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Tue 20 Dec 1892 - The Australian Star (Sydney, NSW : 1887 - 1909)
Page 7 - LAPSTONE HILL DEVIATION.
LAPSTONE HILL DEVIATION.
On the Great Western Railway.
The above work, which will be of much
economical advantage to the Railway De
partment and convenience to railway pas
sengers, was opened for public traffic on
Stindav. Anvonowho hfl'n hpen in t,ln» Itnltik
of travelling over tho Blue Mountains will
be familiar with the working of tho
trains ovor what has boen known
as the Lapstone Zigzag. On reach
ing the lower points the engine drew on
to the extreme end of. the ldwer-.wing so as
to clear the lower points, and then the train
had to be pushed up backwards — always an
objectionable woy of working to railway
men — on to the second or middle wing, and
then after working back to- clear the upper
points tho train was enabled to get a clear
run for Glenbrook. By the deviation just
completed this Zigzag has been avoided,
and the train can now rnn direct
from Emu Plains to Glenbrook Station.
The grade on either line is. abont
the same, but the great advantage
exists that there is by the new route a
saving of time owing to the absence of the
. backward working up the middle wing of
the old Zigzag. To the Railway Depart
ment more than the saving of time and the
. omission of objectionable working is the
advantage that will be gained by the ability
to take much longer goods trains than could
have been done under the old working,
the length of the wings limiting the length
of trains, while the new lino per
mits of loads being taken to the
lull working power of tho engines.
The element of safety also is to be con
sidered, as the new line will bo worked with
more efficiency and freedom than was pos-
sioie previously, i ne deviation commences
at a point about 14 chains on the Sydney
Bide of the bottom pointB, i.e., at 38 miles
12 chains, and terminates at the eastern end
of Glenbrook Station, the total length being
one mile 33 chains. The deviation com
mences by leaving the existing line oh tho
eastern side and running almost parallel to
it_ when it crosses tho old road at 38
miles 26 chains, and, curving to the west
ward, passes through heavy rock cuttings
and thence into the tunnel, which is 31
chains in length. On emerging from the
tunnel Knapsaok Creek is crossed twioe by
timber bridges of two spans of 24ft. each,
and joins the existing line, as already stated,
at about five chains on the Sydney side of
Glenbrook Station. The grade of the
deviation iB 1 in 33 throughout, the sharpest
curve having a radius of 12 chains. The
permanent way consists of steel rails weigh
ing 801b. to the yard, and ironbark sleepers
laid upon broken sandstone und blue metal
ballast. Tho whole work has been carried
out in a thoroughly substantial manner. . The
cost of the work will be about £50,000.