THORNLEIGH ZIG ZAG
I followed the route of the Thornleigh Zig-Zag Railway on a Saturday morning in June 2012. This was the third and last of the zig-zag railways built in NSW (after Lapstone and Lithgow).
The Thornleigh Zig Zag was constructed in 1883 by railway contractors, Amos & Co, as a branch line which lead off the main northern railway line just beside Thornleigh Station and descended to a quarry about 35 metres below. The quarry supplied "stone ballast" (white metal - metamorphosed sandstone) for the southern section of the Homebush (Sydney ) to Waratah (Newcastle) railway line [Historic Engineering Marker 2006, Thornleigh Quarry].
The zig-zag facilitated an easier gradient to and from the Quarry for the engines which powered the railway trucks carrying the stone to the top. It did this by traversing from the main rail line to the "top points" where the train reversed down the middle road to "bottom points". It is possible that the modern children's playground is the location of this feature. From there the lower road travelled along the course of Zig Zag Creek and some of the old lower road bed is visible.
While much of the route of the Zig-Zag Railway has today been taken over by houses, I was able to follow the descent from Pritchard and Wells Streets to the " bottom points" neat Janet Street. Then, entering the bush from a track off Morgan Street and crossing a wooden bridge, I came to Zig-Zag Creek where there is ample evidence of the old road bed. On a later occasion I plane to walk along the overgrown track to the quarry from this point.
The quarry is quite extensive and makes a lovely picnic spot. There are several metal inscription plaques located in the quarry area.
Read MoreThe Thornleigh Zig Zag was constructed in 1883 by railway contractors, Amos & Co, as a branch line which lead off the main northern railway line just beside Thornleigh Station and descended to a quarry about 35 metres below. The quarry supplied "stone ballast" (white metal - metamorphosed sandstone) for the southern section of the Homebush (Sydney ) to Waratah (Newcastle) railway line [Historic Engineering Marker 2006, Thornleigh Quarry].
The zig-zag facilitated an easier gradient to and from the Quarry for the engines which powered the railway trucks carrying the stone to the top. It did this by traversing from the main rail line to the "top points" where the train reversed down the middle road to "bottom points". It is possible that the modern children's playground is the location of this feature. From there the lower road travelled along the course of Zig Zag Creek and some of the old lower road bed is visible.
While much of the route of the Zig-Zag Railway has today been taken over by houses, I was able to follow the descent from Pritchard and Wells Streets to the " bottom points" neat Janet Street. Then, entering the bush from a track off Morgan Street and crossing a wooden bridge, I came to Zig-Zag Creek where there is ample evidence of the old road bed. On a later occasion I plane to walk along the overgrown track to the quarry from this point.
The quarry is quite extensive and makes a lovely picnic spot. There are several metal inscription plaques located in the quarry area.
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