By Dr Lorraine Jones, vice-president of Helensburgh and District Historical Society

Before Covid-19 my husband and I took a train trip to Fort William in Scotland. 

There, other passengers got off the train and onto a steam train used as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies, to see the viaduct it travelled over. We took an ordinary train to view the viaduct. 

It was no more impressive than our own viaduct at Stanwell Park. 

Our Stanwell Park viaduct was completed in 1920. It crosses Stanwell Creek valley and is the tallest viaduct in Australia, with its highest pier at 43 metres. There are eight brick arches stretching across Stanwell Creek.

The railway formerly was a single line track lower down the mountain. The tunnel through Bald Hill was so long and steep it was a health hazard to the drivers and passengers on the steam train. People had problems breathing because of the smoke.  

The railway was moved higher up the mountain to its present position. 

The former line ran along what is now Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Chellow Dene Avenue, then through the now disused tunnel to Otford. There was a level crossing where Railway Crescent joins Lawrence Hargrave Drive, and an overpass at the very top of Lower Coast Road. 

The footbridge was built in about 1926 as a shortcut to the new station.

Go for a walk along the Wodi Wodi track (watch out for leeches) and look at our magnificent viaduct. Something we can all be proud of.