I live in lithgow and have been awaiting the return of the zig zag railway for many years now. It exists to serve the zig zag railway to the east of lithgow. The zig zag railway at lithgow in new south wales was one of australias major 19thcentury engineering feats. The activities and rolling stock will only work in open rails. Surprisingly diverse lithgow tourism lithgow city council. This follows the independent transport safety regulator itsr identifying more than 150 instances where zig zag was deficient in its safety management. The lithgow zig zag is a heritagelisted former zig zag railway line built near lithgow on the great western line of new south wales in australia. For accommodation near the zig zag railway why not look at lithgow accommodation. Australiathe great zig zag railway, the original rail line into the lithgow valley, was hailed as an engineering masterpiece of the 19th century. A railway zig zag or switchback, is a method of climbing steep gradients with minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. Unfortunately the zig zag railway is currently closed to passengers. It was the first infectious disease to be treated effectively with an antibacterial vaccine. The structures elegance, as much as its engineering virtuosity, appealed to artists. It was designed and built by the new south wales government railways and built from 1 june 1908 and 16 october 1910.
If you wish to provide any feedback on this route, please use the contact page. Now refurbished and given a new lease on life, the zig zag brewery is back with tours of the property conducted almost every week for visitors from far and wide. Lithgow benefits from being the western terminus for the electric section of the main western railway line from sydney, and of cityrails intercity blue mountains railway line. Media in category zig zag railway the following 18 files are in this category, out of 18 total. Zig zag railway, lithgow, 19031904 by melvin vaniman. The zig zag railway 19th century engineering masterpiece. The zig zag railway delights the hearts of children and the minds of train enthusiasts. One of the major limitations of the zigzag system was that because the rail continually changed direction, the length of trains to use the line was limited. A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a method of climbing steep gradients with minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. The gospers mountain bushfire that spread into lithgow and surrounding new south wales villages on the weekend has severely damaged infrastructure at the historic zig zag railway.
A marvel of railway engineering when opened in 1869, it was the first rail link to the weste. Not all switchbacks come in pairs, in which case the train may need to travel backwards for a considerable distance. In order to reach the bottom, the track switches back on itself twice. Website design and web hosting sponsored by debweb and auzzie. The lithgow tourism information website is maintained and contributed to by volunteers. Special events include wizards express and friends of thomas the tank engine departing from clarence station.
To say those currently engaged in restoring the zig zag to a working condition after the immense amount of damage caused by the fires are less than utterly dedicated volunteers barely describes them or the effort they have put into the restoration. Similarly, in 1875, eagers platform was opened to serve the needs of sir geoffrey eager, who lived at. The usual practice is to build railways in valleys but, in the case of the blue. Please click the like button so you can be kept informed about our progress as we hope to return to passenger operations in 2018. Sep 07, 2012 minister for transport gladys berejiklian today provided an update on zig zag railway based on advice to transport for nsw by an independent safety adviser. Assessment of significance for lithgow railway station group and. Formed by sheets of ironstone sandwiched between layers of sandstone, the formations have weathered so they look like a series of dramatic, conical asian pagodas. Renowned tourist railway, lithgow, blue mountains and central tablelands nsw australia. Lithgow station statement of heritage impact transport for nsw. Lithgow does have many areas of natural beauty close by and some evidence of its history remains around the town. An article has appeared in the lithgow mercury today thursday 4th february regarding the zig zag but other than to advise that certain critera has now been met to allow the operation of work trains only, further accreditation is still needed before any passenger services can be run. 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. Since the disastrous october 20 bush fire swept through the railway, volunteers have.
It now operates as a tourist railway with steam trains and vintage diesel locomotives. Lithgow zig zag railway update page 1 preservation. Zigzag railway new south wales, australia alltrails. This limitation was to have long term implications in terms of the cost and viability of transporting goods from lithgow and the surrounding district to coastal markets. Lithgow zig zag railway update page 1 preservation and. Clarence station to zig zag bottom points, and rail corridor from zig zag to bells. It was laid out in the shape of a z including reversing points. Zig zag railway, lithgow, new south wales, australia. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible yearround. Although it was superseded in 1910 by more modern engineering methods, including ten tunnels, parts of the. The story of the nsw railways welcome to the royal australian. It was constructed to enable produce to be taken to sydney from the prosperous farming areas beyond the blue mountains and to develop the coal and iron ore deposits found in the lithgow valley. The zig zag railway is an australian heritage railway, situated near the town of lithgow in the. Stage 1 1869 to 1897 the original single line headed north from mount victoria along the ridge known as the darling causeway.
John whitton and his work have been underrated in australian history, although they. The lithgow zig zag is a heritagelisted former zig zag railway line built near lithgow on the. The line was opened as far as bowenfels, just to the west, in 1869, but lithgow station was not opened until 1877. It involved extremely heavy rock cuttings, three fine stone viaducts with 30foot 9 m semicircular arches and a short tunnel. This route is based upon the great zig zag railway between mt victoria and bowenfels. The great zig zag railway had a profound influence upon the development and economy of western new south wales. Historic railway stations and viaducts can be found throughout the area. Queensland railways rail motor 2016 at the zig zag railway, clarence, new south wales, australia. From the station car park, this walk heads across the railway tracks to the picnic tables and information signs saying zigzag railway. The mountainous terrain of the blue mountains and the expense of building long tunnels required the construction of the great zig zag railway between 1866 and 1869. It is also known as great zig zag railway deviation tunnels and bell to zig zag ten tunnel. Climbing to the ridges above the railway, this walk offers walkers the opportunity to watch the.
