Talk:Woy Woy Tunnel

Latest comment: 10 years ago by Dave Rave in topic Holethrough accuracy

Untitled edit

First references using many bullet points is just acting as starters for the article. Feel free to improve. Factrules (talk) 16:51, 29 June 2011 (UTC)Reply

Holethrough accuracy edit

How accurate was the Tunnel hole-through when the headings from each end met? Tabletop (talk) 05:16, 1 October 2011 (UTC)Reply

I'd have to check my books but like most tunnels I'd think they multi bored from above and then headed along.
And of course a little reading .... Ref 2 from the paper ...
It is significant of the high degree of excellence attained by modern engineers that at the meeting of the works from either end it was found that the centre and levels had been put in with the greatest accuracy. --Dave Rave (talk) 09:43, 26 May 2014 (UTC)Reply

Double or Single when open ? edit

The Homebush to Waratah was built for double track, though many sections were single track when opened. Doubling was complete about 19____ ?

Check the close date on Boronia 5, it was bypassed due to too much curve. --Dave Rave (talk) 07:18, 26 May 2014 (UTC)Reply

Loading gauge edit

The Homebush to Waratah line was presumably built with the original standard for double track centres:

1855: 11ft 0.0in (3.35m) centres - car width 08' 4" (2.54m)

1955: 11ft 9.9in (3.35m) centres - car width 09' 8" (2.95m) - CityRail U set

1910: 12ft 0.0in (3.66m) centres - car width 10' 6" (3.20m)

1974: 13ft 1.5in (4.00m) centres - car width 10' 6" (3.20m) - metrication

The track centres though Woy Woy tunnel may be a special value to clear the walls.

In 2013, Platforms 1 and 2 at Gosford still appear to have the original 11ft track centres, and can only be used one platform at a time, unless platform(s) are reconstructed. Possibly likewise with some sidings, here and elsewhere.

FYI, car widths are as follows:

  • 1926 CityRail SD set width = 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in) (single deck suburban) (wide width)
  • 1955 CityRail U set width = 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in) (single deck interurban) (narrow width
  • 1972 CityRail V set width = 2.928 m (9 ft 7 in) (double deck interurban) (narrow width)
  • 1980 CityRail S set width = 3.077 m (10 ft 1 in) (Comeng)
  • 1980 CityRail S set width = 3.036 m (10 ft 0 in) (Goninan)


The T, G, M, H and A sets have plug doors, which extend outside the loading gauge when open.

There are different classes of medium width.

Main article edit

"The line was built with 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) tracks and a loading gauge that accommodated 8' 4" wide carriages on double track with 11' centres. Problems started to arise when in 1910 a new standard for carriages of 10' 6" and for track centres of 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) was adopted.

In 1972 new double deck trains required the removal of brickwork in the top corners of the circular tunnel profile."

The quoted new track centres of 10' 6" are incorrect.