The Fernleigh Track (Belmont Rail Line) is an abandoned coal haulage rail line from Adamstown to Belmont. It is in the process of being converted into a cycleway. The cycleway will not be the complete length of the old rail line, as the cycleway starts approx 300 metres south from Adamstown station which is on the main north rail line. The location of the junction of the Belmont Line and the Main Line is approx 200 metres north of the station. Due to the cost and size of the project it is not due to be complete until 2015. The cycleway comes within 300 metres of the eastern boundary of the school. The project is a joint venture between Newcastle City Council [ NCC ] and Lake Macquarie City Council [ LMCC ].

Map overlay with catchment boundaries, Great North Walk, Fernleigh Track, approx position of the proposed East Charlestown By-Pass, Glenrock lagoon, Leichhardt Lookout. Topographic Map Royal Australian Survey Corps 1952

Map of the Belmont rail line (in Yellow) 250k

Map of Belmont rail Line and Glenrock rail Line (in Yellow) 151k

Google Earth Add-on Track Map

Station / Platform	Miles	Chains	Km	Progress of cycleway
Adamstown	0	0	0
Fernleigh	1	60	2.816	Completed
Kahibah	2	28	3.782	Completed
Dudley Junction	2	68	4.587	Completed
Burwood Platform	3	13	5.090	Completed
Whitebridge	3	47	5.774	Completed
Redhead	5	61	9.274
Redhead South	6	45	10.561
Jewells	7	43	12.130
John Darling Platform	7	56	12.392
Belmont	9	51	15.510
Dudley Junction	0	0	0
Burwood Colliery	0	25	0.5
Dudley Colliery	1	19	2.0

The steepest section of the cycleway is from Adamstown to the southern end of the Fernleigh tunnel, that being a gradient of 1 in 40. The lowest point on the completed cycleway is at the start, Park Ave crossing, approx 20 metres, with the lowest point of the line near the Belmont Station being approx 5 metres. The highest point on the cycleway is at Whitebridge (near Dudley Road bridge) with an elevation of 88 metres above sea level. From the Dudley Junction a 3km spur climbs to Dudley at 99 metres, it also has a gradient of 1 in 40. This is not a steep gradient as it must be remembered that maximum recommended gradient for wheelchairs is 1 in 14. Sensor lighting have been installed in the tunnel. As the cycleway starts at the former Park Ave rail crossing and not at the point where it leave the main line. This is 300 metres south west of Adamstown Station. There are only 4 points along the cycleway where the cycleway and road traffic will come into conflict, (see level crossings listed above).

The Dudley spur has been overgrown and in some places has not been reserved for public use. At the point that Burwood Road (Dudley) crosses the line, it has been filled in.

From the Dudley Junction, the first section of the branch line has houses built on it, however, the main road through the suburb (Dudley Beach Estate) allows access from Fernleigh Track to the southern end of the estate. From the Dudley Beach Estate to Burwood Road (Dudley), the easement can been followed in places, be it overgrown and muddy, and in others it either does not now exist or is flooded. From Burwood Road (Dudley) to Foxdale Ave there is a cutting but this section is also flooded and over grown, however, a path next to the cutting over the hill is available. Foxdale Ave is a section of the line. From Foxdale Ave the line curves south along a high embankment past the end of Railway Street until it reaches Ocean Street opposite Dudley Oval next to Pitt Street. Part of this section from Foxdale Ave to Cooper and Durfold Streets is used as a cycle way.

In 1880 a rail line was built to Redhead with the line being extended to Belmont in 1916. At one stage there was talk of extending the line to Swansea.  On an old railway map (held in Lake Macquarie Library), the railway station was named  Kenibea. This station was 103 miles 7 furlongs 8 chains 50 feet (103,7,8,50 = 167.347 km) from Central railway station in Sydney. Yet on a map for N.S.W.R. (1950), the Kahibah station is 102 miles 37 chains (164.898 km) from Central railway station in Sydney. A map for the sale of property dated 1917, names the village as Kahibah but the railway station as Kenibea.  On a State Electoral District Map in 1949 it show the railway station name as Kahibah. On 1971-04-08 at 1710 the last passenger train left Newcastle Station for its run to Belmont with the line closing on 1991-12-19.

At Kahibah Station, the cycleway is crossed by the Great North Walk, a 250km walking trail connecting Newcastle and Sydney.

