Zig Zag Railway
Encyclopedia
The Zig Zag Railway is a heritage railway
at Lithgow
in New South Wales
, Australia
on the site of the famous Great or Lithgow Zig Zag
which operated between 1869 and 1910. As built, the line formed part of the Main West line
from Sydney
across the Blue Mountains and served to lower the line from its summit into the Lithgow
valley on the western flank of the mountains. The Zig Zag railway run steam and diesel hauled trains over the Zig Zag for tourists. They are unique in NSW as being the only heritage operator to run everyday except Christmas Day. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays railmotors are operated. Every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday a steam loco with train will operate. Sunday has a two train timetable. Special events include a Day Out with Thomas and a Wizards express event held a couple of times per year. During most of the NSW school holidays steam services run every day.
In the 1967/68 a group of steam enthusiasts headed by Ian Thornton decided to restore the Lithgow Zig Zag as a heritage railway due to its fascinating history, the grand nature of the line and its proximity to Sydney. Negotiations with the Zig Zag Trust, the NSW Department of Lands and the Lithgow City Council began in March 1969. In 1972 the Lithgow Switchback Railway Co-op Ltd was born and this became the Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd in 1974. However, the New South Wales Government would not supply heritage locomotives and rolling stock to anyone but their own museum organisation. Rolling stock for the museum thus comes from states other than New South Wales – Queensland
and South Australia
in particular. During the early 1970s the track was restored although on a different gauge ( instead of the original ) to accommodate the Queensland and South Australian Rolling stock.In 1975 the new track was complete between Bottom Points and Top Points. On 29th August 1975 DD 17 No. 1046 climbed from Bottom Points to top points. A further trial was carried out on the 18th and 19th of October, the 106th anniversary of the original opening. Since then the Zig Zag railway has expanded both its operations and the new narrow gauge network along the old route in several sections :
As of 2005 the railway is operated as the Zig Zag Railway Co-Operative Limited.
The railway has a large collection of other rollingstock including Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motors, Queensland Railways Evans carriages, Tasmanian Diesel locos, South Australian end platform carriages and several older carriages.
, the Glenbrook, Clarence, and Zig Zag tunnels were used to store chemical weapons for the Royal Australian Air Force, principally mustard gas and phosgene. The chemical agents were housed in a variety of weapons from bombs to cylinders. The cache was disposed of after the war.
In 2003, the railway was used in the production of the Hollywood film Stealth
. The area stood in for mountainous regions in North Korea
and locomotive
s were specially painted with Korean Chosongul (Hangul)
characters.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
at Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on the site of the famous Great or Lithgow Zig Zag
Lithgow Zig Zag
The Lithgow Zig Zag was a zig zag railway built near Lithgow on the Great Western Railway of New South Wales in Australia which operated between 1870 and 1910, to overcome an otherwise insurmountable climb up the western side of the Blue Mountains...
which operated between 1869 and 1910. As built, the line formed part of the Main West line
Main Western railway line, New South Wales
The Main Western Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Blue Mountains, Central West, North West Slopes and the Far West regions.- Description of route :...
from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
across the Blue Mountains and served to lower the line from its summit into the Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
valley on the western flank of the mountains. The Zig Zag railway run steam and diesel hauled trains over the Zig Zag for tourists. They are unique in NSW as being the only heritage operator to run everyday except Christmas Day. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays railmotors are operated. Every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday a steam loco with train will operate. Sunday has a two train timetable. Special events include a Day Out with Thomas and a Wizards express event held a couple of times per year. During most of the NSW school holidays steam services run every day.
