Cougal Spiral
The Brisbane Mail crossing over No.1 Spiral Tunnel in 1940 | |
Location on the border between New South Wales and Queensland | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Border Loop railway formation and landscape |
| Other name(s) |
|
| Line | North Coast railway line |
| Location | Richmond Gap connecting New South Wales and Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 28°21′16″S 152°57′51″E / 28.354390°S 152.964038°E |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 29 August 1930 |
| Owner | Transport Asset Holding Entity |
| Operator | Australian Rail Track Corporation |
| Technical | |
| Length | A series of three tunnels:
|
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Grade | 1.5% |
| Route map | |
| Official name | Border Loop railway formation and landscape; Cougal To Border Loop; Railway Spiral and Landscape |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1027 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape – Cultural |
The Cougal Spiral is a heritage-listed single track railway tunnel and spiral in Australia. The feature is located on the North Coast railway line in Australia that connects New South Wales with Queensland under the Border Ranges near Richmond Gap. It was built during 1930. It is also known as the Border Loop railway formation and landscape, Cougal To Border Loop and Railway Spiral and Landscape. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The railway line needs to climb at a steady ruling gradient from Kyogle to the summit at a tunnel at the border between the two states. The border is also at the watershed. The rail spiral and associated facilities are located between 871 and 876 kilometres (541 and 544 mi) from Sydney Central railway station.