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Zig Zag Railway | |
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![]() BB18¼ 1072 City of Lithgow at Top Points | |
Locale | Lithgow, New South Wales |
Terminus | Clarence, Bottom Points |
Commercial operations | |
Name | New South Wales Government Railways Main Western |
Built by | Patrick Higgins (contractor for NSWGR) |
Original gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Preserved operations | |
Operated by | Zig Zag Railway Cooperative |
Stations | Clarence Mt Sinai Halt No1 Viaduct Top Points Cockerton Bottom Points |
Length | 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) |
Preserved gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
Commercial history | |
Opened | 18 October 1869 |
Closed | 16 October 1910 |
Preserved era | 18 October 1975 – present |
Preservation history | |
1975 | Bottom Points to Top Points section opened 18 October |
1987 | Top Points to Mt Sinai section opened 4 April |
1988 | Mt Sinai to Clarence section opened 29 October |
2012 | Operation suspended |
2013 | Badly damaged by bushfires |
2016 | Limited train movements resume (trackwork) |
2019 | Badly damaged by bushfires |
2020 | Limited movements recommence (Work trains) |
2023 | Operations resume |
Website | |
www.zigzagrailway.au |
The Zig Zag Railway is an Australian heritage railway, situated near Lithgow, New South Wales. It was opened by the not-for-profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op as an unpaid volunteer-staffed heritage railway in October 1975, using the alignment of the Lithgow Zig Zag line that formed part of the Main Western line between 1869 and 1910. The line climbs the western flank of the Blue Mountains, using railway zig zags to gain height.
Operation of the heritage railway was suspended in 2012 following accreditation issues with the Government of New South Wales. The railway was aiming to resume services in October 2013, but was then severely damaged during the 2013 NSW bushfires and then subsequently by torrential rain. Repairs and trials of restored rail vehicles and track commenced in August 2016 and it was planned to re-commence limited heritage operations in 2019, until the 2019–2020 bushfires damaged key infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed restoration. Heritage train services resumed on 27 May 2023.
The Lithgow Zig Zag was constructed as part of the Main Western line and opened on the 19 October 1869. Between Lithgow and Clarence, the Main Western line needed to climb the western flank of the Blue Mountains, overcoming a vertical distance of 550 ft (170 m). The alternative eventually decided upon required the use of two railway zig zags where all trains had to reverse. The line had a ruling grade of 1:42 (~2.38%) on three inclines known as the Top Road (above Top Points), Middle Road (between the two zig zags) and Bottom Road (below Bottom Points). The line included several short tunnels and some viaducts. [1]
The steep gradients and need to reverse trains proved to be a serious bottleneck to traffic on the line, and there were several accidents with runaway trains at the reversing points. Attempts were made to mitigate this by realigning the track and relocating and extending the reversing stations, but the problems continued. As early as 1885, plans for alleviating the Zig Zag problem involved the construction of a 2 mi (3.2 km) long tunnel. This was said to provide little gain for the cost proposed. [2] In 1908, work began on the Ten Tunnels Deviation, a double-tracked route that by-passed the two reversing stations and the upper two inclines, although retaining the Bottom Road with its 1:42 gradient. Once this was completed, the by-passed section was closed in October 1910. [1]
The main railway corridor of the Great Zig Zag Railway forms part of a Reserve administered by Government, it is administered by a trust made up of volunteers. The area was proclaimed a public reserve in 1881 which was one of the first public reserves in NSW, originally supervised by Blaxland Shire Council. In 1946, it was added to the Trust that administered Hassan's Walls, the trust opened Top Road to road traffic in 1949. In 1964, it added the picnic shelter under number 1 Viaduct, naming it in recognition of H K Cockerton Place. Cockerton served as a trustee for 17 years, instigating the development of the reserve, in 1969, the Reserve was transferred to Lithgow Council. In 1990, the Reserve was placed in the Trust of the Zig Zag Railway Co-Op.