Preservation History
In the 1967/68 a group of steam enthusiasts headed by Ian Thornton decided to restore the Lithgow Zig Zag as a heritage railway due to its fascinating history, the grand nature of the line and its proximity to Sydney. Negotiations with the Zig Zag Trust, the NSW Department of Lands and the Lithgow City Council began in March 1969. In 1972 the Lithgow Switchback Railway Co-op Ltd was born and this became the Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd in 1974. However, the New South Wales Government would not supply heritage locomotives and rolling stock to anyone but their own museum organisation. Rolling stock for the museum thus comes from states other than New South Wales – Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in particular. During the early 1970s the track was restored although on a different gauge ( instead of the original ) to accommodate the Queensland and South Australian Rolling stock.In 1975 the new track was complete between Bottom Points and Top Points. On 29th August 1975 DD 17 No. 1046 climbed from Bottom Points to top points. A further trial was carried out on the 18th and 19th of October, the 106th anniversary of the original opening. Since then the Zig Zag railway has expanded both its operations and the new narrow gauge network along the old route in several sections :
- Bottom Points (depot) to Top Points
- Top Points to the first Clarence railway station
- Clarence to Newnes Junction (currently under construction)
As of 2005 the railway is operated as the Zig Zag Railway Co-Operative Limited.
Locomotives and rollingstock
The locomotives and rollingstock on the Zig Zag Railway have been mainly sourced from Queensland Railways but there are also items from other Narrow Gauge networks in South Australia and Tasmania.The railway has a large collection of other rollingstock including Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motors, Queensland Railways Evans carriages, Tasmanian Diesel locos, South Australian end platform carriages and several older carriages.
Steam locomotives
| Number & Name | Description | Disposition | Livery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1072 "City of Lithgow" | QR 4-6-2 BB18¼ Queensland BB18¼ class locomotive The BB18¼ class locomotive was a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive operated by the Queensland Railways.Fifty-five BB18¼ class locomotives were built. The first batch of 35, numbered from 1011 to 1045, were built in 1950 by the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. The final batch of 20,... |
Undergoing major overhaul. | Black |
| 934. | QR 4-8-0 Class C17 Queensland C17 class locomotive The C17 class locomotive was a 4-8-0 locomotive of the Queensland Railways. . The locomotives operated on narrow gauge.The design was so successful that 227 locomotives were built from 1920 when the first engine N° 15 entering service through until 1953 when N° 1000 was delivered. The 22 NM... |
Static | Red |
| 1049 | QR 4-6-4T DD17 Queensland DD17 class locomotive The DD17 class steam locomotive was a 4-6-4T locomotive of the Queensland Railways .The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge. The significance of the first "D" is in line with the QR loco classing system where the letter referred to the number of coupled wheels. "A" refers to 4 coupled... |
In service | Blue |
| 218 "The Yank" | QR 2-8-2 AC16 Queensland AC16 class locomotive The Queensland AC16 class locomotive is a 2-8-2 steam locomotive of the Queensland Railways . The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge.... |
In service. Zig Zag Railway's most recent restoration, returning to steam in 2008. | Black with silver smoke box. |
| 1047 | QR 4-6-4T DD17 Queensland DD17 class locomotive The DD17 class steam locomotive was a 4-6-4T locomotive of the Queensland Railways .The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge. The significance of the first "D" is in line with the QR loco classing system where the letter referred to the number of coupled wheels. "A" refers to 4 coupled... |
Restoration Pending since mid 1990's, overhaul initially started but now halted. | Green |
| 1046 | QR 4-6-4T DD17 Queensland DD17 class locomotive The DD17 class steam locomotive was a 4-6-4T locomotive of the Queensland Railways .The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge. The significance of the first "D" is in line with the QR loco classing system where the letter referred to the number of coupled wheels. "A" refers to 4 coupled... |
Restoration Pending since mid 1980's, fully dismantled with parts stored in various places around the railway. First locomotive to be run by the Zig Zag Railway in 1975. | N/A |
| 966 | QR 4-8-0 Class C17 Queensland C17 class locomotive The C17 class locomotive was a 4-8-0 locomotive of the Queensland Railways. . The locomotives operated on narrow gauge.The design was so successful that 227 locomotives were built from 1920 when the first engine N° 15 entering service through until 1953 when N° 1000 was delivered. The 22 NM... |