From a bygone era zig zag railway, lithgow traveller. Zig zag railway visit the zig zag railway website note. Zig zag railway, lithgow the lithgow zig zag is one of the major engineering achievements of the railway era, its construction opened up the western area of new south wales beyond the blue mountains for development with access by rail. Media in category lithgow zig zag the following 46 files are in this category, out of 46 total. Jan 23, 2018 it was opened by the not for profit zig zag railway coop. Built in 1888, it was one of the largest and most famous breweries west of the great divide. Lithgow railway station wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
The magnificent zig zag railway near lithgow where i spent a whole day. Gospers mountain bushfire destroys zig zag railway. Lithgow is a town that developed around the coal mining industry, just west of the blue mountains. The lost city is located on the newnes plateau above lithgow and to the north of the zig zag railway station. It was opened by the not for profit zig zag railway coop. Following the opening of the great zig zag constructed between 1866 and. The line climbs the western flank of the blue mountains, using railway zig. A station opened on the site on 15 april 1878, closing on 16 october 1910 when the ten tunnels deviation opened. Then the train reversed up the middle road of the zig zag to the top points and then proceeded in the correct direction over the mountains. The zig zag railway is an australian heritage railway, situated near the town of lithgow in the state of new south wales. Zig zag railway station is located on the main western line in new south wales, australia. Ever since it was first opened in the 1880s people have come from all over the world to marvel at this engineering masterpiece. It is one of the rarely seen wonders of the blue mountains. We are in the process of rebuilding after the devastating bushfires of october 20.
We are rebuilding our tourist and heritage railway over the alignment of the former great lithgow zig zag. This was a steam day and the train was videod from the signal cabin. Blue mountain zig zag pub trail redleaf resort blue. The line was opened as far as bowenfels, just to the west, in 1869, but lithgow station was not opened until 18. The zig zag railway is currently closed operates everyday except christmas day from clarence on the bells line of road, 80 kilometres from windsor. The lithgow zig zag was created where the main west line descends the western side of the great dividing range, about 100km west of sydney. Zig zag railway is currently closed to passenger trains. It is a magical step back in time, filled with sights, sounds and smells of an era past by. Lithgow zig zag is a heritagelisted former zig zag railway line built near lithgow on the great western line of new south wales in australia subcategories this category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total. Climbing to the ridges above the railway, this walk offers walkers the opportunity to watch the train as it puffs and hoots its way from clarence station to bottom points station. Zig zag railway station wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
For a short distance corresponding to the middle leg of the letter z, the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed. Book your tickets online for zig zag railway, lithgow. Vaniman probably photographed it while working for the new south wales railway commission. Zig zag railway if you are travelling with children a stopover at the zig zag railway on bells line of road 10km west of bell is an enjoyable train journey, particularly if the thomas the tank engine journey is being offered. French microbiologist louis pasteur vaccinated sheep against anthrax. Went for a drive today 28919 to the zig zag railway nothing much has been done the tracks are all rusted, graffitti on old carriages, carpark full of potholes and still a dirt. Marrangaroo was the administration headquarters for all of the royal australian air force chemical weapon stores which were kept in tunnels and sidings at marrangaroo old tunnel and siding near correctional centre, glenbrook tunnel in the blue mountains, clarence tunnel that is now part of the lithgow zig zag railway and picton tunnel in. Sydneys first telephone line opened, from royal exchange to darling harbour. With the exception of the nearby zigzag steam heritage railway, it has not long been a recognised as a visitor destination. The line climbs the western flank of the blue mountains, using railway zig zags to gain height.
Trains run daily except christmas day at 11am, 1pm, 3pm from clarence station. Lithgow is in the nsw state electorate of bathurst, while federally it is part of electorate of calare. Since december 2019, this station has been closed until further notice due to repairs. Climbing to the ridges above the railway, this walk offers walkers the opportunity to watch the train as it puffs and hoots its way from. Great zig zag railway is an open rails train simulator route based in the early 1900s and includes the section of line from mt victoria to bowenfels. Free download maps and tracknotes for the zigzag railway walk walk. The trains using the western lithgow zig zag originally started in lithgow, steaming about 5kms east towards the mountains, to the bottom points. There were a group of vandals there causing havoc when we stopped by. The intention of these pages to make as much information as possible available on the. This is the home page of the great zig zag railway and hosts content relevant to the great zig zag railway. The zig zag railway was built between 1866 and 1869, and acclaimed a major engineering feat of its time. Zig zag railway blue mountains premier tourist attraction. The 1067mm 3 6 gauge lithgow zig zag railway is a remnant of the former main line west of sydney and was replaced by a deviation with a mere 10 tunnels as long ago as 1910 it was reopened in stages between 1975 and 1988 and now runs trains almost daily during the year. On the western descent from the blue mountains, the lithgow zig zag was constructed between 1866 and 1869.
Lithgow zig zag reserve gazetted by new south wales government. Prime7 news orange during the week had a brief report that the zig zag railway was working towards reopening in 2017. Great zig zag railway and reserves nsw environment, energy. Zig zag railway station lithgow, new south wales train. My low score is not indicative of what it could be like, we would love to see the zig zag railway up and running again. Thank you to and ce photography for allowing the use of many photos. With a steam train ride from the end of the walk back to the start, the zigzag railway walk is a very interesting one. The old zig zag brewery can also be found in lithgow. These pages contain a variety of information about the nsw railway network, both historical and current. One of the major limitations of the zig zag system was that because the rail continually changed direction, the length of trains to use the line was limited. Dec 27, 2019 the lithgow zig zag is a heritagelisted former zig zag railway line built near lithgow on the great western line of new south wales in australia. Sep 18, 2017 it was opened by the not for profit zig zag railway coop.
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