This presentation covers passenger operations from Sydney’s Central railway station and Freight operations from Meeks Road near Sydenham on both the ‘up’ and ‘down’ Illawarra main line to and from Otford. We also have a brief look at the Royal National Park branch and the Metropolitan Colliery line.
The Illawarra Line commenced service with operations from Illawarra Junction (near Everleigh where it joined to the existing Central to Strathfield line) to Hurstville in 1884 and was extended to Sutherland and Waterfall in 1885 and 1886 respectively. The Waterfall to Clifton section, which includes Otford, came on line in 1888, while more of interest to the presentation Illawarra Line Pt2, which covers the Illawarra between Otford and Nowra, the remaining section of the Illawarra main line, namely Clifton to Bombo and Bombo to Nowra (Bomaderry) became operational in 1887 and 1893 respectively.
The Cronulla Line, which was opened in 1939, branches off from the Illawarra just south of Sutherland, as did the Woronora Cemetery Line, which opened in 1900 and closed in 1944. The Royal National Park line, which branches just south of Loftus, opened in 1886, closed in 1991 and was passed to the local Tram Museum for light rail operation in 1993. The only other branch before Otford is the Metropolitan Colliery line just south of Helensburgh. It opened in 1880 and is still going strong.
We will start our journey at Central Railway Station and work our way south to Otford, viewing both passenger and freight operation on the ‘down’ and the ‘up’. Locomotive classes seen include 2200, 3100, 422, 48, 49, 73, 80, 81, 82, 830, 85, 86, DL, L, and NR in the liveries of ATN Access, Austrac, Australian National, CountryLink, Freight Corp, Freight Rail, National Rail, Pacific National, Queensland National (ARG), RIC and 3801 Ltd, while passenger equipment includes Tangara, Millennium, Oscar, XPT and Double Deck Suburban and Interurban rolling stock from Cityrail and CountryLink.
Approximate run time: 80 minutes.