John Bradfield's City Circle Underground Railway Sydney, Sydney Trains.

The City Circle was a transport plan ahead of it time, and the brainchild of visionary transport planer John Job Crew Bradfield who became known as the father of modern Sydney. Everyday 10s of thousands of Sydney sider benefit from John Bradfield's railway legacy as they’re shuttled by underground railway beneath the city streets.
PART 1 - City Circle Sydney CBD - • John Bradfield's City ...
PART 2 - John Bradfield himself - • John Bradfield, Sydney...
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00:40 John Bradfield's Railway Scheme
01:20 Eastern spur line Museum & St James 1926
03:54 Western line, Town Hall & Wynyard Station 1932
05:26 Harbour front, Circular Quay Station 1956
06:18 The effect of the City Circle on the city of Sydney

[@SydneyHistory]

Do you think designers got it right by opening up Circular Quay Station building? Or would you prefer office and restaurant with rooftop garden?

[@griffinrails]

The enclosed design would have looked MUCH nicer, plus it would neatly blend in with the surrounding area. Much nicer than the shack we have now that had ugly advertising on the tracks for about 20 years.

[@SydneyHistory]

@@griffinrails I agree 100%. It would have blended in with the surrounding building plus would have looked less dominating of the water front as it wouldn't have had the expressway on the top. I believe it would have been more for the people also as the proposed restaurant would have provided much better views of the harbour and the rooftop garden would have made an amazing space to watch boats and ships come in and trains depart from the east and west.

[@66holt]

Paved the gateway building there 3 times over 30 years,

[@747dom]

They got that one wrong. Should've gone with the enclosed grand building, would've looked amazing!

[@luciobennetti]

Opening up the building was fine (although the choice of style is debatable), but replacing the highway with a rooftop garden and a restaurant + café would be nice.

[@leokimvideo]

Saddest aspect to the Sydney Rail network is it was never completed to John Bradfields design that would have had a proper network of loops of tracks and not the half finished balls up we have today. One hiccup in the city circle disrupts the entire network. The missing loops are now impossible to add. What a train wreck.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, I have to agree. If the east and west loops were built as planned 100 years ago, Sydney would have look vastly different in those areas today. I guess those areas would be much higher density today due to the strong PT links. The sadder thing is that parts of the loops and the northern beaches line were even built e.g. the tram tracks over the Sydney Harbour bridge and then we went backwards and removed those tracks and tunnels. Such as waist.

[@GoodMrDawes]

What a great Australian. Thankyou for your amazing contributions to my beautiful home town Mr. Bradfield. When they had Could Do Thinking .

[@robertmusgrave9457]

The "train" you show on the Harbour Bridge opening day is in fact a tram: the bridge originally had two tram tracks, on the eastern side, in addition to the two rail tracks on the western side. The trams ran to Wynyard station, which had an underground tram terminus in tunnels now occupied by a car park (sadly). Bradfield's intention was for Wynyard to be a rail-tram interchange. The trams were removed in 1958 as part of the closure of Sydney's original tram network, and the dedicated tram tracks on the bridge replaced by traffic lanes (one of which is now a dedicated bus lane).

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes you're correct. I thought the Eastern rail tracks were going to be used for Bradfield's northern beaches line and the trams were only using it temporarily until then. Even more sadly, today I went to walk the car park tunnels and it looks like the car park is no more. Don't know how anyone from the public can get in there now. A complete waisted opertunity.

[@brucelee3388]

One of the tram tunnels at Wynard was used as the NSW Prisons Service pistol range at least through the 1970's. You can still see the partially demolished viaduct for the tram lines leading from North Sydney station to the east side of the Harbor Bridge (it used to house the NSW Police Safety Traffic Patrol/Highway Patrol on the North Sydney side and Department of Main Roads offices on the Milson's Point side)

[@brianmorris8045]

I'm glad Bradfield got his way with the present design of the coat hanger.

[@Woodland26]

I always wondered why Wynyard now use platform 3-6, with no 1 and 2. That was the tram platforms.

[@flamingfrancis]

@@SydneyHistory Might be more to come on those old Wynyard tram tunnels in the not too distant future..and no it's not for growing mushrooms.

[@SydneyRover]

Dr John Bradfield was a visionary engineer, completing his Bachelor of Civil Engineering (with first class honours) and then his PhD at the University of Sydney. Sydney and indeed the whole World owe so much to civil and structural engineers for designing the infrastructure that society needs.

[@SydneyHistory]

They certainly do SydneyRover. Sydney and the world in general would be a poorer place without civil engineers.

[@brianmorris8045]

Australia needs more visionaries like that of Bradfield, but with more up to date ideas that don't impact too much on day to day workings. Bradfield somehow managed to work around everything. I read in a newspaper article that luddites of the time thought Bradfield was too 'modern'. Thank goodness for Bradfield's modern thinking at the time, in that case, or we probably wouldn't have the likes of the 'coat hanger' as it is today.

[@flamingfrancis]

Must not forget the input from all facets of engineering along with the Civil engineers. The complexities of electrical engineering today cannot be overlooked.

[@paulliddle6079]

So great that the engineers and architects had the foresight to design the circular quay station with those open plan views of the harbour!

[@SydneyHistory]

True, but I do think that the current Circular Quay building and expressway above acts as a massive wall dividing the harbour and city. Looking over the original designs I think it would have been less obtrusive because it wouldn't have had the expressway above. Although the station wouldn't have been open to the harbour it still would have had a rooftop garden for the public to enjoy and a restaurant and the design would have blended in with the rest of the cities building behind it. Anyway there is no chance that it can be or could have ever been built underground due to the layout of the terrain, so it's here to stay.

