NRS-15476 | Plans of the city railway system

The set of drawings which form this series document the commencement of planning for the construction of the city railway system. The project included the erection of additional tracks and platforms at Central Station, tracks and associated works between Redfern and Central stations, and the loop of railway infrastructure servicing the central business district that is - Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James and Museum stations. The plans which would appear to be preliminary ones include diagrammatic layouts, showing the railway in relation to streets and other city landmarks, sections, plans of bridges, crossings, tunnels and railway stations. The plans, which are undated are attributed to the Chief Engineer, Metropolitan Railway Construction. It would appear that the plans were prepared late in 1915 as in his annual report for 1914-1915 the Chief Engineer notes the 'plans on which the City Railway can be accurately located will be completed about the end of August, 1915'. (1) The following year he reported 'the preliminary work necessary before the actual work of construction could be commenced was pushed forward as rapidly as the depleted state of the field and office staff would permit. Surveys showing all necessary details above and below ground were completed before the year closed, and plans and specifications had been sufficiently advanced to permit of operations being commenced on the ground'. (2) A small number of plans have pencilled annotations.A list of plans forming a contents list appears in the front of the volume.[J.J.C. Bradfield was Chief Engineer, Metropolitan Railway Construction, NSW Government Railways and Tramways.]Custody History This record series was handed to the Archives Authority of NSW on 11 June 1968 by the Bradfield family. It was apparently an archival estray.Endnotes1. Department of Public Works, Annual Report for the year ended 30 June, 1915, p.33 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1915-1916, p.34.2. Department of Public Works, Annual report for the year ended 30 June, 1916, p.12 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1916 Vol. 4, p.390.