Helensburgh Historical Society

26/08/2026

George Jardine, Belt Champion 1946-47 at Stanwell Park.

20/08/2026

Helensburgh Rugby League Team, c. 1920s.

18/08/2026

Picnic at Stanwell Park, c. Early 1900s.

13/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19EZBEe6DY/

13 August 1998, Railmotor 402 pictured after running into a felled tree (someone had intentionally cut it, but it fell the wrong way) near Helensburgh, resulting in the south coast line being closed for about 6 hours, causing extensive disruption.

Personal account by — Robert Parnell
**************************************
Twenty-four years ago today, I was working for "Rail Access Corporation" at the time. On this particular day, we were travelling to Bomaderry on board railmotor 402. The purpose of the trip was to carry out train radio signal strength measurements.

All was well until after Helensburgh, when things went wrong very quickly. A large tree had been felled, but had fallen towards the rail corridor, foul of the down main and also to the up main but a lesser extent. I remember the driver applying emergency brakes and bailing out of his seat. Moments later, there was an awful noise and some panic in the air. During this, the overhead wiring was also damaged and one of the supporting chains crashed down onto the window next to my seat. It didn't break the window, but certainly grabbed my attention. The tree was now really foul of the up main also, with branches on the track and resting on the OHW. To make things worse, a 4-car Tangara was approaching on the up. Someone on-board the railmotor jumped off, (as the body was potentially live at 1500V with the wiring resting on the roof) and indicated an emergency stop signal to the approaching train. It stopped a safe distance from the blockage, but only due to the quick thinking on the part of person who indicated to stop it. Later that passenger train returned where it came from, as the line would not be cleared for some-time. A few of the photos I took can be seen in the comments below, from moments after the impact, through to the cleaning up process. I think the line was closed for about 6 hours, causing extensive disruption to rail traffic. The only damage to 402 that I am aware of was superficial - damaged headlights, marker lights, drivers windscreen and other items with damage. After the tree was removed and temporary repairs to 402, we returned to Eveleigh late in the afternoon.

A newspaper clipping from what I think was the Illawarra Mercury sensationalised the story and the author seems to have made up what he didn't know. Very little of his story actually resembled what happened.

📸 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇

[Post & Photos thanks to Robert Parnell]

12/08/2026

Undola House, 1989.

06/08/2026

Original North Helensburgh Workmen's Club, The Crescent, early 1900s.

04/08/2026

Parkes Street, Helensburgh, c. early 1900s.

31/07/2026

Helensburgh Progress Committee of 1904. Front row L-R: R.C. Ballantyne (treasurer), T.C. Hawkins (vice-president), George Simpson (president), C.E. MacMahon (secretary), William G. Gill. 2nd row: James Fenwick, A. Stanley, James Taylor, Thomas Shipton, H. Fackender. Back row: William James, William Simpson.

02/07/2026

Jack Higgins with his son Michael at Helensburgh Workers Club, 1963.

30/06/2026

Home called 'One Tree Hill' built by Ralph Hargrave in 1887, later known as 'Hillcrest'. Lawrence Hargrave's home from 1893 - 1899.