[@carisi2k11]

@@SydneyHistory What do you think that enclosed building would have done. When you look at all the tall timber surrounding it now I don't really think that enclosed building would have been much better.

[@SydneyHistory]

@@carisi2k11 I think it would have had more character that what we have now and would have been less obtrusive. Also without the Cahill Expressway on top it would have looked 1000% better. However it is very functional in it's current form. I'm just not a fan of this functionalist form of architecture applied in this case, it's very bland for something that should have been a showpiece.

[@lorenzlorenzo1975]

Thanks Gladys Berejiklian for actually accomplishing the job no other NSW Premier had accomplished. Sydney's transport system and the city of Sydney are world-class.

[@SydneyHistory]

If you are referring to the metro, yes it will be great once it opens next year.

[@aussiebloke51]

Sydney's public transport is on the way to being "world class" but it still has a long way to go! From my experience I would put London, Moscow, Shanghai, Beijing, Paris, St Petersburg, and Istanbul much further up the list than Sydney. I'm old enough to remember catching trams from the underground platforms at Wynyard to Chatswood.

[@ziggybadans]

I wouldn't call it world class just yet, we absolutely need a better tram system, considering what Sydney used to have, and some bus accessibility issues that need to be sorted out before we can call anything world class (like actually showing the stops on the screens rather than a useless logo)

[@flamingfrancis]

@@SydneyHistory Let's not forget that Sydney had a great tramway system that worked with the trains. Some nutter decided to get rid of it and here we are now bringing some of it back.

[@zanelindsay1267]

A most interesting and well done video with a great collection of historic photos and pertinent narration!

[@SydneyHistory]

Thank you I glad you enjoyed it. I hope to make more in the future 🙏

[@senseimourgi676]

Great video

[@SydneyHistory]

Glad you like it. 👍

[@terryansell6641]

This was so interesting thank you from NZ

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks Terry Ansell. Glad you guys on the other side of the ditch enjoy it too. 👍

[@jeffmason4559]

Stumbled across this video today. I’ve never been to Australia, so to see this video, with so many similarities to our underground here in London was really interesting. I especially like the LU-type roundels on the stations. It’s great that original features are kept. All too often they’re just ripped out.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for watching, Jeff Mason. Yeah John Bradfield was impressed and got a lot of ideas from LU. It's very small when compared to LU but it was the start of a grand vision that wasn't really followed through. There was meant to be an eastern and western suburb loops to add to this underground vision.

[@doctorbohr1585]

I was also amazed when I went to London. Even the above-ground stations look very similar to ours in Sydney.

[@davidh7414]

A highly simplified version of the LU roundel was used at many stations, above and below ground on the wider Sydney network up to the late 80's. As stations were upgraded, those signs were lost. The Roundels on the underground stations are closer to the LU style and are reproductions which were put back up in the last 7 or 8 years.

[@cinemaipswich4636]

Bradfield brought the cables used in building the Harbour Bridge to Indooroopilly in Brisbane and constructed a suspension bridge for cars and pedestrians. He also built the Story Bridge in Brisbane, and the lead-up to it is called the Bradfield Highway.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, Cinema Ipswich. It's always good to find and use as much locally sourced materials. Both Sydney and Brisbane have highways named after Bradfield and many parks also.

[@astonryder4424]

I love Sydney trains but I hate the system. I swear, the trains here in Sydney are so unreliable. Buses are number one.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes when you compare them to other places in the world like London, Tokyo or New York. But those cities have bigger population and have invested more into the system up keep.

[@MrButtonpresser]

Nice video, a good pace and lots of relevant information. I love Sydney’s history having grown up there in the 60s.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for the feedback, MrButtonpresser. More episodes out soon on a whole range of Sydney History topics. Hopefully they live up to your expectation. 🙏

[@davidgordon5079]

These videos are brilliant, keep them coming!

[@SydneyHistory]

Thank you. Will do my best. 👌

[@747dom]

Thanks Mike, great video, very interesting 👍

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@griffinrails]

Fantastic video, excited to see more!

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks, griffin rails. The next one will be out in a couple of weeks and will be a history on John Bradfield.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Excellent video, very well produced, you've earned yourself a subscriber. In my personal opinion it is about time the elevated structure along circular quay is removed (including the expressway) and replaced with an underground line with a park built in its place.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thank you so much, MetroManMelbourne. I agree with you it would be nice to replace the elevated section underground, but I think the cost would be prohibitively expensive for what ultimately would be a beauty project. Maybe it might be practical to do it at the end of the viaducts life space and the costs would be unavoidable in any case. However, this elevated section existing only because this part of the city is in a valley where the tank stream used to run into the ocean. Both the east and western sections of the City Circle in much higher ground about 20 metres above sea level. I think if the Circular Quay section is put underground the rolling stock would have problems going up and down this section. The best we could hope for is probably the undergrounding of the expressway. But lets face it, I think it will be like this for the next 50 years.

[@flamingfrancis]

@@SydneyHistory Come to think of it that whole elevted section could become a real attraction such as the Promenade Plantee in Paris which was put to good use from repurposing an old line viauct. New York also has The High Line. The disused section of former line over Ultimo Road could be similar.

