Glowworm Tunnel

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Glowworm Tunnel
Glow worm tunnel entry.jpg
Entrance to the tunnel
Overview
Official nameTunnel No 2
Line Newnes railway line
LocationNewnes plateau
Coordinates 33°14′19″S150°13′36″E / 33.238727°S 150.226593°E / -33.238727; 150.226593 (Newnes glow worm tunnel)
Operation
Work begun1906
ConstructedJune 1907
Closed1932
OperatorCommonwealth Oil Corporation
Traffictrain
Technical
Length20 chains (1,320.0 ft; 402.3 m)
No. of tracks single
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge [1]
Grade 1:25
Glow worms inside the tunnel Newnesglowworms.jpg
Glow worms inside the tunnel
Northern end of the tunnel, seen from inside (1)Glowworm Tunnel-7.jpg
Northern end of the tunnel, seen from inside

The Glowworm Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel between Lithgow, New South Wales and Newnes, New South Wales, Australia. It is notable for its resident glow-worms, the bioluminescent larvae of Arachnocampa richardsae , a type of fungus gnat.

Contents

Description and history

The 20 chains (1,320.0 ft; 402.3 m) tunnel [2] was bored through the sandstone in 1907 as part of the Newnes railway line that served the Newnes oil shale mines that operated during the early 20th century. The railway was closed in 1932 and the rails were pulled out of the tunnel.

The tunnel is now contained within the Wollemi National Park and is a popular attraction for bushwalkers and tourists. Outside the tunnel, the area features spectacular gorges, caves and scenery. The site is maintained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. On the south side of the tunnel, a large gap in the road prevents vehicular access. According to some sources, this gap was created deliberately to keep cars out of the tunnel, because the exhaust fumes would have killed the glow-worms. On the north side of the tunnel, a track leads to Newnes.

Access

Access to the tunnel is via several routes:

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Langdon, Mark; Oliver, Dean, (illustrator.); Johnson, Roger, (illustrator.); Dunn, Ian, (researcher.); Gallagher, Bob, (researcher.); Matthews, Richard, (researcher.) (2017). Shale & Shays : The Fight for Shale Oil from the Wolgan Valley. Eveleigh Press. ISBN   978-1-876568-74-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "The Wolgan Valley Railway". Info Blue Mountains Australia. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

Further reading