Exciting project, any way you look at it, whether history buffs, steam enthusiasts or just young mums and dads who. perhaps never rode behind steam themselves (being too young) but are now introducing yet another generation to the magic of steam. Of course, as a pre-Boomer, I look forward very much to seeing trains go up the Loop Line. Fantastic!
More disused rail lines in NSW need to be resurrected, especially for freight. Less trucks on the road and more wagons on the rails ! Great work on this project.
Hopefully the line can be re-opened all the way to Mittagong & freight trains can use it as a bypass if they are slow & heavy to allow passenger services between Sydney & Goulburn/Canberra/Melbourne to run faster & more reliably without being held-up by slow moving freight trains. Just as container ships are important for the global economy moving goods in containers, so are trains.
Will be great to see Big Hill cutting back in action. It wasn't just the depth of it but the gradient was a heavy haul. Hlltop is about 350 metres above Picton station.
Will be a great feeling when the opening of the day comes to reality. On the first day of steam operations should be a steam only tour from Central and Penrith. Would certainly be a great day for all the patrons.
Great to see this work being done. Much is needed on the Victor Harbor line here in SA too, but I guess that's the way it is for heritage lines all over the country.😊
After this is done, Transport Heritage NSW (or the appropriate department) should look into reopening the railway line all the way back to Wallangara on the Qld/NSW border.
Nice idea but it's unlikely due to the line being partially buried between Tenterfield and Wallangarra by a New England Highway upgrade some years ago. On the Queensland side there are numerous bridges missing due to bushfires.
Oh this is thrilling - especially to know that trains will again be running through the Big Hill Cutting. I remember gasping with amazement when I first traveled though it, standing at the front of a "tin hare" beside the driver's compartment, in the late nineteen sixties. Any chance that the connection with the main line at Mittagong might one day be restored, to enable through running?
Small steps mate, small steps. That old cutting looks a bit hairy but get this section up and running with viable train services first, and then maybe who know what the future holds, it would be great to get to Mittagong the old way again.
Great investment. Awsome news. One step at a time but will the line ever be reconnected towards Mittagong? Is it planned for the future or a case of maybe, never say never?
At Hill top there is the oldest steel reinforced bridge over the line . They used old rail line in it . The very first concrete bridge was at Sydnam. It eventually collapsed.
Perhaps they could run passenger services through the loop line again if it gets connected to Mittagong. These services could stop at all stations between Campbelltown and Picton and then you run express services that travel the main line stopping at Tahmoor, Bargo and Yerrinbool. This would make the trip quicker to the Southern Highlands if Picton is the next stop following Campbelltown. Anyway this is a great project and looking forward to seeing the line restored to its former glory.
It forms a "loop" around the existing mainline between Picton and Mittagong. This line via Thirlmere was the original mainline when the railway was built to Moss Vale and later Goulburn and beyond.
Cool It would be nice to catch a diesel train from Tahmoor to Thirlmere instead of walking there while our stupid government thinks people who don't have a car travel by magic flying carpet🎉
Mittagong next, I hope
Exciting project, any way you look at it, whether history buffs, steam enthusiasts or just young mums and dads who. perhaps never rode behind steam themselves (being too young) but are now introducing yet another generation to the magic of steam. Of course, as a pre-Boomer, I look forward very much to seeing trains go up the Loop Line. Fantastic!
More disused rail lines in NSW need to be resurrected, especially for freight.
Less trucks on the road and more wagons on the rails !
Great work on this project.
There is a push by businesses in the Glen Innes area to have the railway line reopened all the way back to Wallangara on the NSW/Qld border.
@chuckanoo1455 let's hope so 👍
Hopefully the line can be re-opened all the way to Mittagong & freight trains can use it as a bypass if they are slow & heavy to allow passenger services between Sydney & Goulburn/Canberra/Melbourne to run faster & more reliably without being held-up by slow moving freight trains. Just as container ships are important for the global economy moving goods in containers, so are trains.
Will be great to see Big Hill cutting back in action. It wasn't just the depth of it but the gradient was a heavy haul. Hlltop is about 350 metres above Picton station.
Will be a great feeling when the opening of the day comes to reality. On the first day of steam operations should be a steam only tour from Central and Penrith. Would certainly be a great day for all the patrons.