[@robertfountain4856]

We have numerous people wanting to remove the viaduct and it all seems to be for beautification purposes but they also wish to remove the railway. See it for what it is. It's an interchange for Ferry, Trains and Trams that supports a viaduct above it to take traffic from the bridge to the eastern side of the city. Do they imagine that the existing tunnel crossing could carry double capacity? Alternatively do they want the the additional traffic within the city itself. Sure we could build yet another tunnel but that would surely be another toll road. We already have one for east/west traffic which would be difficult to link up traffic from bridge traffic. Basically I have no problem with how it looks now as optically it gives Circular Quay some width. If it was removed the view would all be vertical.

[@brombrom1522]

@@robertfountain4856 Only in Australia: 1. Identify the most historic, iconic and scenic location in Australia. 2. Put a railway viaduct and freeway through it!

[@coolcat-nq4mj]

No, it's ugly if it's removed bruh, why add a park that is not heritage listed

[@BenP-jg7jp]

I remember waiting on a platform with my mum in the early 1980's at town hall station and seeing that ther were no tracks layed beside the other side of the platform. I asked my mum what that side of the platform was for and she said it was for a new rail line that would service the eastern suburbs of sydney. On a seperate issue, i think that Circular Quay station and the bradfield expressway buily above it forms a major visual block between the city and the harbour. I hope a future govt rebuilds this section for rail at ground level or underground and just deletes the now underused roadway.

[@SydneyHistory]

I think they could remove the expressway above without too much issues, but the railway would be too steep for the trains if the station was put underground.

[@rodorodo3060]

Hi Mates!! I'm very fond of trains and admire Australia as a developed country, I found this video and I chose it to read aloud and talk in an English lesson, thanks for post it!! All the best and regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rodolfo

[@SydneyHistory]

Hi Rodolfo. Thank you for your message. It makes us happy to know that you chose our video to present in your English lesson. I hope your class mates enjoyed your reading. Thanks for sharing this, Mike.

[@nathegotule284]

New York city,subway Gott,I it wrong Not dissing there design Coz,they cant put double Decker,trains,, Tunnels,,were carved out 2small?? Sydney,gott it right?? Wot du think?? 😁😁😁😁🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@SydneyHistory]

True, London Underground is the same. But the small tunnels made for faster construction time and less cost. So I guess it's a trade off in a way.

[@flamingfrancis]

The open plan at CC is obviously a good one. Look at the numbers of visitors catching trains that make sure they get their selfies taken while they wait. The fresh smell of the salt air and seeing the working harbour is also a plus.

[@SydneyHistory]

True the open air is good, but I think we could of had the best of both. A nice classical architecture station without the expressway on top. The platforms could still be open.

[@Jason-us4ye]

Sorry to say, but when you show the picture of the men who made these things happen and left real legacies for us all - and then compare that to footage of modern times - yikes I feel's that we have lost some spirit and or passion ❤🙏 Oh, and a Great well-researched video too mate! well done!! 💪

[@flamingfrancis]

It is no coincidence that Bradfield was part of a Public Works Department at a time when backhanders and use of privateers was less common.

[@jasonhindle4054]

Loved the transport in Sydney. I haven’t been to Sydney since 2009. Is Town Hall still really confusing for a visitor? Back then it was paper thickets and being able to get one ticket for trains and ferries was great. I assume contactless (card/Apple/Google) is now a thing.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, contactless or Opal card tap on tap off. The station concourse has change significantly, much more clearer, removed clutter like shops in there and opened it up for pedestrians. I would say it has improved greatly.

[@brianmorris8045]

As for those who wish to dispose of the Circular Quay structure, pull your heads in. I've heard about it a lot in other railway vids. There is nothing wrong with that structure. When I occasionally get to Sydney, I make a beeline by train for circular quay and know when I'm looking through the carriage windows at the 'coat hanger', I know I'm in Sydney, about to board one of the real Manly ferries, the Freshwater class vessels. Forget those junks called the Emerald. I went on one last trip to see what all the fuss was about, and was very disappointed. Was lucky to return on the Collaroy...one of those wonderful real Manly ferries. Nothing romantic about those Emeralds but there certainly is about the Freshies...but that is getting away from the City Circle. But the Quay system works. No idea the idiots want to get rid of the highway on top. Must be a horrible bee in their bonnets. When I get to Sydney from Adelaide, I drive to my brother's house and he will drop me at Campbelltown station, and have a nice ride from there to the Circle. It's almost like a pilgramage...lol. Being born in Sydney, I've seen a lot of changes everytime I go back. Stuff that people in Sydney and suburbs take for granted. I do drive back to Dulwich Hill, my town as a lad for a look see, especially my old high school as well. Now a school for performing arts. Which was originally a high school at the top end near Seaview St. and Primary School at the Fairfowl street end. I went to those same buildings all my school life, due to the fact, the property changed to a co-ed school in 1965 (contrary to the school's website saying it was 1966. I should know, I was one of the first 1st year students there in '65. Ahhh. Memories.

[@SydneyHistory]

It's all talk, it will never go underground. If it did it would all be for looks and zero transport benefit. Putting it underground wouldn't bring anymore tourists to the Quay anyway. But I would have been nice if they implemented the 1900 Circular Quay station design. That would have looked like the jewel in the crown for the Quay. Also due to that design the expressway above would likely not have been built.

[@chuckselvage3157]

The only man with any idea or vision for Sydney. The rest was destroyed by clowns in the government which continues to this day.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes he certainly had a vision and even got to build part of it. Even some parts were later destroyed like the second rail crossing on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

[@tacitdionysus3220]

You are probably aware that, as a salute to his inspiration from London and New York, he designed Museum to be similar to a tube station, and St James to be similar to a subway station. The City Circle stations were colour coded, so less literate people could easily tell where they were. Only Museum (brown) and St James (green) maintain the original pattern, while some of the others have only traces of their colours on the roundels. Less well known is that his son, Keith ('Bill') Bradfield was also an engineer, but of aviation facilities. Designed many overseas and Australian airports, including Tullamarine; was instrumental in diverting the Cooks River so Sydney airport could be expanded, and kicked off the current international terminal at Sydney. Was also Australia's representative at ICAO where he helped develop numerous airport and air navigation standards used worldwide. Nancy Bird Walton is quite a fitting person for naming Western Sydney International, but it would have been almost as fitting for the new airport to be called Bradfield (Junior).

