Around Tunnel #2 (Sugarloaf Tunnel) … More Extracted Drone-based Images from the Proposed Lake Macquarie RVRT Segment – November 4th 2025Facebook Post – RVRT Supporters’ Group – November 4th 2025 https://www.facebook.com/richmondrailtrail/posts/pfbid0332Wg2eaJ1AcojLz7uZVQ1vJ5Ez7UTRYaZfPr8LL9GhUwhnK88rfsuXSp73dPuTjrl Download Content 
In a recent Facebook Post (27/10/2025), we presented 12 images that were extracted from drone-based spherical panoramas taken by our good friend Bill Landenberger within the proposed short (2.7 km) Lake Macquarie LGA RVRT segment – which, for convenience, we have categorised as Block C. These panoramas were taken at varying elevations above Tunnel #1, Burrenjim Dam, and Blue Gum Creek waterfall/gorge within Stockrington State Conservation Area (SCA). The other major feature within the proposed Lake Macquarie RVRT segment is Tunnel #2 and its cuttings, otherwise known as the Sugarloaf Tunnel. Bill Landenberger has now added to his collection of RVRT-related spherical panoramas by shooting drone-based images at multiple locations and elevations around Tunnel #2 (e.g., ranging from 10 m below to 100 m above the top of the SE cutting, or Cut 9 in GHD’s 2019 Geotechnical Assessment). Once again, full versions of Bill’s spherical panoramas can be viewed on his 360 cities account (https://www.360cities.net/profile/landy42). On this occasion, we have extracted 14 images (screenshots: Block D) from Bill’s recent panoramas, which are roughly sequenced from NW to SE within that RVRT segment (i.e., heading eastward towards Newcastle LGA). Pic01 to Pic05 feature the NW approach to Tunnel #2, Pic06 is a “Little Planet” view from inside the tunnel, while Pic07 to Pic14 showcase the more spectacular SE approach to the tunnel. Around Tunnel #2 (Sugarloaf Tunnel) … More Extracted Drone-based Images from the Proposed Lake Macquarie RVRT Segment – November 4th 2025 Facebook Post (Block D).  Cover Image: Series of extracted images from drone-based spherical panoramas taken around Tunnel #2 during October 2025; see Pic01 for further details about this particular image. Full versions of these panoramas can be accessed from Bill Landenberger’s 360 cities account (https://www.360cities.net/profile/landy42). Click on the images below to connect to the full version of each 360 cities panorama.  Pic01: Looking across NW approach to Tunnel #2 towards Mt. Sugarloaf (27/10/2025; 40 metres from NW End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 100 metres above top of cutting).  Pic02: Above the comparatively routine NW approach to Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 40 metres from NW End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 40 metres above top of cutting).  Pic03: Looking NW along the proposed trail from Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 7 metres from NW End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 3 metres below top of cutting).  Pic04: Looking straight at NW Tunnel #2 entry (27/10/2025; 7 metres from NW End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 3 metres below top of cutting).  Pic05: Little Planet View of NW approach to Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 9 metres from NW End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: level with top of cutting).  Pic06: Inside Tunnel #2 (26/9/2025; near the NW end, adjacent to the first of six pairs of Safety Refuges); reduced colour saturation.  Pic07: Looking NE to the Hunter Expressway across the SE approach to Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 50 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 100 metres above top of cutting). The tunnel and expressway both run through Oakey Ridge.  Pic08: Little Planet View looking south-west from Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 20 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 21 metres above top of cutting).  Pic09: Looking down on Tunnel #2 entry (27/10/2025; 20 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 21 metres above top of cutting).  Pic10: Looking SE along the proposed trail from Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 10 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 4 metres below top of cutting).  Pic11: SE entry to Tunnel #2 highlighting the nature and depth of the cutting (27/10/2025; 10 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 4 metres below top of cutting).  Pic12: Looking straight at SE Tunnel #2 entry (27/10/2025; 20 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 10 metres below top of cutting).  Pic13: Little Planet view of SE approach to Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 20 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 10 metres below top of cutting), with blurred edges.  Pic14: Little Planet curved view of approach to Tunnel #2 (27/10/2025; 15 metres from SE End of Tunnel; Drone elevation: approx. 5 metres below top of cutting). Images shown as slideshow. Alternatively, or additionally, you can watch a short (4 Min. 15 Sec.) YouTube video that was compiled on behalf of the RVRT Supporters’ Group, which presents a mix of images and pseudo-videos (screenshots) extracted from Bill Landenberger’s recent panoramas around Tunnel #2. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/FdUlgeLv0QI. Likewise, you can also watch a short (4 Min. 35 Sec.) YouTube video that presents pseudo-videos from around Tunnel #3; this video also shows: Wallis Creek Bridge, Surveyors Creek Bridge, and a Major Cutting (Cut 13) to the east of Tunnel #3, which is approx. 500 m in length, at an average depth of 12 m. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/vaOHAhr_FO0. Our previous video showcasing “Little Planet” views from West (Kurri Kurri) to East (Shortland) along the RVRT route has also been updated and now includes more images from the Lake Macquarie RVRT segment – YouTube Link (4 Min.): https://youtu.be/0bY2WbLO-js. Some Background and Orientation Information: The Sugarloaf Range section of the former Richmond Vale Rail (RVR) corridor comprised a relatively large series of cuttings, embankments and tunnels, with the extracted material from the cuttings and tunnels used to build the embankments. You only have to look at the scale of the cuttings and bridges at the nearby eastern (Sugarloaf) end of the Hunter Expressway (built a decade ago) to get a sense of the terrain that confronted the railway construction workers over 120 years ago. The RVR directional twists and turns that were required to accommodate the Sugarloaf Range terrain can be easily illustrated by looking at the orientation of the tunnels. Heading from Kurri Kurri towards Newcastle, Tunnel #2 (370 m) runs from approx. northwest (NW) to southeast (SE), whereas, 1.6 km further on, Tunnel #1 (160 m; under the Hunter Expressway) runs approx. from southwest (SW) to northeast (NE). Even for those familiar with this area, the current elevated drone shots highlight just how striking some of the railway cuttings actually are – rivalling the majesty and beauty of the tunnels – and just how much physical effort and skill went into their construction. Tunnel #2 and its cuttings total approx. 550 m, with the cutting on the NW approach being much shorter (50 m) and shallower (3 m) than the more spectacular cutting on the SE approach (over 100 m in length at an average dept of approx. 16 m). The three brick-lined RVR tunnels were completed in 1904-1905, using approx. two million bricks; while “… Up to 800 men were employed at a time to carve the railway into the wilderness” (Mike Scanlon, Newcastle Herald article, 29/4/2023). Thanks once again to all of our RVRT supporters and to Bill Landenberger for filming, compiling and sharing these wonderful drone panoramas. Note: Six of the Block D images are “Little Planet” views, selected to creatively feature more elements per image within each landscape. If you use the 360 cities links provided, you may wish to change back to the “Normal View” before further exploring each location. Please see previous Posts for more Extracted Images from Bill Landenberger’s Panoramas. RVRT Supporters’ Group (RVRT Inc.) Contact Information:
WEBSITE: https://richmondvalerailtrail.org.au/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/richmondrailtrail/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
News Archive
|
||||
RSS Feed