Restoration In Progress, Boiler swap to occur with 934 | Black |
| 402 | SAR South Australian Railways South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways... 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt Class 400 South Australian Railways 400 class The South Australian Railways 400 class is a class of 4-8-2+2-8-4 steam locomotives built in the early 1950s. 400 class locomotives served mainly on the South Australian Railways' narrow gauge Broken Hill line from 1953 to 1963, when they were replaced by diesel locomotives... |
Long Term Restoration In Progress | Green |
Diesel locomotives
| Number & Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1004 | Emu Bay Railway Emu Bay Railway The Melba Line is a narrow gauge railway on the west coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest lasting and successful private railway companies in Australia... Bo-Bo Class 10 Class 10 Class 10 may refer to:* British Rail Class 10* DB Class 10* DB Class E 10* South Maitland Railways 10 Class* Emu Bay Railway 10 Class * NSB Class 10, a standard-gauge steam locomotive class of Norway... |
Operational. Bought by ZZR in March 2001. In working order. Seen above in Tasrail livery. Its vacuum brake has been converted to air train brake and its auto coupling to hook and buffers. Zag Zag Railway has named it 'Emu Bay' in recognition of its Tasmanian heritage. It was repainted in 2002 in similar colours to the Tasrail livery. |
| 1003 | Emu Bay Railway Emu Bay Railway The Melba Line is a narrow gauge railway on the west coast of Tasmania. The line was originally constructed as a private railway line named the Emu Bay Railway and was one of the longest lasting and successful private railway companies in Australia... Bo-Bo Class 10 Class 10 Class 10 may refer to:* British Rail Class 10* DB Class 10* DB Class E 10* South Maitland Railways 10 Class* Emu Bay Railway 10 Class * NSB Class 10, a standard-gauge steam locomotive class of Norway... |
Operational Bought by ZZR in March 2001. |
| 5802 | Mount Isa Mines | In Service. |
| 6 | Mines engine, powered by Gardner engine, designed to haul low level flat wagons. | In Service, used for hauling works trains |
2000 Class Railmotors
| Number | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2006,2011,2016,2051 | QR Railmotor Multiple Unit Class 2000 | Operational |
| 2020,2055,2008 | QR Railmotor Multiple Unit Class 2000 | Awaiting Restoration |
Wartime and film use
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Glenbrook, Clarence, and Zig Zag tunnels were used to store chemical weapons for the Royal Australian Air Force, principally mustard gas and phosgene. The chemical agents were housed in a variety of weapons from bombs to cylinders. The cache was disposed of after the war.
In 2003, the railway was used in the production of the Hollywood film Stealth
Stealth (film)
Stealth is a 2005 American science fiction action film starring Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, Jamie Foxx, and Sam Shepard. The film was directed by Rob Cohen, director of The Fast and the Furious and xXx....
. The area stood in for mountainous regions in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s were specially painted with Korean Chosongul (Hangul)
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
characters.
See also
- Hillclimbing (railway)Hillclimbing (railway)While railways have a great ability to haul very heavy loads, this advantage only really applies when the tracks are fairly level. As soon as the gradients stiffen, the tonnage that can be hauled is greatly diminished.- Techniques to overcome steep hills :...
- Kalamunda Zig ZagKalamunda Zig ZagThe Kalamunda Zig Zag was completed in 1891, as part of the Upper Darling Range Railway line in Western Australia which was built by the Canning Jarrah Timber Company to supply railway sleepers to Perth's growing railway system....
in Western Australia - List of Australian heritage railways
- Spiral (railway)Spiral (railway)A spiral is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills.A railway spiral rises on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance...
- Zig Zag (railway)Zig Zag (railway)A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance , the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.A location on railways constructed e.g...
- Switchback (magazine)Switchback (magazine)Switchback is the official magazine of the Zig Zag Railway Co-op.As of March 2011, the magazine was of A5 size, issue 127, and cover price $AU 8.00....
Further reading
- Full Steam Across The Mountains - Phil Belbin & David Burke - Methuen Australia 1981
- Blue Mountains Railways - William A. Bayley - Locomotion Productions 1980