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, it sounds like Bradfield's son was pivotal in his own right in shaping our city. I think it's awesome that Nancy Bird Walton and Bradfield have received a tip of the hat and being recognized for what they have done in shaping our great country. Imagine the new western Sydney airport being called Bradfield Jr and the commercial city close by being called Bradfield.

[@Domsfun]

I came to Sydney from interstate. There are plenty of buildings. Circular quay being open with a full view is a relief to the soul looking out to the harbour and with some view of the city from the other side. I’ve taken some interesting pictures in the areas of some buildings and of the quay including when cruise ships have come in. It’s easy to become bogged down by the buildings of the city and forget you are near a harbour. The open view gives you a feeling of freshness and freedom from the constraints of the city walls with a good view of the quay.

[@worrywart1311]

The train lines, stations and the harbour bridge were a huge venture and bold and costly vision beyond the scope we see today. Still utilised by thousands every day. We need wise and persuasive visionaries who think beyond the next election.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, you're right. There are talks already about cancelling the South West and Sydney to Parramatta Metros.

[@lindageorge8209]

The original circular quay plan looked beautiful. How about doing a piece in those disused tunnels at Wynyard. If you're into tunnels, I'd like to know more about them all around Sydney...

[@SydneyHistory]

Yeah for sure, Linda George. I've heard the Wynyard tunnels used for the second Harbour Bridge crossing are still in use as a car park. I'll definitely check it out and get some footage in the process.

[@bradevans7935]

@@SydneyHistory Wynyard platforms 1 and 2, have been part of the car park for the Menzies Hotel for many years, with one of the tunnel portals being used as the northern exit onto Cumberland St. I'm not sure if you can currently access the car park (I recall seeing something about the hotel being redeveloped), but Abandoned Oz did a video showing what is left of the platforms and tunnel a while ago.

[@paulwatts615]

I believe that there is some sort of lake under sydney that is accessible via the train tunnels. Do you know anything about this?

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes I've heard about it. It's called St James Lake and is deep as 5 metres I some parts and as long as about 1km. I think it's location is under the botanical gardens. A waist of gifted infrastructure if you ask me.

[@johncavar2914]

Excellent 🎉

[@fredsalfa]

Nice video. I think the open plan for Circular Quay was correct. I used to get off there every morning for work and see beautiful views of the harbour and Opera House every morning. Never thought it was consciously constructed that way.

[@SydneyHistory]

I like the classical architecture one it kind of reminds me of a crown jewel. Maybe a blend of open and classical. Definitely no express way on top.

[@fredsalfa]

@@SydneyHistory Yes it has dated quite a bit the current structure

[@jaybee9110]

Nice video new subscriber here from Philadelphia

[@SydneyHistory]

Welcome Jay Bee. Thanks for subbing. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@newcastlerabbit]

Very informative video, many thanks.

[@SydneyHistory]

My pleasure, thanks for watching. 👍

[@chrisoliva530]

oh joy of joys, just found your channel. Just love history....never seen many of the photos before, they are just so nostalgic and beautiful !! Mum actually loved Australian history more than any other history, she would have been one of your best fans. Ok, keep them coming mate!, a Sydney viewer.

[@SydneyHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it, Chris Oliva. Sydney is so rich in history and has so many untold stories. I hope to tell some of those stories here as I think there are a lot worth telling. Thanks for watching.

[@williamgarcia9858]

They should put lights in those long dark tunnels in the city circle.

[@sjdtmv]

Thanks Mike, I loved your video and now have subscribed, keep up the great work

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for the Sub, Ross Mitchell. It's greatly appreciated. I'm really enjoying creating videos on Sydney History. Definitely more to come soon.

[@baobo67]

Great video thanks. Love Art Deco and would love to see it return. Cheers.

[@SydneyHistory]

Art Deco was a distinct architectural style. I don't know of any recent examples of it though.

[@mehmeh5471]

Growth growth growth, its no wonder the end result is a third world craphole now.

[@SydneyHistory]

Are you taking about what Sydney has become? I wouldn't call it a third world crap hole. I'd say it's going through a growth phase from city to mega city.

[@mehmeh5471]

@@SydneyHistory That's the very definition of a crap hole, over crowding, brown outs, failing infrastructure, the third world component is very self evident by its attributes and the people that reside within it. Add to that no one was asked if they wanted this, instead politicians, bankers and developers get rich while the descendants of those that built a high standard of living through regulated growth are pushed into the outer slums while the upper class areas are also converted into said slums. Do you even travel on the "underground" that you are documenting?

[@geoffdeller7747]

Hay Mike, I enjoyed your video mate. Bradfield was a true genious and visionary. Perhaps you could look into his plans for the Bradfield irrigation scheme he devised for north Queensland. Successive governments over the decades have put the plan into the to hard/expensive basket. Our Scotty from marketing has announced funding for the Hells Gate Dam which is the centre piece of Bradfields design but penny pinching is going to keep the dam at a height that will not allow the water to get over the ranges to irrigate inland Queensland. Typically short sighted.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yeah agree Geoff. Bradfield's water diversion plan would have drought proofed Queensland and feed all of Asia. It's a plan that's still one of the best even today.

