Belmont railway line

Belmont Railway Line
Looking north across Park Avenue level crossing towards former main line junction
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Status	Closed
Locale	Newcastle, New South Wales
Termini	Adamstown Belmont
Stations	8
Operation
Opened	1 December 1892 (1892-12-01)
Closed	19 December 1991 (1991-12-19)
Owner	New Redhead Estate and Colliery Company
Character	Single track
Events
Extended to Belmont	1916
Technical
Line length	15.51 km (9.64 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Highest elevation	89 m (292 ft)
Route Map km Station 0 Main North line at Adamstown Redhead Tunnel Fernleigh loop 4 Kahibah Dudley Colliery 5 Burwood No 3 Platform 6 Whitebridge 9 Redhead 10 Lambton Colliery Burwood Extended Colliery 12 Jewells platform 14 John Darling Colliery 16 Belmont

The Belmont railway line (32°58′S 151°43′E / 32.967°S 151.717°E / -32.967; 151.717) is an abandoned coal haulage and passenger rail line from Adamstown, New South Wales to Belmont, New South Wales. This was a private railway, being the property of the New Redhead Estate and Coal Company and was generally known as the Belmont Branch. The line closed in December 1991. It has since been converted into a cycleway or rail trail - The Fernleigh Track.

In 1881, the Redhead Coal Mining Company Limited obtained rights over 4,123 acres (1,669 ha) of coal bearing lands lying near the headland of that name, and by 1883 had expended some £25,000 in sinking a shaft, installing machinery, and other improvements. In order to transport the coal to Newcastle, the Company was desirous of constructing a railway 6 ¹⁄₄ miles (10.1 km) long, junctioning with the Government line, then under construction, at Adamstown. The necessary act was passed on 14 April 1885, and five years was allowed for the completion of the line. However, trouble developed in that it was found that the population reserve adjoining Newcastle encroached on the Company's property, and that several other portions had been taken up by different persons. This led to court proceedings and it was not until 1887 that the position had become sufficiently stabilised to warrant the Company proceeding with the construction of the line. As by this time the Company's five-year period prescribed by the act had nearly expired, an amending act was obtained on 5 June 1888, granting a further five year. On 21 December of that year, another amending act was passed authorising, amongst other things, deviations in the route, a branch to the South Burwood Coal Company's colliery, and an extension of the rights of construction to the northern shores of Lake Macquarie, through or near the village of Belmont.