24 Apr 1912 - A GREAT WORK.

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Wed 24 Apr 1912 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
Page 19 - A GREAT WORK.

A GREAT WORK.

HOW MOUNTAINS ARE

PIERCED.

GLENBROOK TUNNELS.

ENORMOUS CUTTINGS.

Line 2.0.0Fix this textThe work of constructing the' Glenbrook
Line 2.0.1Deviation, which will do away with the tor-
Line 2.0.2tuous run through the tunnel In the upward
Line 2.0.3Journey by rail to the Bluo Mountains, is
Line 2.0.4colling forth 'considerable engineering skill

Line 2.1.0Few people realiso from the cursory glance
Line 2.1.1that can bo obtained as tho train begins
Line 2.1.2the ascent of the Emu Plains the extent and
Line 2.1.3nature of tho undertaking. Tho difficulties
Line 2.1.4that are being overcome so that a lesser
Line 2.1.5grade may bo obtained than the, present ono
Line 2.1.6of I in 30 aro in somo parts of ,the work

stupendous.

Line 2.3.0The deviation leaves tho existing »no near
Line 2.3.1the Emu Plains" station, and circles away
Line 2.3.2In a north-westerly direction, coming around
Line 2.3.3and crossing. the main line near the level
Line 2.3.4crossing of the Bathurst-road. It then cros-
Line 2.3.5ses Knapsack Gully, where at the present
Line 2.3.6time is being completed a viaduct of eight
Line 2.3.7arches of 45 feet span, following the side
Line 2.3.8of Lapstone Hill to tho Bluff on tho northern
Line 2.3.9side of Glenbrook Creek. At this point a
Line 2.3.10tunnel is being put through some 14 chains
Line 2.3.11long. It then continues in a northerly and
Line 2.3.12north-westerly direction until It Joins tho
Line 2.3.13existing Une, near Blaxland station.

WORK AT THE BLUFF.

Line 2.5.0It l8 at tho Bluff that the mo3t difficult
Line 2.5.1work Is being carried out, and It has to bo|
Line 2.5.2seen to permit of a proper realisation of its
Line 2.5.3nature. The Bluff Is a hugo wall of rock
Line 2.5.4as the name suggests-rising up from the
Line 2.5.5Ded of Glenbrook Creek, and Is almost per-
Line 2.5.6pendicular, there being a clear drop of hun-
Line 2.5.7dreds of feet from the top to the bottom.

Line 2.6.0Around this wall of rock tho surveyors'
Line 2.6.1pegs hav'd marked the way, and for months
Line 2.6.2past hundreds of men havo been hard at
Line 2.6.3work cutting into it to provide a shelf, as
Line 2.6.4It were, on which to lay a double track. Tho
Line 2.6.5initial difficulties of even obtaining a foot-
Line 2.6.6hold for the mon to work were considerable.
Line 2.6.7At first, men swung down with the aid of
Line 2.6.8ropes. Tho hugo boulders that had to be
Line 2.6.9shifted received first attention, and these
Line 2.6.10were rolled hundreds of feet below into the
Line 2.6.11creek, which, it may be said^ no longer pre-
Line 2.6.12sents a'sylvan appearance. Once tho clear-
Line 2.6.13ing was made, the work of cutting out tbo
Line 2.6.14sandstone commenced. Gradually thero has
Line 2.6.15been formed on the side of tho Bluff some
Line 2.6.16. semblance of where the track will be and at

¡ono part the tunnel Is being pierced from

Line 2.8.0both ends. Inside aro tho minors hacking
Line 2.8.1away through tho stone, slowly, but surely.
Line 2.8.2This is not tho work of "the rusher"; the men

| who chip out, drill, and oxeavate the tun-

Line 2.10.0nels aro picked because of their special ap-
Line 2.10.1titude for the work. It soems a slow process,
Line 2.10.2but with powerful explosives, assisted by the
Line 2.10.3fast nir-compressod driven drills, the work
Line 2.10.4moves on apace. The tunnel is Illuminated
Line 2.10.5with electricity, whilo running along the side
Line 2.10.6is a huge canvas pipo, "tho fan,"' which keeps
Line 2.10.7the atmosphere pure nnd sweet.

