Otford railway tunnel

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Otford railway tunnel, Railway tunnel in New South Wales, Australia

The Otford railway tunnel extends 1,824 meters through steep terrain, featuring a single track connection and a brick circular ventilation shaft constructed in 1891.

Opened in 1888 as part of the Illawarra railway line, the tunnel operated until 1920 when the Helensburgh deviation route made it obsolete.

Italian immigrants formed the majority of the construction workforce, removing 49,000 cubic meters of rock and creating five million bricks for the tunnel walls.

The tunnel's steep 1-in-40 grade and inadequate ventilation caused severe operational problems for steam train crews, leading to numerous cases of burns.

During World War II, the Australian Army detonated explosives inside the tunnel as part of a defense strategy, requiring subsequent structural repairs.

Location: New South Wales

GPS coordinates: -34.22200,150.99700

Latest update: March 31, 2025 17:53

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