Denniston Incline. 1948.

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DescriptionThe Denniston Incline
Widely referred to as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", the Denniston incline was recognised the world over as a remarkable feat of engineering. Linking Denniston with the Conns Creek rail head below, the incline fell 510 metres over 1.7 kilometres in two sections, incorporating dramatically steep gradients.

This type of self-acting rail system was essential to cart the coal down from the plateau while also returning empty wagons to the top. With fully loaded wagons weighing around 12 ton and accelerating up to speeds of 80 kilometres per hour, brakes were an important requirement. Water was used to slow the action of the pistons, which was drawn off and replaced by fresh water upon each stroke because the intense pressure applied would cause the water to boil. A strap brake around the side of the drum could also be utilised in an emergency.

On average, around 14 wagons each hour would arrive at the Denniston brake head. All hell would break loose if a shackle holding a wagon to the incline`s rope pulled loose, creating a runaway and leaving those working further down the incline at its middle brake in peril.

Source: Dorothy Hunt, 2005 http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/dennistonincline.htmlDate of Photo1948Map^[1]External LinkThe Denniston Experience

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Location (city or town)DennistonLandmark (Place)Denniston Incline

Category Information

Category TagCoal Mining

From Facebook

LinkFBCommentsTony Williams Now that looks like one heck of a good roller coaster
14 December 2014 at 18:13 · Like · 2

Jo Ewen Wow
14 December 2014 at 19:34 · Like

Simon Roughan It must be rated as one of the engineering marvels of its day…..surely!
14 December 2014 at 19:37 · Like

Peter Lambert A tough old world. It's easier now.
14 December 2014 at 19:59 · Like · 3

Don Hutton Same place a month ago. Worth a visit and easy to reach.
Don Hutton's photo.
15 December 2014 at 06:33 · Like · 9

William Albert Whitehead Marvellous feat. Took Cath and family up there a decade ago.

Amanda Pike
Wow. I think I would have passed out from fright 1/4 the way down.

Dorothy Wills
The men that worked this incline were so hardy but they probably had no choice, money and employment were desperate to everyone then

Ralph Jonathan Croawell
Dorothy Wills my grt grandmother used to ride up and down the incline.her name was Lucy Croawell nee Levy Rothschild.

Dorothy Wills
Ralph Jonathan Croawell oh my goodness she must have been a very strong lady in more ways than one

Alan Rennie
Dorothy Wills My Dad also rode these wagons

Bill Parlane
Dorothy Wills was the road man on this for awhile 3 years did maintenance and repairs a lot was done in between the wagons as they were going up and down never thought much about it at the time

Michael Carston
Louis Collins I honestly can’t enough of this stuff

Jones Jnr
Ross Manickum

Bronwyn Grant
Kerry N Toni Jensen

Ian A Cox
My grandmother was born up Denniston
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Faye Yarker
My Grandfather was born up there in 1895

Stephen Bell
Denniston is a magic place. Amazing history.

Pam Murphy
Magic pic
Murray Grant
Awesome photo

Thomas Peter Mulligan
Great photo

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Denniston Incline. 1948.

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