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.

It was used in 1978 in the filming of the opening scene for the television series Torque, hosted by Peter Wherrett.

The line previously used outdated electric train staff (ETS) safeworking procedures in 5 sections over its length.

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