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 Newnesoil 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:
11 km walk each way: Walk along the route of the old railway line from Newnes
9 km return walk: Drive to the weir over the Wolgan River 7 km before Newnes. Walk up the nearby fire trail to the railway line to the right
Walk or cycle in from Newnes State forest
Drive from Lithgow or Clarence (both roads eventually join up), about 25 km along good unsealed road, and walk 1 km to the tunnel. (note: drive through first tunnel and park at the end of Glowworm Tunnel Road).
^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. ISBN978-1-876568-74-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"The Wolgan Valley Railway". Info Blue Mountains Australia. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
Further reading
Newnes Line - NSWrail.net
Deane, Henry (2004). The Wolgan Valley Railway - Its Construction. Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division. ISBN0-909650-61-6.
Eardley, G H; Stephens, E M (2015). The shale railways of New South Wales. Australian Railway Historical Society New South Wales Division. ISBN978-0-9807721-8-0.
Hicks, George; O'Brien, Dennis (1999). Shays in the Valley. New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. ISBN0-909862-50-8.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glowworm Tunnel.
Newnes Services
Info Blue Mountains
Track notes for access via Pagoda Track (2 km or 6 km return) and Newnes (9 km return)
January 26, 2023
glowworm, tunnel, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, d. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Glowworm TunnelEntrance to the tunnelOverviewOfficial nameTunnel No 2LineNewnes railway lineLocationNewnes plateauCoordinates33 14 19 S 150 13 36 E 33 238727 S 150 226593 E 33 238727 150 226593 Newnes glow worm tunnel OperationWork begun1906ConstructedJune 1907Closed1932OperatorCommonwealth Oil CorporationTraffictrainTechnicalLength20 chains 1 320 0 ft 402 3 m No of trackssingleTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gauge 1 Grade1 25Glow worms inside the tunnel Northern end of the tunnel seen from inside Contents 1 Description and history 2 Access 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksDescription and history EditThe 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 EditAccess to the tunnel is via several routes 11 km walk each way Walk along the route of the old railway line from Newnes 9 km return walk Drive to the weir over the Wolgan River 7 km before Newnes Walk up the nearby fire trail to the railway line to the right Walk or cycle in from Newnes State forest Drive from Lithgow or Clarence both roads eventually join up about 25 km along good unsealed road and walk 1 km to the tunnel note drive through first tunnel and park at the end of Glowworm Tunnel Road See also EditRail trailReferences Edit Langdon Mark Oliver Dean illustrator Johnson Roger illustrator Dunn Ian researcher Gallagher Bob researcher Matthews Richard researcher 2017 Shale amp Shays The Fight for Shale Oil from the Wolgan Valley Eveleigh Press ISBN 978 1 876568 74 0 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link The Wolgan Valley Railway Info Blue Mountains Australia Retrieved 26 March 2016 Further reading EditNewnes Line NSWrail net Deane Henry 2004 The Wolgan Valley Railway Its Construction Australian Railway Historical Society New South Wales Division ISBN 0 909650 61 6 Eardley G H Stephens E M 2015 The shale railways of New South Wales Australian Railway Historical Society New South Wales Division ISBN 978 0 9807721 8 0 Hicks George O Brien Dennis 1999 Shays in the Valley New South Wales Rail Transport Museum ISBN 0 909862 50 8 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glowworm Tunnel Newnes Services Info Blue Mountains Track notes for access via Pagoda Track 2 km or 6 km return and Newnes 9 km return Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Glowworm Tunnel amp oldid 1090817725, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
