Old Helensburgh Station & Metropolitan Tunnel

OLD HELENSBURGH STATION & METROPOLITAN TUNNEL:

Old Helensburgh Station and Metropolitan Tunnel were part of the Old Illawarra Railway.

OLD HELENSBURGH STATION:

The Old Helensburgh Station Opened in 1889 and was closed in 1915.

It has been closed for 100 years this year (2015).

Photo (right):

Old Helensburgh Station

The old station use to be covered in earth until recent times.

It was uncovered for historic purposes.

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Photo (left):
The original station sign has been restored and preserved.
This sign was taken down for a period of time due to vandalism.






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The old station is a great place to explore.

METROPOLITAN TUNNEL:

Metropolitan Tunnel (AKA Glowworm Tunnel) is located approximately 30 metres from Old Helensburgh Station.
This tunnel is also known as Glowworm Tunnel due to Glowworms seen on the roof of the tunnel at night time or deep inside the tunnel.
Metropolitan Tunnel is 624 metres in length.
The northern entrance to Metropolitan Tunnel is adjacent to Old Helensburgh Station.
There is no access to the southern entrance to the tunnel as it has been plugged (wall blocking the southern entrance to the tunnel).
Metropolitan Tunnel was used as a dam which explains why the southern entrance to the tunnel has been plugged.
You can walk through and explore the tunnel but only to a certain distance as the water inside the tunnel gets too deep at approximately 200-300 metres into the tunnel.
Its said that the water reaches the roof near the end of the tunnel.
Train tracks to lead into the tunnel however only by 40-50 metres.

Photo (left):
The dark and gloomy northern entrance to Metropolitan Tunnel.






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Photo (right):
The beginning of Metropolitan Tunnel.





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Photo (left):
The black and whit of the roof is soot from steam trains that ran the line 100 years ago.




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Photo (right):
Eerie writing on the wall of the tunnel saying:
"She told me all the inhuman pain and suffering she had endured was worth it as it finally led her to me"

"Skunk"



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Photo (left):
More eerie writing on the wall of the tunnel saying:
"The point reached again...
Uninspired... Time better spent nowhere else really then again ... Glow worms crawled overhead.
(un) - Aspire"



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Photo (right):
With all flashlights off you can't see a thing.





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Photo (right):

This one takes the cake.
"Serial Killers Unite"

As soon as i saw this i turned around quickly and ran as fast as i could out  of Metropolitan Tunnel...
What i didn't mention is that i slipped and landed in sloppy mud!




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I filmed a Youtube mini series about The Illawarra's Lost Railway.
This mini series doesn't just include Old Helensburgh Station.
It also includes: Helensburgh Tunnel, Cawley Tunnel and lets not forget the infamous Otford Tunnel.
The link to the Youtube mini series is below:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-OFdIVf0YcZKYlJ4-rVl2FjGtcYajIL6

Thank you all for reading.
Please share.

Phil, Sydney Trains Vlogs.