32 W. H. WARREN. 
that the single pair of rails had formerly to bear the traffic out 
of Sydney not only for the local suburban stations, with the 
necessarily frequent-stopping trains, but also the through traffic 
to the south, west, and north of the Colony, as well as the goods 
to and from Sydney, it can be seen how urgently a quadruplication 
of the road was required. 
Until the quadruplication was inaugurated and carried out by 
the Commissioners, four lines only existed between Redfern 
station and Illawarra junction, a distance of one mile thirty- 
eight chains; two being for the main suburban, and two for the 
Illawarra line. The Commissioners having apparently recognised 
that the lines as they then existed were inadequate to the require- 
ments of the business done, decided to carry the four roads on to 
Homebush. I have ascertained that the first contract was let 
on the 30th October, 1890, and the whole work was completed 
and opened for traffic on the Ist July, 1892. Owing to the 
limited area available at the various stations, and to the extremely 
valuable properties adjoining the same, it was found advisable to 
reconstruct the platforms and station buildings to a very great 
extent, and advantage was taken of the opportunity to design 
these upon the most modern principles, introducing the “barrier” 
system for passengers, whereby there is only one means of ingress 
and egress to the platforms at each station, thus enabling a 
thorough check to be kept upon the tickets. 
The works in connection with the quadruplication were very 
heavy, and comprised a number of bridges and viaducts. For 
bridges carrying vehicular traffic over the railway, the design 
consists generally of wrought iron girders and jack arches, differ- 
ing according to the nature of the approaches. In several cases 
cast iron girders have been used in the construction of these road 
bridges, which were made in the Colony, and contributed very 
materially in expediting the completion of the work. 
The permanent way received great attention, owing to the 
heavy and increasing traffic, and consists of eighty pounds bull- 
headed rails, with forty-two pounds cast iron chairs on ironbark ~— 
