Croom Tunnel - The Shortest Tunnel in NSW

Croom Tunnel is the shortest railway tunnel in NSW.

The section of the rail line from Albion Park Rail through to Kiama was opened on 9th November, 1887. The rail line followed easier grades and meant that the railway did not pass through the townships of Albion Park and Shellharbour which were the two population centres in the region at that time.

The Croom tunnel is just 132 feet long with an overburden of 20 feet and is regarded as one of the peculiarities of the railway system in NSW.  A platform for loading milk cans was opened just north of the tunnel 24 April 1925.

When the rail line was electrified some years later, engineers lowered the rails, as the tunnel was considered to be of cultural significance.

Croom Tunnel
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

Croom Tunnel
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries



Croom Railway Platform
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries