Cowan Bank
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
|---|
Coordinates: 33°34′04″S 151°11′57″E / 33.567645°S 151.199169°E
† Diagram not to scale
Cowan Bank is an 8.6 kilometre double-track section of the standard gauge Main North line in New South Wales, Australia. It starts at Cowan station, 48.8 kilometres north of Sydney, descending from 200 metres to sea level at Hawkesbury River station. It has an average grade of 2.5% (1 in 40).
Cowan Bank has five tunnels (of which four are still in use), one level crossing (for track work road vehicles only) situated between Boronia #2 and #3 tunnels, and two road bridges. The line crosses under the Pacific Highway twice, once using a road bridge near Cowan station and again while passing through Boronia #1 tunnel. It crosses under the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway while passing through Boronia #2 tunnel. The line was built through very rugged and heavily forested terrain on the western edge of the Kuring-gai Chase National Park. Because of its isolated location there are very few places from where the track can be observed - sections of the Pacific Highway on the ridge between Cowan and the Hawkesbury River provide a few vantage points.
Bank engines were attached to the rear of trains at Hawkesbury River station to assist them in the climb and were detached at Cowan station. After assisting a train up the bank, the bank engine would usually return to Hawkesbury River station to await the next train. Bank engines are no longer used on the line.
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