Outside on the platform of solid rock men

are busily at work. There is the sharp, do

Line 2.13.0tonatlng noto of the "Jack" hammer, which
Line 2.13.1smites its way into tho rock to prepare It
Line 2.13.2for a charge for blasting. -It Is driven by
Line 2.13.3compressed air, and does wonderful work. It
Line 2.13.4can be placed In all sorts of awkward corners,
Line 2.13.5whore the ordinary rock drill cannot work.
Line 2.13.6Near by. Is tho compressed air drill, while
Line 2.13.7further up the mountain side men are nt work
Line 2.13.8with the old-fashioned rod making "chargo"
Line 2.13.9holes with laborious care for a blast. In posi-
Line 2.13.10tions that It would bo impossible for the com-
Line 2.13.11pressed air drill to negotiate. Further along
Line 2.13.12thore is a "Flying Jack," which Is depositing
Line 2.13.13loads of concrete on to a cleared patch nearer
Line 2.13.14the bed of the creek. It has been found
Line 2.13.15necessary to put In a retaining wall, and a
Line 2.13.16good foundation has to be made. The only
Line 2.13.17method of access is the Flying Fax, so steep
Line 2.13.18l8 the descent. Then thero is the funicular
Line 2.13.19railway, which almost drops straight in part
Line 2.13.20of the Journey from the top. It brings down
Line 2.13.21the material, the momentum of tho full truck
Line 2.13.22rushing down the sido bringing up tho empty
Line 2.13.23one, thus providing an economical means of

traction.

SOME BIG BLASTS.

Line 2.16.0Some big blasts have been fired at the Bluff.
Line 2.16.1The shot-firing has its spectacular side, and
Line 2.16.2when the charge is heavy it causes a rever-
Line 2.16.3beration on tho hillside that can be heard
Line 2.16.4for miles around. First, thore comes the
Line 2.16.5warning sound-a peculiar cry with which
Line 2.16.6every worker is familiar-and when all have
Line 2.16.7Bought covor tho "powder monkey" presses tho
Line 2.16.8, button, and act from the hill' Is dislodged,

amidst the crack and boom of the explosive, I

, tons of stone and earth, which roar and

Line 2.18.0rattle down the sides to the bed of the creek,
Line 2.18.1below. Around the hills the sound booms
Line 2.18.2again, and suggests from the echoes a big
Line 2.18.3storm in progress.

' IN THE CUTTINGS.

Line 2.20.0Along the cuttings towards Blaxland the
Line 2.20.1work is not of the same pioturcsque charac-
Line 2.20.2ter; still It Is being pushed through as expodl
Line 2.20.3tlously as possible. Thero are no deep cut-
Line 2.20.4tings as those provided In tho Zigzag devia-
Line 2.20.5tion. A new departure has been made by the
Line 2.20.6introduction of steam navvies, the first of
Line 2.20.7their kind used on railway works in this State.
Line 2.20.8These machines are great labour savers, and
Line 2.20.91 thoy work with such human-like precision

Line 2.21.0that thero is a fascination in watching them.
Line 2.21.1The hugo shovel, which swings from a derrick
Line 2.21.2above, sinks into the earth, be It soft sand or
Line 2.21.3clay, seizes a piece of it weighing about
Line 2.21.4two tons, and tosses It away with ease,
Line 2.21.5coming back for moro, and doing the work of

many men.

