole at the junction with the tunnel track.

Heading right, down hill immediately puts you on a rock ledge between two railway cuttings and soon passes the old tunnel entrance, now bricked up, on the right. Follow this track down hill to emerge on Governors Drive at the water tower just before it goes under the highway.

Walk along the side of Governors Drive, under the highway and at the end of the fence on the left climb the rock track that doubles back up to the top of the bank to an open cleared area once occupied by a residence and the end of a zig (zag?).

Follow the obvious levelled rail route north past the old railway station platform to "top station" overlooking the Knapsack Bridge. Double back to the right, descending the foot-track with well made steps down to the Knapsack Bridge.

After exploring the top of the bridge proceed under the bridge where the track goes down creek for a bit before crossing and coming back up under the bridge. From here the track is clear but steeply stepped up to Elizabeth Lookout where a well earned lunch can be taken.

After lunch take the incoming track used to get there for 50m or so and turn right before the track starts dropping. Follow this track around keeping left at every opportunity. This should return you to the north side of the highway, which when followed for several hundred metres you need to cross opposite the Information Centre and walk through the shopping centre to Glenbrook Station. If you miss a left turn the track should still emerge at some point on Barnet Street where a map will enable the best choice of route back to Glenbrook.    

Timing:

Lapstone Station to Ross Lookout = 40mins (20mins = 5, 20mins = 3)

Ross Lookout to Great Western Highway underpass = 45mins (3)

Great Western Highway underpass to Knapsack Bridge = 25mins (15mins = 4, 10mins=1)

Knapsack Bridge to Elizabeth Lookout = 40mins (1)

Elizabeth Lookout to Glenbrook Station = 60mins (40mins = 3, 20mins = 5)

Difficulty:

Distance = 8km; Ascent = 290m; Grade (1-6) = 3; Track condition (0-5) = 1 (24%), 3 (50%), 4 (7%), 5 (19%); Time = 4.5hrs.

Dates walked:

3 May 1998; 14 Nov 1999; 2 Apr 2012 (NPA with MWJ);