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In 1967, as the end of steam operation in New South Wales approached, a group of steam enthusiasts headed by Ian Thornton were keen to establish an operating steam museum. The Lithgow Zig Zag was chosen as a suitable site based on its accessibility by day-trippers from Sydney, its scenery, abundant water supplies and availability of coal. In March 1969, negotiations commenced with the Zig Zag Trust, the Department of Lands and the Lithgow City Council. [3] [4]
In 1972, the Lithgow Switchback Railway Co-op Limited was formed and this became the Zig Zag Railway Co-operative Limited in 1974. [5] At this time, the Commissioner for Railways only made heritage locomotives and rolling stock available to the officially sponsored New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. Thus the line was relaid to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge as used in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania rather than the New South Wales 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) to allow locomotives and carriages to be procured from these states. [4]
In 1975, the new track was complete on the Middle Road between Bottom Points and Top Points. On 29 August 1975 1046 operated the first journey from Bottom Points to Top Points. [6] [7] Services commenced on 18 October 1975, the 106th anniversary of the original opening. [4]
On 4 April 1987, the line was opened along the Top Road between Top Points and Mt Sinai Halt and on 29 October 1988, through to Clarence. [8] A further extension to meet the Main Western line at Newnes Junction has been started with track laid for 50% of the distance.
On 25 January 1996, locomotive 1072 derailed after hitting maintenance equipment. No injuries are known to be reported. [9] [ better source needed ]
In August 2006, the Independent Transport Safety Regulator (ITSR), an agency of the Government of New South Wales that regulates safety and accredits railway operators, identified the Zig Zag Railway (and one other operator) as a "higher risk" isolated line operator because of its complex operations and high numbers of passenger trips. The ITSR gave Zig Zag Co-operative additional time to develop a safety improvement plan in order to comply with the Act, that took effect for all heritage railway operators from 1 January 2007. [10] [11]
On 1 April 2011, an incident occurred resulting in a collision between a maintenance vehicle and a two-car rail motor, between Clarence and Top Points stations. Travelling in opposite directions and carrying one passenger (in the Hy-rail) plus one driver of each rail vehicle, two injuries were sustained. A subsequent investigation by the Office of Transport Safety Investigations found that the principal error was miscommunication. The inquiry also identified that a number of other factors were found to have contributed to the collision. [12]
From March 2012, only railcars could be operated and in June 2012, the ITSR ordered a cessation of all services until a number of safety issues were addressed. [13] The railway was then aiming to resume services in October 2013. [14]
The railway was severely damaged by the 'State Mine Fire', part of the October 2013 bushfires. [15] The railway suffered millions of dollars of damage which included ten passenger carriages and four accommodation carriages. The most extensive damage caused by the fires was at Bottom Points workshop where most of the north side was destroyed. This included the spare parts stores, offices and most of the machine shop. Electrical equipment to operate signals was totally destroyed as was the repeater tower for the safety radio communication system and the internal telephone lines and exchange. One thousand new railway sleepers were also lost as was the caretaker's converted accommodation carriage. Locomotive 1047 which had been stored behind Bottom Points workshop was also badly damaged. Much of the damage was suffered by original railway equipment from the 1920s. At that time, it was estimated that the railway would take a full year to recover from the State Mine Fire. Heavy rain then caused subsequent damage to an embankment near the western end of the Clarence tunnel, the platform area at Top Points, and to the run around loop track at Bottom Points. [16]
In September 2017, restoration of vehicles and infrastructure were still being undertaken and hopes were for recommencement of services as soon as safe and practical. Due to the complexity of repairs and reinstatement infrastructure, the re-opening was hoped for late 2019, but all hopes were dashed with the damage from the 2019 bushfires. [17] The railway’s website and Facebook page both have updates on the redevelopment. [18] [19]
In late December 2019, the Zig Zag Railway was hit by the Gospers Mountain bushfire. The station buildings and most of the rolling stock survived with the exception of a few already vandalised carriages. The toilet block, storage areas, communications hut, signalling equipment, water and power supplies and main office with the past 45 years of records were all destroyed along with an estimated 1500 sleepers all of which pushed the reopening a few years back. [20]
