Rhyndaston Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Rhyndaston Tunnel is a 955 m long 1 in 40 (2.5%) grade railway tunnel in southern Tasmania
. The northern end of the tunnel is 72.5 km from the Hobart
railway yards. It was built as part of the Tasmanian Main Line Company
's track from Hobart to Western Junction which was completed in 1876.
was too small to take the original (8' x 8') international containers. The tunnel was widened in the early 1970s using a tunnel boring machine
mounted on railway wheels
, which was maneuvered into place between trains to excavate a few metres at a time.
The later and larger containers may again be too big.
Due to poor ventilation, diesel trains occasionally lose oxygen and fail to make it up the tunnel. Steam locomotives which build steam over longer periods may not have had this trouble.
Elevation = 422m.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The northern end of the tunnel is 72.5 km from the Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
railway yards. It was built as part of the Tasmanian Main Line Company
Tasmanian Main Line Company
The Tasmanian Main Line Company was a private railway that opened a narrow gauge line from Hobart to Evandale, near Launceston, where it connected with the Launceston and Western Railway.- Initial proposals :...
's track from Hobart to Western Junction which was completed in 1876.
International containers
The original tunnelTunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
was too small to take the original (8' x 8') international containers. The tunnel was widened in the early 1970s using a tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
A tunnel boring machine also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They can bore through anything from hard rock to sand. Tunnel diameters can range from a metre to almost 16 metres to date...
mounted on railway wheels
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
, which was maneuvered into place between trains to excavate a few metres at a time.
The later and larger containers may again be too big.
Due to poor ventilation, diesel trains occasionally lose oxygen and fail to make it up the tunnel. Steam locomotives which build steam over longer periods may not have had this trouble.
Elevation = 422m.