Image: Old Helensburgh railway station, circa 1890–1905

Description: A view looking southbound across the railway and platforms at the former Helensburgh railway station. Visible is the station's platform and facilities on the right side of the railway line. On the left, a siding with a cargo cart parked on it can be seen; this siding was accessible only to railway stock travelling northbound, connecting at a junction south of the platform and north of the Metropolitan Tunnel's northern portal. The tunnel, along with light coming from its southern portal, can be seen at center left, along the railway tracks receding into the background. Opened in 1889 as part of the final completed segment of the original South Coast railway line, New South Wales between Waterfall and Scarborough, this platform was the first railway station to serve the village of Helensburgh, New South Wales, located south of Sydney. The station was located at 34°10′44″S 150°59′34″E / 34.178978°S 150.992714°E / -34.178978; 150.992714, between a short open space of track between tunnel no.3 (Helensburgh Tunnel) and tunnel no.4 (Metropolitan Tunnel) of the original alignment. After the line was rerouted through Helensburgh and Stanwell Park to make use of a more flat gradient and less tunnels, the station was ultimately closed in 1915, 26 years after its opening. It was replaced by a new station on the new alignment of the South Coast railway line. Remnants of the station's platform were inadvertently uncovered in 1995 during an operation by the Metropolitan Colliery to convert the Metropolitan Tunnel into a reservoir. The site is now open to the public as a historic site, managed by the Helensburgh & District Landcare Group, along with the adjacent Metropolitan Tunnel. The recorded date of this photograph varies between copies and their owners. The National Library of Australia, from which this copy of the photograph was sourced, lists the date of its production as circa 1900. The State Archives and Records Authority of New South Wales lists their copy of the photograph with a date of circa 1890. The Sutherland Shire Library lists their copy of the photograph with a date of circa 1895. The Wollongong City Library lists their copy of the photograph with a date of circa 1905. No author has been cited for this photograph, though it is part of the railway photograph collection of John L. Buckland (1915-1989).
Title: Old Helensburgh railway station, circa 1890–1905
Credit: National Library of Australia, via Trove LA ID 43732252, "Old Helensburgh Station [picture]"
Author: Unknown photographer
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No