On 24 July 2020, diesel locomotive 1004 became the first locomotive to travel from Bottom Points Station to Clarence station since the cessation of steam services in March 2012. Works trains had previously only operated on the Middle Road (Bottom Points to Top Points) due to the extensive damage at Clarence caused by the 2013 embankment slip. [21]
In March 2020, the railway was well into the project of making the rail corridor safe when storms struck Zig Zag, this impacted the return to service the railway was heading for. The ability of workers and volunteers to come onsite was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in NSW between March and September 2020 and June and November 2021, slowing the progress of work on the railway. Additionally, the railway has been repeatedly affected by weather events, such as storms in January and March 2022. The line reopened on 27 May 2023. [22]
The Railway recently celebrated its Grand Reopening and 154th Anniversary on the 21st October 2023 with a tape-cutting ceremony, pre-booked steam train rides, local performances, displays, heritage buses and market stalls. [23] [24]
Prior to the suspension of services in 2012, the Zig Zag Railways was unique in New South Wales being the only heritage operator to run every day except Christmas Day. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays railmotors were operated. Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday a steam locomotive with train would operate with Sunday having a two train timetable. Special events included Day Out with Thomas and a Wizards Express event held a couple of times per year. During most school holidays, steam services ran every day. Passengers could join the service at Bottom Points where Zig Zag railway station is served by NSW TrainLink services from Sydney or at Clarence which is adjacent to the Bells Line of Road.
The locomotives and rolling stock on the Zig Zag Railway have been mainly sourced from Queensland Railways, but there are also items from the South Australian Railways and Emu Bay Railway.
The collection includes Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motors, Queensland Railways Evans carriages, Emu Bay Railway diesel locomotives, South Australian Railways end platform carriages and several older carriages and a considerable number of freight style vehicles that are used for demonstration trains, fire fighting, and track and infrastructure repair and maintenance.
Number & Name | Image | Description | Status | Livery | Notes |
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218A The Yank | ![]() | QR 2-8-2 AC16 | Operational | Green (Previously Black & Silver) | Operated from 2008 until 2011 before mechanical overhaul. Operational since May 2021. |
934 | ![]() | QR 4-8-0 Class C17 | Under overhaul | Red | Operated from 1986 until 2010, awaiting full overhaul. |
966 City of Rockhampton | QR 4-8-0 Class C17 | Stored | Black | Stored at Clarence. | |
1046 | QR 4-6-4T DD17 | Out of service | Blue | Operated from 1975 until 1983, dismantled with parts stored in various places around the railway. | |
1047 | ![]() | QR 4-6-4T DD17 | Stored, awaiting restoration | Green (Previously Blue) | Operated from 1978 until 1998, stored awaiting restoration, damaged by 2013 fires. |
1049 Stormin' Normin | ![]() | QR 4-6-4T DD17 | Stored, awaiting overhaul | Blue | Operated from 1994 until 2011, stored awaiting major boiler overhaul. |
1072 City of Lithgow | ![]() | QR 4-6-2 BB18¼ | Stored, awaiting overhaul | Black (Previously Dark Green) | Operated from 1980 until 2011, stored awaiting mechanical overhaul. |
402 | SAR 4‑8‑2+2‑8‑4 Garratt 400 class | Stored | Green | Stored at Bottom Points. |
Number & Name | Image | Description | Status | Notes |
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1003 | Emu Bay Railway 10 class | Stored, awaiting restoration | Stored at Bottom Points pending restoration. | |
1004 Emu Bay | ![]() | Emu Bay Railway 10 Class | Operational | Operated from 2001 to present, used for works trains |
6 | Mines engine, powered by Gardner engine, designed to haul low level flat wagons | Scrapped | Disposed of in 2013. Formerly used for hauling works trains. |
Number | Image | Description | Status | Notes |
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2006, 2011, 2051 | QR 2000 class rail motor | Stored, awaiting restoration | Stored at Bottom Points pending restoration. | |
2020 | QR 2000 class rail motor | Stored, awaiting restoration | Stored at Top Points, awaiting restoration | |
2055 | QR 2000 class rail motor | Stored | Stored at Clarence. | |
2008 | QR 2000 class rail motor | Stored | Burnt in October 2013 bushfire. | |
2016 | ![]() | QR 2000 class rail motor | Scrapped | Burnt in October 2013 bushfire. Dismantled for scrap in 2018 |
During the early 1970s, four ex-NSWR sleeping cars were located at the Bottom Points of the Zig Zag to provide stationary sleeping accommodation, meal and ablution facilities for its volunteer train crews and workers. Unfortunately, these were all destroyed by the 2013 fires.
