Woy Woy Tunnel

The Woy Woy railway tunnel is a 1.69-kilometre-long (1-mile-4-ch) double track railway tunnel. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 28 June 2013. The tunnel was originally built for double track service and thus did not require widening when the line was duplicated in 1906. During construction the tunnel entrance had a crimson streamer stretched across it with the Latin phrase Labor omnia vincit, meaning, Hard work conquers all. A 180-metre (600 ft) hill rises above the tunnel. At the time of its completion in 1888, the tunnel was the longest railway tunnel in Australia. It passed beneath a sandstone ridge between Brisbane Water and Mullet Creek. Passengers were required to catch a ferry between Hawkesbury River and Mullets Creek that met with trains at both terminations. The line was built with 4.4-inch gauge and 8-foot-wide (435 m+1⁄2 ft) in loading and loading tracks and a loading gauge that accommodated 8-inch-wide trains.