The City Railway and Underground Tramway…

Rare plan of Sydney railway and tramways by John Bradfield from his visionary proposals for the planning and construction of Sydney’s railway system.

Bradfield had designed a visionary railway and tramway system for Sydney. His proposal which was accepted was for the electrification of the inner railways to Parramatta, Hornsby, Sutherland and Bankstown. The construction of the City Electrical Railway to the Eastern, Western and Northern Suburbs, the construction of two long span cantilever bridges across the harbour. The electrification of outer suburban railway network to Penrith, Campbelltown, Waterfall and to the Hawkesbury River. As well as the construction of underground tramways which was estimate to cost approximately ‎£20,000,000 at the time. On the 13th October, 1915 the state government established an act, ‘City and Suburban Electric Railways Act, 1915′ which also approved the provision to construct the railway and tram network as well as providing additional power from the White Bay Power Station at estimated cost of ‎£6,400,000 and for additional rolling stock of ‎£3,600,000. Construction was to begin in 1916 and take an estimated four years to complete. Unfortunately because of the Depression which had a catastrophic effect on Government expenditure and the increasing private car ownership put a stop to many of Bradfield’s proposals were never carried out.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID: 970121
State Library New South Wales: Call Numbers: HQ 2014/3059
State Library Victoria: SF 621.33 B727