Oil fired for the tunnels?

Are their more locomotives running there? Or just one?

Excellent effort to all the people who made this journey possible. It shows off our great country and the great people of Australia. I never get tired of watching the Western Endeavour video.

Is there a chance east coast heritage rail get to use one of your steam locomotives?

Very sad she's offline again, just a few years of running after a major rebuild and the damage found was far worse than expected. I dare say machining tolerances in the old days was far more forgiving Vs modern times.

What a lovely little video thanks for the memories as a young man i was a fireman on 3801 later became a driver and have met mr Collins and mr mason also had the NSW g ovener on the train 3801 looks in beautiful condition well done to the workers.

Good job 👍🏻 I miss it

In 40 years time , the v sets will be what I'll be watching 😊

Nice, I remember being told about this by a volunteer when I went in the Thirlmere to Buxton steam train. When do you think this’ll be completed?

Oh this is thrilling - especially to know that trains will again be running through the Big Hill Cutting. I remember gasping with amazement when I first traveled though it, standing at the front of a "tin hare" beside the driver's compartment, in the late nineteen sixties. Any chance that the connection with the main line at Mittagong might one day be restored, to enable through running?

Yet the heritage of Sydney's rail network is being destroyed for a dodgy metro but it's all good 👍

Can't wait to see it finished I will be there for a trip

Getting ready to build houses.

Mittagong next, I hope

Mudgee would be more viable to open a railway reconstruction than a loop line that is only for joyriders.

So why is it called Loop Line?

Cool It would be nice to catch a diesel train from Tahmoor to Thirlmere instead of walking there while our stupid government thinks people who don't have a car travel by magic flying carpet🎉

Wish they’d upgrade the Sydney to southern cross line for high speed 😅

There's an inscription on a rock cutting just north of Hilltop station describing briefly an accident during the original construction of this line.

At Hill top there is the oldest steel reinforced bridge over the line . They used old rail line in it . The very first concrete bridge was at Sydnam. It eventually collapsed.

Perhaps they could run passenger services through the loop line again if it gets connected to Mittagong. These services could stop at all stations between Campbelltown and Picton and then you run express services that travel the main line stopping at Tahmoor, Bargo and Yerrinbool. This would make the trip quicker to the Southern Highlands if Picton is the next stop following Campbelltown. Anyway this is a great project and looking forward to seeing the line restored to its former glory.

This is such fantastic news to see. I can’t wait to check it all out once completed. How are the repairs on 3801 progressing?

Will be a great feeling when the opening of the day comes to reality. On the first day of steam operations should be a steam only tour from Central and Penrith. Would certainly be a great day for all the patrons.

After this is done, Transport Heritage NSW (or the appropriate department) should look into reopening the railway line all the way back to Wallangara on the Qld/NSW border.

Fabulous to see serious upgrading being carried out. I do hope something can be done up north to Jennings one day.

Hopefully the line can be re-opened all the way to Mittagong & freight trains can use it as a bypass if they are slow & heavy to allow passenger services between Sydney & Goulburn/Canberra/Melbourne to run faster & more reliably without being held-up by slow moving freight trains. Just as container ships are important for the global economy moving goods in containers, so are trains.

Cannot wait. 😊

Looks great

O how i remember stream trains and trams running over the Sydney harbor bridge as a child and also hearing the steam trains from my bedroom window early in the morning and at night when the shy was clear in Bondi Junction back in the early 50's thanks for the reminding me what we have lost in time it was a gerat show of that time

I grew up in Hilltop, i remember seeing the freight trains come through when i was a kid.

Great to see an old line coming back to work.

I totally agree.

More disused rail lines in NSW need to be resurrected, especially for freight. Less trucks on the road and more wagons on the rails ! Great work on this project.

Okay but how cool would it be if the Melbourne XPT OR Canberra Xplorer went through there.

Thank you interesting video but one good point When is it going to be finished When it's going to start Looking forward😊

Go the distance all the way to Mittagong.🥳🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃

Cool, Now do Harden to Young :)

Hope the line gets repaired right through to Mittagong eventually.

Brewarrina next?

now extend to Mittagong

Will be great to see Big Hill cutting back in action. It wasn't just the depth of it but the gradient was a heavy haul. Hlltop is about 350 metres above Picton station.

Trains aren't just for enthusiasts,but are history.Who doesn't like a ride through the country,and a nice lunch.

Excellent work. Looking forward to visiting

Great to see this work being done. Much is needed on the Victor Harbor line here in SA too, but I guess that's the way it is for heritage lines all over the country.😊

Will you get 3616 back up and running one day ?

Great Work and Well Done to all Concerned. Look forward to visiting and enjoy the wonderful work all the Volunteer's do.

Great investment. Awsome news. One step at a time but will the line ever be reconnected towards Mittagong? Is it planned for the future or a case of maybe, never say never?

Dynamite not developed till 1867. More like gunpowder ( much more dangerous too ) !