Five South Australian Railways end platform carriages made redundant by the opening of the standard gauge Broken Hill railway line were purchased in 1972 and these were used to inaugurate services. A set of five end platform carriages was purchased in 1974 from the Public Transport Commission of NSW but ultimately not used when 15 Evans side door compartment carriages were purchased from Queensland Railways in 1986 went into service instead. Subsequently additional carriages were purchased from the Beaudesert Railway. [3] [4]
Zig Zag Railway has a variety of four-wheeled and eight-wheeled freight, fire fighting, and works vehicles. These include fuel and water tank cars, hopper wagons, flat wagons and covered and louvered vans. These vehicles have been sourced from NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. It also had one Hi-Rail vehicle (that can operate on road or rail).
In 2003, the railway was used in the production of the Hollywood film Stealth. [25] The area stood in for mountainous regions in North Korea and locomotives were specially painted with Korean Chosongul (Hangul) characters.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the DHR or the Toy Train, is a 610 mm gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. Built between 1879 and 1881, it is about 88 km (55 mi) long. It climbs from about 100 m (330 ft) above sea level at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 m (7,200 ft) at Darjeeling, using six zig zags and five loops to gain altitude. Ghum station is situated at an altitude of 2,258 metres (7,407 ft). Six diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled service, with daily tourist trains from Darjeeling to Ghum – India's highest railway station – and the steam-hauled Red Panda service from Darjeeling to Kurseong. Steam-enthusiast specials are hauled by vintage British-built B-Class steam locomotives. The railway's headquarters are at Kurseong.
A railway zig zag or switchback is a railway operation in which a train is required to switch its direction of travel in order to continue its journey. While this may be required purely from an operations standpoint, it is also ideal for climbing steep gradients with minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance, the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed. Some switchbacks do not come in pairs, and the train may then need to travel backwards for a considerable distance.
The Matheran Hill Railway (MHR) is a 2 ft narrow-gauge heritage railway in Maharashtra, India, which is administered by the Central Railway. It covers a distance of 21 km (13 mi), cutting a swathe through forest and connecting Neral to Matheran in the Western Ghats. The MHR is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The NSW Rail Museum is the main railway museum in New South Wales, Australia. A division of Transport Heritage NSW, it was previously known as the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM), Rail Heritage Centre and Trainworks.
The Lapstone Zig Zag was a zig zag railway built between Emu Plains and Blaxland stations on the Main Western Line of New South Wales in Australia. Constructed between 1863 and 1865 to overcome an otherwise insurmountable climb up the eastern side of the Blue Mountains, the zig zag and associated Knapsack Viaduct, a sandstone arch viaduct, were designed by John Whitton, Engineer-in-Charge of New South Wales Government Railways, and were built by William Watkins. The zig zag was listed on the Blue Mountains local government heritage register on 27 December 1991; while the adjacent Knapsack Viaduct was listed on the New South Wales Heritage Database on 2 April 1999. The Lapstone Zig Zag was the world-first Zig Zag constructed on any main-line railway.
The Blue Mountains Line (BMT) is an inter urban commuter rail service operated by NSW TrainLink serving the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The line travels west from Sydney to the major town of Katoomba and on to Mount Victoria, Lithgow and Bathurst. Mount Victoria is the terminus for most electric services, but some services terminate at Lithgow instead. Two express services per day in each direction, known as the Bathurst Bullet, extend to the regional city of Bathurst, which is supplemented by road coaches connecting Bathurst to Lithgow. Due to electrification limits at Lithgow, the Bathurst Bullet is run using the Endeavour railcars, which operate on diesel. The Blue Mountains Line operates over a mostly duplicated section of the Main Western line. As such, the tracks are also traversed by the Central West XPT, Outback Xplorer and Indian Pacific passenger services and by freight trains.