[@richarddyasonihc]

1970. I was 17, and had only been living in Australia for two years - I am English, moved there from Tunbridge Wells I spent my last two.Yeats of school at Knox Grammar School on the North Shore line, the school overlooking the line at Warrawee station. I became quite fascinated with Sydney’s suburban network. And of course, found the Circle Line fascinating; running underground and then suddenly bursting out from ax tunnel to run past Circular quay with it’s station sandwiched between the quay level, and the ferries, with the Cahill expressway overhead. I have travelled extensively by Riley in Australia, because I attended Univery, both at Flinders University and The UNSW courtesy of the ATO. I have licved in Sydney, Adelaide Hobart and Melbourne. I like your carp - I have three favourite ‘flat caps’ I moved back &7to England some years ago, and live in Derbyshire. I should like to speak with or write to you via email it woul, I think prove to be an interesting exchange of experiences from which we could both benefit. I could tell you for instance about working in railways house in the 1970s

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for sharing your experiences Richard. Knox Grammar School fascinates me as I travel past in on the train looking in. The School looks very prestigious and reminds me of a large American style school with it's grand stand and oval facing the train line. Yes I know what you mean when the train comes out of the tunnel at Circular Quay, darkness then bright spectacular light and an amazing view.

[@eastsideclub1]

4:30 WOW!

[@SydneyHistory]

Yeah, Wynyard Station looks pretty crazy like that. Both Wynyard and Town Hall Station were built to look like a New York Subway station. Where as St James and Museum were based off London Underground.

[@nathegotule284]

So,so kool highly educational Man,those dayz must been Hectic luv it Very nice historical Story U,gott diz,1,bruzz Nice black,n,white,photo,s Threre u hav,it folks Never stop learning 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks Nat Hegotule. I'm glad you enjoyed it and found it educational. Back in those day they would dig the tunnels out in a three peice suit on a 35 degree day. It was just what they did Back then. I couldn't do it, lol.

[@54mgtf22]

Well done.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks, mate. Thanks for watching.

[@wertw120]

Subscribed! Great video :) I was looking for a channel doing Sydney videos in the style of Geoff / Londonist for a while now.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for subbing. So far it's been a lot of fun making these videos. Geoff's channel and the Londonist are awesome 👌

[@RGC198]

Excellent video. I actually remember Circular Quay station opening when I was a child. Un around 1960, there was also a plan suggested by the NSW Liberal Party if elected to use the spare St James Station platforms for trams, taking them under Kings Cross and then up to join the Anzac Parade surface line on reserved track. Of course, as they didn't win the election, the NSW Labor Party won the election and closed the tram system completely on 25/2/61.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for sharing these memories, RGC198. Wow, I would have been great if they went through with the plans to use the disused tunnels and platforms at St James Station. I heard that it's virtually impossible to use the tunnels in a northbound direction because they are very shallow just under the surface and many modern building basements are now blocking the paths. However the southbound tunnels are still usable I've heard. Perhaps one day they can still use them as a terminal station.

[@RGC198]

@@SydneyHistory From what I remember, the Libs were planning to use all corridor type trams and start them at St James, then through to Darlinghurst and surfacing at Anzac Parade continuing out then to the eastern suburbs (La Perouse, Coogee, Bronte, Bondi and Maroubra). The main idea was to free William Street Kings Cross for improved traffic flow. Also, even then, the Eastern Suburbs Railway was still planned and maybe they were thinking of the current route by then. This plan was suggested after a news announcement said that the then current Labor government was planning to scrap all trams In Sydney.

[@johnforrester9120]

But askin got the big bung from Leyland

[@RGC198]

interesting. I wasn't aware of that. However, that may explain why trams were never returned to Sydney in 1965, after he became premier. Of course, with the tram system being closed in 1961 and the majority of the former infrastructure removed and scrapped, reintroducing trams may have been too costly at the time.

[@johnbrooks9508]

What a truly visionary and great Australian. I would like to ask where are the people of this calibre today, but in reality they only probably appear once in a century.

[@SydneyHistory]

Very true, John Brooks. I think it was just a unique time in history, that will probably never happen again, where a genius engineer was able to shine and politicians made decision for the greater good of the community instead of thinking about the next election cycle.

[@johnnicholls5344]

My mother often used to take me and my two sisters on the train into the city back in the 1960s. We always used to be warned by mum, after the train had left no. 16 platform at Central, that we would soon be entering the underground tunnel as the train headed towards Town Hall station. It was very exciting but also quite scary as the carriage darkened upon entering the tunnel. The noise, especially in Summer, was ear-splitting because the carriage windows and doors would all be open. One had to cover one's ears to lessen the painful screeching sounds of the train wheels. It was such a relief to be back in daylight and in relative silence when the train exited the Wynyard tunnel and made its way up the approach to the Harbour Bridge. What an extraordinairy view was to be had from the Bridge-we kids kneeled on the seats so we could better see out from the windows and mum made sure we didn't lean out of the open windows. I always loved the extensive panoramic views to be had from the train as it crossed over the Harbour Bridge and I still do even now.

[@SydneyHistory]

I'm sure it was an adventure, especially going over the Harbour Bridge. Those red Rattlers could sure make some noise. I can remember at night I could hear when a train went past and we were about 2km from the line, so I'm sure it must of been insanely loud going though the tunnels as you said John.

