Glenbrook Tunnel (1892)
Encyclopedia
The Glenbrook Tunnel is a single gauge railway tunnel, originally part of the 1892 single track deviation
, which bypassed the Lapstone Zig Zag
across the Blue Mountains, New South Wales
, Australia
. It is approximately 634 metres (2,080.1 ft) long and is constructed in an 'S' shape with a gradient of 1:33.
The tunnel was built located to the west of Glenbrook
and opened on 18 December 1892. Due to the steep gradient, seepage keeping the rails wet causing slippage, poor ventilation and planned duplication of the track, plans were drawn up to bypass the steep route. Trains commonly stalled in the tunnel for some time before having to back the locomotive out of the tunnel for another attempt. The tunnel was closed on 25 September 1913, and was utilised for growing mushrooms. In 1942, during World War II
, the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) stockpiled bulk mustard gas stocks in preparation for a possible Japanese chemical weapons attack. The facility was known as No. 2 Sub Depot of No. 1 Central Reserve RAAF and was vacated by the RAAF after the war. It features in the 'Alcatraz Down Under' episode of 'Cities of the Underworld' on the History Channel. It past secret history has been revealed by Geoff Plunkett.
Glenbrook Deviation 1892, New South Wales
The first Glenbrook deviation was the section of track from the first Knapsack Viaduct to Old Glenbrook Station in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It was constructed from 1891 to 1892 and replaced the Lapstone Zig Zag....
, which bypassed the Lapstone Zig Zag
Lapstone Zig Zag
The Lapstone Zig Zag was a ##Zig Zag #railway#|zig zag railway## built near ##Lapstone, New South Wales|Lapstone## on the ##Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Great Western Railway## of ##New South Wales## in ##Australia## between 1863 and 1865, to overcome an otherwise insurmountable climb...
across the Blue Mountains, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is approximately 634 metres (2,080.1 ft) long and is constructed in an 'S' shape with a gradient of 1:33.
The tunnel was built located to the west of Glenbrook
Glenbrook
Glenbrook is the name of several places:Ireland*Glenbrook, County Cork, a small area in County Cork on the southeast tip of IrelandCanada*Glenbrook, Calgary, a neighbourhood in AlbertaUnited States*Glenbrook, California...
and opened on 18 December 1892. Due to the steep gradient, seepage keeping the rails wet causing slippage, poor ventilation and planned duplication of the track, plans were drawn up to bypass the steep route. Trains commonly stalled in the tunnel for some time before having to back the locomotive out of the tunnel for another attempt. The tunnel was closed on 25 September 1913, and was utilised for growing mushrooms. In 1942, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) stockpiled bulk mustard gas stocks in preparation for a possible Japanese chemical weapons attack. The facility was known as No. 2 Sub Depot of No. 1 Central Reserve RAAF and was vacated by the RAAF after the war. It features in the 'Alcatraz Down Under' episode of 'Cities of the Underworld' on the History Channel. It past secret history has been revealed by Geoff Plunkett.