I grew up in Hilltop, i remember seeing the freight trains come through when i was a kid.
Trains aren't just for enthusiasts,but are history.Who doesn't like a ride through the country,and a nice lunch.
Fabulous to see serious upgrading being carried out. I do hope something can be done up north to Jennings one day.
Great to see an old line coming back to work.
There's an inscription on a rock cutting just north of Hilltop station describing briefly an accident during the original construction of this line.
Great Work and Well Done to all Concerned. Look forward to visiting and enjoy the wonderful work all the Volunteer's do.
Great to see this work being done. Much is needed on the Victor Harbor line here in SA too, but I guess that's the way it is for heritage lines all over the country.😊
Excellent work. Looking forward to visiting
After this is done, Transport Heritage NSW (or the appropriate department) should look into reopening the railway line all the way back to Wallangara on the Qld/NSW border.
Nice idea but it's unlikely due to the line being partially buried between Tenterfield and Wallangarra by a New England Highway upgrade some years ago. On the Queensland side there are numerous bridges missing due to bushfires.
Oh this is thrilling - especially to know that trains will again be running through the Big Hill Cutting. I remember gasping with amazement when I first traveled though it, standing at the front of a "tin hare" beside the driver's compartment, in the late nineteen sixties. Any chance that the connection with the main line at Mittagong might one day be restored, to enable through running?
Can't wait to see it finished I will be there for a trip
Hope the line gets repaired right through to Mittagong eventually.
Small steps mate, small steps. That old cutting looks a bit hairy but get this section up and running with viable train services first, and then maybe who know what the future holds, it would be great to get to Mittagong the old way again.
This is such fantastic news to see. I can’t wait to check it all out once completed.
How are the repairs on 3801 progressing?
Cannot wait. 😊
Getting ready to build houses.
There is likely to be a back story.
Great investment. Awsome news. One step at a time but will the line ever be reconnected towards Mittagong? Is it planned for the future or a case of maybe, never say never?
Looks great
Thank you interesting video but one good point When is it going to be finished When it's going to start Looking forward😊
At Hill top there is the oldest steel reinforced bridge over the line .
They used old rail line in it .
The very first concrete bridge was at Sydnam.
It eventually collapsed.
Cool, Now do Harden to Young :)
I totally agree.
Nice, I remember being told about this by a volunteer when I went in the Thirlmere to Buxton steam train. When do you think this’ll be completed?
Perhaps they could run passenger services through the loop line again if it gets connected to Mittagong.
These services could stop at all stations between Campbelltown and Picton and then you run express services that travel the main line stopping at Tahmoor, Bargo and Yerrinbool. This would make the trip quicker to the Southern Highlands if Picton is the next stop following Campbelltown.
Anyway this is a great project and looking forward to seeing the line restored to its former glory.
Is there a chance east coast heritage rail get to use one of your steam locomotives?
Wish they’d upgrade the Sydney to southern cross line for high speed 😅
Dynamite not developed till 1867.
More like gunpowder ( much more dangerous too ) !
Will you get 3616 back up and running one day ?
Probably never at this stage consider their schedule is pack at the moment. But, I do think they should sold her to another group
now extend to Mittagong
But the rail trestle bridge between Colo Vale and Mittagong at Braemar needs total replacement.
So why is it called Loop Line?
It forms a "loop" around the existing mainline between Picton and Mittagong. This line via Thirlmere was the original mainline when the railway was built to Moss Vale and later Goulburn and beyond.
@tobys_transport_videos Thank you for your explanation.
Brewarrina next?
AND BOURKE,COWRA,GRENFELL, EUGOWRA,GULGONG, ETC,ETC,ETC.🥳
Mudgee would be more viable to open a railway reconstruction than a loop line that is only for joyriders.
Okay but how cool would it be if the Melbourne XPT OR Canberra Xplorer went through there.
Cool
It would be nice to catch a diesel train from Tahmoor to Thirlmere instead of walking there while our stupid government thinks people who don't have a car travel by magic flying carpet🎉
Yet the heritage of Sydney's rail network is being destroyed for a dodgy metro but it's all good 👍