[@thelongdrag9188]

@@SydneyHistory Mike, just to set the historical record straight - the term "red rattler", whatever its status linguistically now, was never a part of Sydney-siders' vocabulary in the 50s through to the 70s, when I was at school and then university. It's a borrowed term from Melbourne, for the famous early Tait trains that were indeed known as red rattlers (check out videos which show some recently restored examples). The term was introduced by the lazy and unimaginative TV Media (!) in the late 80s just before the standard rust red trains were retired in toto. Sorry to say that too may people of younger vintage than I believe they were always called such. There is, or was, even a cafe in northern NSW named The Red Rattler, and housed in a re-purposed Sydney carriage. Nope. In all my years of frequent travel on Sydney trains as a child and young adult I never heard the term used once at school or among family and multitudes of friends. I've made it a bit of a crusade to point this out to people when the occasion arises, which probably is a wasted effort, but since your YT moniker is 'Sydney History' you need to pay particular attention to being accurate. Cheers!

[@SydneyHistory]

@@thelongdrag9188 Thanks for this deeper historical insight The Long Drag. It always amazes me how the same thing can be different to different generations. To me they were always the Red Rattlers being a kid in the last 70s and 80s. I was fortunate enough to see one close up going over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during it's 90th celebration. They were also selling tickets to ride on it for $10 but they were all sold out by the time I found out. Once again, thanks for the historical context of the name. I hope you enjoyed the video otherwise.

[@thelongdrag9188]

@@SydneyHistory Yes I did very much - well researched and presented! I am old enough to have travelled on Sydney toast- rack trams as a child in the 50s and experienced the thrill of these racing down the Phillip St hill to Circular Quay with the conductor swinging along the running board and holding on with one hand. I also recall the early suburban rail, wooden bodied Bradfield sets which hardly anyone knows about these days and some of the earliest ferries on the harbour, the pre WW1 Lady series (Scott, Ferguson, Denman etc with their open engine pits). The Bradfields were precursors to the famous red 'standard sets' as the railway staff and drivers called them, of the same Tuscan Red colour, but with a differently designed front end. These earlier ones came onto the tracks in 1921, and by the 60s they were being rapidly phased out, and only glimpsed rarely on the North Shore line. I concede that due to linguistic leakage due to a mobile population, the term Red Rattler may have been conveniently borrowed from Melbourne and started coming into usage here and there a bit earlier than I suggested, because by the time you were riding them the Tuscan reds were mostly superseded by more modern shiny stainless sets and there were therefore opportunistic grounds to compare them colloquially. Actually I don't think they rattled excessively, just about the usual for any train of that era. In my teens the single deckers were the only trains in town. But as another YT channel creator has stated, the term Red Rattler only entered the wider public consciousness via the Sydney media about 4 years before the end of their 66 year career, thus about 1985 on. Surprisingly this is supported by Wikipedia, which states, "In the years before their withdrawal, they were nicknamed Red Rattlers.This term was imported from Victoria and was never a contemporaneous colloquialism."

[@bradevans7935]

I agree that the disused platforms at St James and the loss of platforms 1 and 2 at Wynyard are a waste. I've always thought that not building the Eastern Suburbs line to Bradfield's original vision, and not building the Northern Beaches line at all were among Sydney's biggest transport policy mistakes, along with not building the Harbour Tunnel with 3 lanes each way (which would have allowed for the removal of the Cahill Expressway segment over Circular Quay). Looking at the images you showed of the original plans for Circular Quay station, I'm not sure that they would have been any better than what we eventually got - it would have been taller and wider than the existing station building, even with the Cahill Expressway on top, and the offices at street level would have occupied the space currently used as the pedestrian access between the eastern and western sides of the Quay (IMHO, one of the best aspects of the current interchange).

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes the hardest part of the eastern suburbs and northern beaches line was built. The crossing over the Harbour Bridge into North Sydney. It would have to be the single biggest transport mistake of all time in Sydney. The Circular station in the picture was proposed to be built on piers over the water so pedestrian access would have been more than it is today. If it went ahead, the Cahill Expressway would have never been built, probably.

[@brianmorris8045]

If opening up the old tunnels stopped the damned graffitti..it was a great idea. Otherwise it is wasted space. I remember the days the city circle running underneath the Mark Foys building where my grandmother worked.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes the disused tunnels should be put to use even if it is just an underground pedestrian walkway connecting St James and Martin Place Stations. Imagine in 2030 being able to walk from Barangaroo all the way to Hyde Park underground. It would just need a few minor 10 or 20 metre connections.

[@Rheilffordd]

I’ve just stumbled on this video and channel. Very well done and produced and also very nicely branded channel, so for that, you now have a new subscriber!

[@SydneyHistory]

Thank you, Rheilffordd. We're just getting started and have some pretty interesting episodes coming up in the months ahead. Glad you joined us at this early stage.

[@josephhapp9]

🌹🙏🌹 Loved the City Circle when I lived in Sydney 1985 and 1987.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yep, it's a great asset. Wouldn't know the city without it.

[@capt.joeylove]

I'm just not buying it

[@petermiller9712]

fantastic video loved it thanks

[@SydneyHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching. More will be coming soon on a whole range of topics.

[@TheMusicalElitist]

I love the LUL roundel.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yeah it's great isn't it. I'm glad they adopted the roundel and also glad they kept it through all the change.

