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Otford Tunnel (Tunnel No. The Otford Tunnel is the grand tunnel, of all the six disused rail tunnels in the Helensburgh and surrounds area. None of the other five existing tunnels have more written about them than the Otford Tunnel. Awaken The Shadowman Full Movie In English. Technically it is the No. Illawarra line, measuring a whopping 1. The tunnel is dead straight right up until the Stanwell Park end where there is a short curve, on a steep 1 in 4.
PERSONAL MEMORIES – In the 7. I was quite young. She owned a house in Station Road, Otford, and I remember vividly hearing the diesel trains with their heavy loads, thunder through Otford. Tractors would be busying in the approach to the northern portal of Otford Tunnel, as at this time, it was a busy mushroom farm.
I clearly remember the smell of mushroom compost and used to watch the tractor turn the compost to see masses of steam rising from it. In the late 7. 0’s my aunty met with one of the workers from the mushroom farm and a romance blossomed. He lived in the house which is located on the northern side of the school boundary next to the schools field, and left of the entrance road to the then mushroom farm. Some time had passed and I remembered one afternoon going down to the mushroom farm with my cousin who was of similar age. We went into the northern portal of Otford Tunnel on the back of a tractor with my uncle, and goofed around in there while my newly related uncle did his job of farming mushrooms. I remember the smell of mushroom compost more than anything as the scent would emanate through the air and bathe the whole of Otford with its organic stench.
I also remember many old wooden box crates piled on top of each other. They looked old, as the wood was that grey, weather beaten colour. The tractor used in the tunnel had really flat tyres and to my amazement and shock, I watched my cousin place his foot under the back tyre of the tractor.
The expression on my face must have been of horror as my cousin just laughed at me. He said “try it”…”it doesn’t hurt”. Cautiously I did and I immediately wanted to pull away but kept my foot in the path of the tractor tyre.
The tyre is coming closer and closer, I start to get nervous and it goes over my foot. A mass of pressure now starts to weigh on my foot but its soon over. I did it” I yelled.
I think we did it another 5 times after that. I have no idea what my uncle was thinking letting two children place their feet under a tractor tyre, but as I recall he didn’t say anything. Years later I showed my Father a photo of the strange prawn looking tractor that has been discarded and abandoned in the Otford Tunnel.
He told me that he remembers when it was in use, and that my uncle and his work mate used to fool around with that piece of machinery. I can’t remember it however… as my memories of the Mushroom Farm are few. Another time I remember, was being woken very early in the morning as it was still dark. In thinking back, it must have been around 2- 3am, and my uncle had a delivery of mushrooms to the Sydney Markets. The trip to the Markets was long and I think I must have slept most of the way as I can’t recall much other than a long drive in the dark. Upon arriving I remember the truck driving into a HUGE warehouse at night where there was loads of space and few people.
I don’t remember much after that as I think I must have fallen asleep. A vivid memory it is and one that is etched into my mind.
I must have been no more that 4 or 5 years old at the time. A few years after this my aunty, uncle and two cousins packed up their belongings and moved north.
Watch all of your favorite UK Channels with UKTV Everywhere. Watch British TV using the New STB-3 by UKTV Everywhere with an easy plug-in device. The Otford Tunnel is the grand tunnel, of all the six disused rail tunnels in the Helensburgh and surrounds area. None of the other five existing tunnels have more.
Both houses are still intact and standing in Station Road, Otford today. Their appearance has altered greatly but they are still there. All access to the northern end of Otford Tunnel is completely blocked. A couple of houses have been built near and on the driveway leading down to the northern end of Otford Tunnel, and the area outside of the tunnel where the mushroom production existed is completely overgrown with weeds and lantana.
UPDATE: November 2. I visited the northern portal in late October and was pleased to see that a lot of lantana had been killed and removed. The portal is visible again and the local landcare group has done a marvellous job removing the thickets of weeds and lantana. The area just outside the tunnel where the blower system was housed (in later life, where the mushroom packing sheds were), the lantana has been thoroughly cleared. The alignment has been landscape by the Station Road residents. Although this is technically not their land, the residents have done a great job restoring the former rail corridor with green grass and willow trees for their enjoyment. Interactive Map Provided by ©Bing Maps.
BRIEF HISTORY – Otford itself has a rich history and in the early days, grazing and farmlands in the valleys was common right up through to Lilyvale and beyond. The other areas in Otford were to be prized for their inhabitants of some of the best cedars in Australia supporting several mills at the time. A popular well known family in Otford around the 1. Gardiner’s who’s offspring included six sons and three daughters. Showtime Full Shade Online Free.
Their property consisted of goats for milk, grapes for wine and the training of horses. In the 1. 88. 0’s the government decided that a rail link from Sydney to the Illawarra was needed as farming and mining warranted it.
Gangers moved in the area starting at Westmacot (Waterfall) then Cawley and Camp Creek (Helensburgh) in 1. By 1. 88. 9 the 1st Helensburgh Railway Station opened sending its first train off to Sydney the following year. By 1. 88. 5 the line had reached Otford and the gangers set up their camps to work on an engineering feat; the Otford Tunnel.
During this time the township had the nickname of ‘Little Italy’ as most of the gangers on the tunnels construction were Italians. The rock removed to create the tunnel was an astounding 4. Five million bricks were made and used in the tunnels construction. TUNNEL PROBLEMS – Soon after its construction, the Otford Tunnel became problematic.
The Otford Tunnel and the Metropolitan Tunnel were becoming notorious for hot and suffocating conditions experienced by the crew of steam trains climbing to Waterfall. Combine this with larger, heavier trains, and increased traffic using the line, compounded the issues. Many trains would have to roll back to Stanwell Park station after stalling or having both travellers and engine crew of the trains, choked, asphyxiated, and sometimes burnt, in the tunnel. The engine crews only option was to shut off the engine, engage the brakes and roll back to Stanwell Park. Engine crew would split the carriages and make several trips up to Waterfall then reattach the full load and continue on. Many a story has been circulated by passengers and crew recounting stories of their torture through the Otford Tunnel.
Although a tablet system* was introduced making the passage between Stanwell Park and Otford safe, the massive 1 in 4. Only one train was allowed on the section at a time making it safe. The driver would pick up the tablet from Stanwell Park Station and head to Otford Station. Trains behind him could not leave Stanwell Park until the first driver had relinquished the tablet at Otford.
This would be relayed to Stanwell Park that the train had successfully passed through the tunnel and the next train could continue. VENTILATION SHAFT – In 1. Minister for Public Works had accepted a tender from John Mc. Donald to construct a ventilation shaft in the roof of the tunnel to aid in clearer and cleaner air.
This was done approximately halfway into the tunnel at a depth of approximately 6. This worked for a certain period of time but the problems of soot and smoke continued as time went by. Larger trains (double- headed and push- up locomotives), increased traffic with greater loads; compounded the problem. Other methods were needed to remedy this problem. SOOT PROBLEMS CONTINUE (SOLUTIONS) – As the years went by, suggestions at the time (early 1.
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E. Nicotiana 'Saratoga Deep Rose': 1. F. Coleus (Solenostemon 'Autumn'): 1. G. Sanvitalia 'Sunbini': 1.
H. Strawflower (Bracteantha 'Sundaze Flame'): 1.