Fullager's Bank LineThe first railway on Prospect Hill was a narrow-gauge railway opened in 1870 to carry freight from one of the early commercial quarries to a siding at Fullager's Bank on the main western line near Toongabbie. It closed before 1900. Prospect LineWhen the first Prospect quarry was opened in 1901, a standard-gauge railway was built to connect the quarry to the main Western Railway at Toongabbie. It opened on 7th April 1902. The engine was known as Possum. As well as quarry products the line carried workers to the quarry and other passengers to a halt at Prospect. This is probably the line that was known as the Toongabbie Stone Siding. The original line not only carried gravel from the site but also carried workers to the quarry until the line closed in 1926. Evidence exists that this line was used for picnic outings, where families were taken for a day out. A part of the railway embankment, is still discernible within Prospect Quarry. (Boral, 2006). Greystanes LineA branch from the Prospect line was built to a quarry at Greystanes prior to 1910. The line had closed by 1926. Widemere Quarry LineIn October 1925, The Sydney & Suburban Blue Metal Quarries Ltd. opened a branch from the main southern line at Fairfield to its Widemere Quarry on the southern side of Prospect Hill. The line was about 8 km long. A bogie engine worked the line until June 1945, when a shortage of trucks forced the company to use road transport. The engines were eventually sold, and the lines removed. (Widemere). This page is partly based on information on the Western Sydney History web site (Rail Transport). |