[@66holt]

very cool, as i ahve spent last 30 plus yrs paving the streets of sydney , , hyde park , cook and phillip park , all william st , all oxford st , most of kings cross , , , all of bondi beach in front of shops , , [ that was 1998 ] , currently paving kings cross , [ from fountain down towards navy base ] , and Bondi Pavillion , ,

[@66holt]

the 3 towers at barangaroo , , , world square , central park , , the thing [ cantalever] hanging out in space , , lol , did paving in that :)

[@SydneyHistory]

Wow, you've really hit the pavement over the years. I have to say I really like the stones that are used in the Sydney sidewalks. They look good, but the dark colour also hides the grime from day to day life. What type of stone are they? Was it Lord Mayor Frank Sartor's idea to repave the Sydney streets?

[@66holt]

Mostly granite now as it's resilience to wear uncomparable, but down side if your head hits it , your skull will smash

[@66holt]

Have even planted time capsules in my works over the yrs

[@66holt]

One under rose granite copping of Archibald fountain in Hyde Park,

[@MrPaulus8040]

I really enjoyed this Mike! Thank you so much :D

[@SydneyHistory]

Anytime, Paul Slater. Thanks for watching another episode will be out in a week or so.

[@stdavidsunitingchurch8199]

it’s still in use, and that means you can walk and drive through those east side tunnels. While the entrance is at Wynyard the exit is further up the tunnels towards the bridge

[@SydneyHistory]

Awesome, St David's Uniting Church. I think I will take a walk through there soon and explore the old tram tunnel and try and find the old tunnel portal on the east side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Great video. Cheers! 👌

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for the visit, Aus Flight Channel.

[@robertcoleman4861]

What's missing is the line to the northern beaches thanks mike cheers bob.🚈🛤🍺👍👍👍

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, you're right Bob and to think that the hardest part of that rail line was already completed with the rail line going over the Harbour bridge completed at the time of opening in 1932.

[@hughmartin4334]

Thanks for making this video. The first time I used one of the underground stations - maybe it was Museum - I was wowed. It was Christmas Eve 2002. Were the advertisements on the walls originals or copies? Either way, they helped make the station seem like a time capsule.

[@SydneyHistory]

Nice, Hugh Martin. I'm sure it was a real treat to experience Museum Station for the first time virtually still in it's original condition, but for some new elevators. From what I know the advertisements are copies.

[@brucelee3388]

I used to go through there as a kid, going to visit my grandparents - the ads are definitely sympathetic reproductions, the 1950's and later ad boards were very 'brutalist'.

[@jodij2366]

There are twin tragedies however. The first is that Bradfield's vision never was fully implemented. The second is that Bradfield's vision was for a city of 2.5 million (noting that Sydney was just over a million at the time he came up with his designs). Sydney croaks along because Bradfield's vision was not only never finished but never advanced further. Also interesting to note that prior to the City Circle, Sydney was very much a city of trams while its southern rival was very much a city of railways. The two cities have of course swapped in the decades since with Sydney being a city of railways while its southern rival is a city of trams.

[@SydneyHistory]

This is true, Jodi J. I find it hard to believe when I think about it. Bradfield's plan was like a gift that was never used and partially returned. I mean the second Harbour Bridge rail crossing was built it just had to be extended into the northern beaches. Town Hall, Wynyard and St James were all built with extra platforms and tunnels for the construction to continue without disturbing the existing infrastructure. What did we do, remove the second Harbour crossing seal up the tunnels. I can only imagine what Sydney may have been if the eastern and western suburbs loop lines were built and the northern beaches. Here we are at 5 million people, double the population of Bradfield's vision and we still rely heavily as our only means. When the new metro line opens in 2024 it will be the first major piece of new infrastructure added to the CBD capacity since the Bradfield plan.

[@ausbrum]

The NSW Government commissioned a study by De Liew Cater, a US consultancy in 1957.It recommended the abolition of trams, and Fort Dennison became Benalong Point, site of a new Opera House. De Liew Cather was in fact a subsidiary of General Motors which produced busses, and recommended the abolition of street cars across the US.Incidentally, tunnels at St James became HQ for General Macarthur in WW2. There are 2 unused sub terranian platforms at Central and I was informed that there is an unused tunnel up to Oxford St

[@ausbrum]

@@SydneyHistory You're discounting the Eastern Suburbs line and the station added at Martin Place

[@Woodland26]

thank you with lots of photos to see what it was like then.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes, we are lucky enough that we have super high res photos of the time in Sydney.

[@markleon411]

Nice details. It's great to know the context.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks, I think the City Circle is defiantly a story worth telling. One of the cities great achievements.

[@rjl110919581]

THANK YOU GREAT HISTORY VIDEO

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.

[@johno9507]

It's strange to see the same 'Red rattler' trains in these photos from the 1930s that I used to take to school in the late 1980s.

[@SydneyHistory]

I hear what you saying John O. They were built to last, but weren't too comfortable or safe. I remember as a kid the train speeding along with the doors open and that was considered normal. The windows would also be open for that matter. Nothing like 40 degree hot air in your face in the middle of summer.

[@johno9507]

@@SydneyHistory What was really strange was the 7am train was a 50 year old dilapidated red rattler and the 7:15am train was the futuristic Tangara.

[@flamingfrancis]

You will find vision of a restored Red Rattler set in a number of videos featuring thr rerestored 3801. Can also be found at the Thirlmere Rail Museum.

[@OllieWasHere]

Great video

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. More Sydney History coming soon.

[@maggieroland8343]

Very informative, well done 👍

[@SydneyHistory]

Thank you for watching and the kind comments. Hopefully publish another one on John Bradfield in the next week.

[@TransportVlog]

Awesome video Mike! - I learnt so much from it!

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks Paul, love your work too. Love the metro updates very detailed 👌

[@stephenbrowne3399]

Real good job. Nicely done and enjoyable.

