Re: Sydney's Railway Tunnels

[ROY HOWARTH <rhowarth@tig.com.au>]

"Geoff Quinn" <quinn_g@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Is there an old map or something that shows the planned tunnels and lines?
>
A map exists of Dr Bradfield's 1915 proposals for the City Railway, which 
includes proposals for the South-Eastern & Inner-Western Lines. St James 
was intended to be a major interchange for South-Eastern suburbs trains 
proceeding towards Paddington, Bondi, Coogee, Randwick and Daceyville 
before heading back towards the city, with a branch to Watsons Bay. 
Inner-wester trains were to bypass the Quay and proceed to Balmain, 
Leichhardt and towards Gladesville. The present ESR platforms at Town 
Hall were also part of this scheme.

>It sure does sound interesting the number of tunnels that were actually
>made. Why weren't they used? Short of money or what? The city sure would
>have been a bit more interesting with a few more lines.
>
The Great Depression was a major reason most of Dr Bradfield's proposals 
never left the drawing board as passenger numbers were revised downwards. 
Politics and lack of money also a major factor as the Country Party were 
dead against expansion of the urban rail network at the expense of more 
lines to "open up" the bush. I think the growth of the Govt bus network 
from the early 1930's played a part as well.

Another factor preventing completion of the South-Eastern Suburbs tunnels 
was the resumption required for excavation along Oxford Street towards 
Taylor Square. This would have played a major part in the change of route 
to the present line thru Martin Place, Kings Cross etc. in the 1940's.

Roy H