Line 2.23.0| Then there are derrick cranes and travel
Line 2.23.1i ling gantry cranes, whoso work it is to pick
Line 2.23.2up the hugo boulders that aro fired out by
Line 2.23.3the blasts. These are seized as by a giant, i
Line 2.23.4and lifted out of the road by them, the cranes i
Line 2.23.5being placed on the top of the cuttings.' All
Line 2.23.6these devices mean the saving of labour and
Line 2.23.7the pushing on of the work.

Line 2.24.0Trucks carry away the stones and mullock
Line 2.24.1from the face of the cutting. t Headings have
Line 2.24.2been put In, and under the platforms rails
Line 2.24.3aro run to enable tho trucks to receive a
Line 2.24.4load of stone through a hole, into which
Line 2.24.5It Is dumped from above. A string of trucks
Line 2.24.6is started, and gravitates along the line un-
Line 2.24.7til it reaches the end of its Journey. Tip-
Line 2.24.8ping up automatically, the trucks empty their
Line 2.24.9loads into the gully, thus ma .lng up the
Line 2.24.10bank that is to bridge it. It is not always
Line 2.24.11convenient to'use this style of truck, and in
Line 2.24.12places horses pull them out from the cut-

tings.

THE POWER HOUSE.

Line 2.27.0Near Glenbrook station is the power-houso
Line 2.27.1from which Is Bent the electric current to
Line 2.27.2all parts that works tho pumps and drives
Line 2.27.3the compressors, and provides electric light.
Line 2.27.4A foaturo of the work Is tho water supply.
Line 2.27.5The main source Is Glenbrook Creek, and a
Line 2.27.6pumping plant has been erected near Glen-
Line 2.27.7brook station, and pipes convey the water
Line 2.27.8to all the camps, of which thero aro five.

WHAT THE NEW LINE MEANS

Line 2.29.0The completion of the deviation will mean
Line 2.29.1that the length of the now line between Emu
Line 2.29.2Plains will be eight and a half miles, as
Line 2.29.3against the present five miles of the old line
Line 2.29.4It v.lil próvido a grade of 1 In 00. as against
Line 2.29.51 In 30 now. The new tunnel will only bo
Line 2.29.614 chains In length, ns against the 32 chains
Line 2.29.7of tho present tunnel, besides which It will
Line 2.29.8have room for n double track. It is antici-
Line 2.29.9pated that the works will cost £200.000. but
Line 2.29.10the saving effected will be about £10,000 por
Line 2.29.11annum, as It will mean considerably,
Line 2.29.12less haulage from Penrith up the mountains I
Line 2.29.13Instead of goods trains putting on an as-
Line 2.29.14sistant engine ns is now the rase, they will

be coupled on at ""alloy Heights, at which I

station a locomotive depot is to be cstnb-i

lished The Western mail trains will, as now, ¡

take on the extra engine at Penrith, as most

Line 2.33.0of thom do not stop at Valley Heights The|
Line 2.33.1facilities the new line will offer In (he hand-i
Line 2.33.2ling of the traille will bo considerable, apart
Line 2.33.3from these economics . The single Uno
Line 2.33.4throu.h Glenbrook tunnel to-day presents
Line 2.33.5another bottle-neck problem, and with the
Line 2.33.6increasing traffic to the Mountains, especially
Line 2.33.7nt holidays, considerable delays have taken
Line 2.33.8place Added to this, is the bl . passenger,
Line 2.33.9goods, and live stock traffic from the west.

Line 2.34.0When completed, the new Uno will provide!
Line 2.34.1one mad to Sydney, while the old route
Line 2.34.2throuph the tunnel will also contribute to
Line 2.34.3, expeditious work ,

The work Is being carried out by day labour'

'under the suponi.ion of the E.Istlng Lines.

'Branch of tho Raliway Department, and Is in|

Line 2.37.0charge of Mr Jas. Fraser (Enginoer-in-Chlef),
Line 2.37.1Mr Kendall (assistant engineer), and Mr.
Line 2.37.2Butcher (resident englneor). /

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The Sydney Morning H... : 24 April 1912(24)

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