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@brettthompson8650]

Great video!

[@SydneyHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it. More to come soon.

[@clovelly1946]

So interesting,forward planning which today has been lost.

[@SydneyHistory]

I agree, Barbara-Louisa Walker. The projects of the early 20th century were built for the future. Another project I can think of was the Warragamba Dam. Built to serve a population 50 year in the future and twice its size for its time.

[@japanesetrainandtravel6168]

Mike! Great seeing you cover some Australian railway history too. Hope we can meet up in Japan soon!

[@SydneyHistory]

Hey Ken, hope you been well mate. Yeah I thought I'd cover some history of my home city. I'm hoping I can get back to Japan in the next few months provided I get the visa approval. It would be awesome to meet up one day. 🙏🍻

[@ZalMoxis]

Marvellous is really what you don't tell you they found whilst supposedly digging those tunnels..... like many of them already there and others going to places off limits.... as well as some unusual tech. They nearly uncovered the original network just recently digging up town hall... but that was all quickly hidden away again in tonnes on concrete.... too late though as i know people who've been and seen what is still accessible.... i'm sure bradfield is like all those other B.S architects they roll out to present a plausible narrative for the uninitiated....

[@SydneyHistory]

What original network are you referring to? When did they dig up Town Hall?

[@brucelee3388]

Conspiracy theorist. When they were doing upgrade works in the 1990's at Town Hall they did find a few brick tombs from St Andrew's that had been missed when the graveyard there was relocated. I think there was also a graveyard that had to be relocated back in the 1920's south of Central under what is now Prince Alfred Park. I can still remember being shown the open pit on the east side of Central by my mother who had seen it being dug when she was a girl (her father worked in Cooper St).

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

At 5.15 segment it was said a "special train left Wynyard station at 12.30pm..." the black and white picture clearly shows a tram, not a train, trams used to run to Wynyard into tunnels near the rail line from across the harbour bridge in the early days. Great video and lovely pictures and narration. Value!

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes you're 100% right, Diesel Dave Trains. I couldn't find a hi res picture of the first train before publishing this video, so that pic on the east side of the bridge had to do. Glad you like the video. More to come soon. 👍

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

@@SydneyHistory I believe the tram terminus at Wynyard was later used as a underground car park when tram services ceased?

[@SydneyHistory]

@@dieseldavetrains8988 That's right. I'd been in there a few times over the years, but not for 10 years or so. I should go and check it out see if the car park is still operating and get some video footage.

[@sscfc1]

No mate Museum was called this because the Train and transport Museum was across the road opposite Mark Foy building I live at Museum Towers

[@SydneyHistory]

Interesting I can't find no evidence of this claim. However the Australian Museum has claimed the name was their idea. "Then in 1925 the Museum’s secretary WT Wells was personally congratulated by the Trust for another really bright promotional idea. He suggested to the Railway Commissioners of NSW that the new underground station at the southern end of Hyde Park should be called MUSEUM. After some deliberation they decided that this was a top idea and the rest, as they say, is history."

[@sscfc1]

Ok so i live in Museum Towers that is across the road from Museum station entrance on Castlereagh Street Our building has a heritage front This heritage front was the train or transport Museum back in the early 1900s The Australian Museum is way across hyde Park Closer to Wynyard I don't think your correct

[@sscfc1]

There is no evidence it is called after the Australian Museum

[@sscfc1]

The museum of freemasonry is actually next door to our building One of the strata committee members thinks that the original building that museum towers has the heritage front to is was the original museum of freemasonry FYI

[@SydneyHistory]

@@sscfc1 there is evidence that it was WT Wells idea from the Australian Museum in 1925.

[@SwimmersItch]

Great video! I’m a big fan of Geoff Marshall’s London Underground-related content, so I’m sure that’s a big reason this came across my suggested videos. I’m subscribed and excited to learn more about Sydney in your future videos!

[@SydneyHistory]

Thanks for watching Aaron Brandt. I've seen a few of Geoff Marshall's video and he is a very informative guy. Thanks for subscribing.

[@jaybee9110]

Geoff’s videos are great.

[@SydneyHistory]

@@jaybee9110 Agree, Geoff Marshall does a great job in covering London's transportation system.

[@oluhamilton2121]

Honestly didn't know Sydney HAD a rapid transit system. Interesting.......

[@SydneyHistory]

I wouldn't say rapid exactly. The nee Northwest metro would fit that description though

[@dmr8914]

Circular Quay station should be underground and that ugly, nasty Cahill expressway demolished. With the Quay wharves revitalised that whole area would be a stunning view of the harbour, Bridge, Opera House and fireworks and tourists would love it as well. It would be a world renowned site and another jewel in Sydney's well-ornamented crown.

[@SydneyHistory]

Yes I agree that the Cahill expressway is a blight on the foreshore. However I think it is hear to stay and any money spent on any such project could be better spent on public transport needs that are desperate. The Cahill expressway is a double travesty as it was only built in conjunction with removing the eastern rail line for the SHB which were meant for the Northern beaches line. I think it would have looked amazing if they had built the original design proposed in the early 1900s with a roof top garden and Victorian style architecture.

[@CockatooTransit]

I love bradfield!!:

[@SydneyHistory]

Yeah he was a true visionary in many aspects. I like his water diversion and irrigation plan for northern Queensland. You could feed all of Asia if that plan was fully implemented.

[@boonarga]

Yep, and if built could even divert some of the water to the Darling and drought proof western NSW.

[@flamingfrancis]

How could you not?. In today's world his plan for the northern rivers would see a lot more hydro power in the mix and those nuclear plants nuked.