The Herald reports today:
"Workers unearthed the old track, which appears to be part of a spurline used in the late 1800s known as the sand sidings, during works on John Parade .
A map of the Burwood Estate Railway circa 1887 shows the sidings splitting from the Beach Railway in the vicinity.
The sidings then appear to stretch from near Merewether Surf Club towards Dixon Park.
Newcastle Herald historian Mike Scanlon said the rails’ location indicated they may have been part of those sidings.
‘‘This old railway line is likely to have been part of a once extensive sand removal operation that speared off from the present Watkins Street corner,’’ Mr Scanlon said.
‘‘There were once huge dunes around the Dixon Park area which were heavily exploited.’’
Mr Scanlon said the line appeared to have fallen out of use by 1900 and seemed completely gone following the Depression."
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