In that year, Sir Henry Parkes tried to win votes in St Leonards by advocating a railway line and Harbour Bridge.

[citation needed] Completed in May 1889, the North Shore Line was opened on 1 January 1890 as a single track between Hornsby and St Leonards.

In the meantime agitation and preparation for the extension of the line to the harbour went on, and in a Parliamentary debate it was stated by Mr. Bruce Smith, Minister for Public Works: "The North Shore was peculiarly adapted for the establishment of fresh suburbs as the climate was exceptionally favourable, and if only means of communication was afforded, a large population would spring up there.

A passenger on the first train from the Point says those on board struck matches in the Lavender Bay tunnel, and a banquet was held in a marquee at Turramurra, where the Hillview now stands.

As early as 1901, a station was called for Beechworth Road (Pymble), but the Railway Commissioner at the time said that "the movement is slightly premature" and was never built.

[citation needed] The construction works for the Sydney Harbour Bridge necessitated truncation of the southern terminus from Milsons Point to Lavender Bay.

The result is that the two ends of the North Shore Line link to the Sydney railway system at Central and Hornsby.

In early years, Old Milsons Point, Bay Road, St Leonards, Chatswood, Lindfield, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Wahroonga and Hornsby stations had goods yards.

[3] The line continues up the North Shore region, with stations at Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Warrawee, Wahroonga and Waitara.

A similar arrangement exists at Gordon, where the centre platform is connected to a loop line that can terminate trains in both directions.