Sandy Hollow–Gulgong railway line

[1] The Sandy Hollow Line between Sandy Hollow, Gulgong and Maryvale (between Wellington and Dubbo), was originally surveyed in 1860 as a more easily graded crossing of the Great Dividing Range than the Blue Mountains line nearer to Sydney.

It was not commenced, however, until 1937,[2] when it began as an unemployment relief scheme of the NSW Government, achieving infamy for having no modern mechanical devices used on it, other than trucks carrying concrete for the 5 tunnels and bridge piers, all other work being done with picks, shovels, hand drills, horses and carts.

Construction continued through World War 2 at a desultory pace, held up by money, labour and especially steel shortages, only to be abandoned unfinished, approximately 92% complete, a few years later in 1951.

The line previously used outdated electric train staff (ETS) safeworking procedures in 5 sections over its length.

[7] Ulan has a balloon loop to terminate, load, and return the coal trains up to 1800m long.

Wilpinjong, Moolarben, Mangoola (Anvil Hill), Mt Pleasant and Bengalla also have a balloon loops.