Zig Zag railway station is located on the New South Wales Main Western Line. It was originally built in April 1878 and closed in 1910 due to the opening of the Ten Tunnels Deviation which bypassed the original site of the station. The station was not rebuilt until 1959 when a new station was built alongside the 1910 alignment in a similar location to the 1878 station.
The railways of New South Wales, Australia have had many incidents and accidents since their formation in 1831. There are close to 1000 names associated with rail-related deaths in NSW on the walls of the Australian Railway Monument in Werris Creek. Those killed were all employees of various NSW railways. The details below include deaths of employees and the general public.
The Valley Heights Rail Museum is a railway museum located in Valley Heights, New South Wales, Australia. The facility is located 300 metres (980 ft) north-west of Valley Heights railway station. The museum is operated by two partner organisations:
The Lithgow Zig Zag is a heritage-listed former zig zag railway line built near Lithgow on the Great Western Line of New South Wales in Australia. The zig zag line operated between 1869 and 1910, to overcome an otherwise insurmountable climb and descent on the western side of the Blue Mountains. It was designed by John Whitton and built from 1863 to 1869 by Patrick Higgins as contractor. It is also known as the Great Zig Zag Railway and Reserves and Zig Zag Railway. The property is owned by Department of Planning and Infrastructure. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Ten Tunnels Deviation is a heritage-listed 9.2-kilometre (5.7 mi) section of the Main Western Line between Newnes Junction and Zig Zag stations in Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by the New South Wales Government Railways and built from 1 June 1908 and 16 October 1910. It is also known as Great Zig Zag Railway deviation tunnels and Bell to Zig Zag Ten Tunnel Railway Deviation. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Glenbrook deviation was a section of track on the Main Western line from the first Knapsack Viaduct to old Glenbrook station in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The approximately five-mile-long (eight-kilometre) deviation was constructed from 1891 to 1892 and replaced the Lapstone Zig Zag. The deviation was closed in 1913 when it was replaced by the second Glenbrook deviation and the second Glenbrook Tunnel, that continues to carry the Main Western line today.
The Queensland Railways BB18¼ class locomotive was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways.
The Queensland Railways DD17 class locomotive was a class of 4-6-4T steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways. It is an improved version of the earlier Queensland D17 locomotive.
The Rail Motor Society, based at Paterson, New South Wales, is a community owned collection of preserved self-propelled railway vehicles and equipment from the former New South Wales Government Railways and its successors. The items in its collection date from 1923 through to 1972.
The 2013 New South Wales bushfires were a series of bushfires in Australia across the state of New South Wales primarily starting, or becoming notable, on 13 October 2013; followed by the worst of the fires beginning in the Greater Blue Mountains Area on 16 and 17 October 2013.
Bottom Points is a railway station on the Zig Zag Railway in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales.
The Glenbrook Tunnel is a heritage-listed single-track former railway tunnel and mustard gas storage facility and previously a mushroom farm located on the former Main Western Line at the Great Western Highway, Glenbrook, in the City of Blue Mountains local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The Department of Railways designed the tunnel and built it from 1891 to 1892. It is also known as Lapstone Hill tunnel and Former Glenbrook Railway and World War II Mustard Gas Storage Tunnel. The property is owned by Blue Mountains City Council and Land and Property Management Authority, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 August 2011. The railway tunnel was originally part of the Glenbrook 1892 single-track deviation, which bypassed the Lapstone Zig Zag across the Blue Mountains. It is 634 metres; 693 yards long and is constructed in an 'S' shape with a gradient of 1:33.
The Eskbank railway station is a heritage-listed former locomotive depot and railway station and now community group venue adjacent to the Main Western Line at Lithgow, City of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by the New South Wales Government Railways and the station building was built by Goodsell & Wright, as a contractor. It is also known as Eskbank Railway Station group and Lithgow Goods Station/ Lithgow Site S1. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Glenbrook deviation is a section of track on the Main Western line from Emu Plains to Blaxland stations in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The approximately seven-mile-long (eleven-kilometre) double-track deviation was constructed from 1911 to 1913 and replaced the single-track first Glenbrook deviation and the first Glenbrook Tunnel.
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