On a Parish Map of Kahibah dated February 1887 was a proposed rail line from Cardiff to Redhead. This line was hand drawn in after the "Scottish Australian Mining Co (Limited) Railway Act of 1893" was passed.

In 1995 the predecessor to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources under took a survey of soils in the catchment and along the railway line. The samples within the catchment area were located at Ocean View Parade, Burwood Road,  Burwood Road near the railway (green triangles). Details of the soils here. Winzip required. Green triangles - samples within the Glenrock Catchment Yellow triangles - other samples close to the railway line Orange line - railway line

The conversion is planned to be completed in 4 stages:-
1994 - 1999 Weed eradication and conservation commenced.
2000 - 2004 Park Ave (Adamstown) to Kahibah Station Burwood Road (Kahibah) - COMPLETED 2003-02-02
2005 - 2009 Kahibah Station Burwood Road (Kahibah) to Oakdale Road (Redhead) - COMMENCED June 2004 - cycleway and visitors facilities at Whitebridge.
                    Kahibah Station to Whitebridge Station - COMPLETED 2005-05-07
2010 - 2015 Oakdale Road (Redhead) to Belmont Station Railway Parade (Belmont) - cycleway and heritage museum at Whitebridge.

Refer to map for location of photos. The location number in (brackets)

Photos from North to South over the cycleway from Adamstown to Whitebridge
Start of Track at Park Ave, Adamstown 2003-03-29 (B1)	Off Brisbane Water Road Crossing 2003-03-29 (B2)	Tunnel looking south from north entrance 2003-03-29 (B3)	Sign on north entrance left side 2003-03-29 (B3)
Plaque inside south entrance 2003-03-29 (B3)	Tunnel looking north from southern entrance 2003-03-29 (B3)	Fernleigh Loop looking north 2003-03-29 (B4)	Curvet over Little Flaggy Creek looking north 2003-03-29 (B5)
Curvet over Little Flaggy Creek looking west 2003-03-29 (B5)	Looking south through a cutting north of Kahibah Station 2003-03-29 (B6)	Looking south to Kahibah Station 2003-03-29 (B7)	Looking north from Kahibah Station 2005-06-21 (B7)
Kahibah Station at Burwood Road 2005-08-15 (B7)	Kahibah Station at Burwood Road circa 1995 (B7)	Great North Walk  at Kahibah Station 2003-03-17 (B7)	Looking south from Kahibah Station 2005-06-21 (B7)
Dudley Junction looking North 2005-08-15 (B8)	Access to track at Dudley Junction 2003-08-13 (B8)	Dudley Junction 2004-07-23 (B8)	Dudley Junction looking South 2004-07-23 (B8)
Whitebridge Station at Hudson Street looking North 2004-07-25 (B9)	Whitebridge Station at Hudson Street 2004-07-23 (B9)	Whitebridge Station at Hudson Street looking South 2003-03-17 (B9)

Photos from North to South over the branch line Dudley Junction to Dudley
Looking north from Dudley Junction 2005-08-15 (B8)	Dudley Junction 2003-08-13 (B8)	Dudley Junction 2004-07-23 (B8)	Easement north of Burwood Road 2003-08-13 (D1)
Looking south from Burwood Road 2003-08-13 (D2)	Cutting south of Burwood Road 2003-08-13 (D2)	Easement looking south from Foxdale Ave 2003-08-13 (D3)	Cutting hidden at northern end of Railway Street 2003-08-13 (D4)
Steps over easement at northern end of Railway Street 2003-08-15 (D4)	Cutting near Durfold Street 2003-08-15 (D5)	End of railway on Ocean Street 2003-08-13 (D6)

Photos from North to South over the cycleway from Whitebridge to Belmont
View of original "whitebridge" supports 2004-08-01 (W1)	Plaque on new bridge 2004-08-01 (W1)	Looking south from Fenwick Crs 2004-08-01 (W2)	Looking south from Oakdale Road Bridge 2004-07-25 (W3)

See Also

Fernleigh Track Rail Project (Belmont Rail Corridor) [ LMCC ][ NCC ]

Photos of the Belmont Rail Corridor [ LMCC ][ Libraries ][ NSWrail.net ]

Wikipedia

Railtrails

Sources

please refer to Kahibah & Glenrock pages

This page updated: Saturday, 2007-01-20