Zig Zag Railway

Coordinates: 33°28′18.33″S 150°11′39.20″E / 33.4717583°S 150.1942222°E / -33.4717583; 150.1942222
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zig Zag Railway
BB18¼ 1072 City of Lithgow at Top Points
LocaleLithgow, New South Wales
TerminusClarence, Bottom Points
Commercial operations
NameNew South Wales Government Railways
Main Western
Built byPatrick Higgins (contractor for NSWGR)
Original gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated byZig Zag Railway Cooperative
StationsClarence
Mt Sinai Halt
No1 Viaduct
Top Points
Cockerton
Bottom Points
Length7 kilometres (4.3 mi)
Preserved gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Commercial history
Opened18 October 1869
Closed16 October 1910
Preserved era18 October 1975 – present
Preservation history
1975Bottom Points to Top Points section opened 18 October
1987Top Points to Mt Sinai section opened 4 April
1988Mt Sinai to Clarence section opened 29 October
2012Operation suspended
2013Badly damaged by bushfires
2016Limited train movements resume (trackwork)
2019Badly damaged by bushfires
2020Limited movements recommence (Work trains)
2023Operations 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.

History[edit]

Construction and abandonment[edit]

An historical view of the Zig Zag Railway line with Top Road and number 1 viaduct in the foreground, Middle Road and viaducts numbers 2 & 3, and Bottom Road still part of the Main Western line to the right
Much the same view more than a century later, not long before the 2013 NSW bushfires

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]

Lithgow Valley Reserve[edit]

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.

Revival and preservation[edit]

Top Points station in July 2006
Lithgow Zig Zag routes
Bell
original route
Newnes Junction
Clarence Coillery
Balloon Loop
Newnes Junction
(original)
Clarence
(3rd)
Parking
(
2nd &
4th
)
Clarence
Clarence
(1st)
No. 1 Tunnel
(
1,115 m
3,658 ft
) Summit
No. 2 Tunnel
Clarence Tunnel
No. 3 Tunnel
No. 4 Tunnel
No. 5 Tunnel
No. 6 Tunnel
No. 7 Tunnel
No. 8 Tunnel
No. 9 Tunnel
No. 10 Tunnel
Mt. Sinai Halt
Bottom Points
Edgecombe Siding
Zig Zag
Bottom Points Depot
Mileage 92.1 Junction
Belmore (Zig
Zag) Tunnel
No. 1 Viaduct Halt
Cockerton Halt
No. 1 Viaduct
No. 3 Viaduct
No. 2 Viaduct
Top Points
Eskbank
Lithgow
to Dubbo and Bourke

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+12 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]

Closure and bushfire damage[edit]

Accreditation and collision[edit]

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]

2013 bushfire and storm damage[edit]

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]

2019 bushfire damage and ongoing repairs[edit]

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]

2020s[edit]

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]

Former schedule[edit]

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.

Locomotives and rolling stock[edit]

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.

Steam locomotives[edit]

Number & Name Image Description Status Livery Notes
218A The Yank 218A The Yank, Queensland AC16 class 2-8-2 locomotive QR 2-8-2 AC16 Operational Green (Previously Black & Silver) Operated from 2008 until 2011 before mechanical overhaul. Operational since May 2021.
934 934, Queensland C17 class 4-8-0 locomotive 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 1047 loco, Queensland 4-6-4T DD17, awaiting restoration 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 1049 Stormin' Normin, Queensland 4-6-4T DD17 QR 4-6-4T DD17 Stored, awaiting overhaul Blue Operated from 1994 until 2011, stored awaiting major boiler overhaul.
1072 City of Lithgow 1072 City of Lithgow, Queensland BB18¼ class locomotive 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.

Diesel locomotives[edit]

Number & Name Image Description Status Notes
1003 Emu Bay Railway 10 class Stored, awaiting restoration Stored at Bottom Points pending restoration.
1004 Emu Bay 1004 Emu Bay, Emu Bay Railway 10 Class 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.

Railmotors[edit]

Number Image Description Status Notes
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 Queensland 2000 class rail motor. Burnt in October 2013 bushfire. Dismantled for scrap in 2018 QR 2000 class rail motor Scrapped Burnt in October 2013 bushfire. Dismantled for scrap in 2018

Passenger carriages[edit]

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]

Freight and works vehicles[edit]

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).

Film use[edit]

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.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Great Zig Zag Railway and Reserves". NSW State Heritage Register. Office of Environment & Heritage. 30 September 1997. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  2. ^ Langdon, Mark (2006), "Chapter 6: Avoiding the Lithgow Zig Zag", Conquering the Blue Mountains, Eveleigh Press, p. 104, ISBN 978-1-876568-30-6
  3. ^ a b Bentley, James (1988). Black Smoke Blue Mountains. Robert Brown & Associates. pp. 123, 127. ISBN 0-949267-58-9.
  4. ^ a b c d The Lithgow ZigZag Railway. Zig Zag Trust & Zig Zag Railway Co-op. 1976.
  5. ^ Enthusiast Railway for Lithgow Zig Zag Railway Transportation September 1972 page 28
  6. ^ Zig Zag Railway Sunshine Express December 1975 page 173
  7. ^ Lithgow Zig Zag Railway Continental Railway Journal issue 25 March 1976 page 404
  8. ^ Zig Zag Railway On Top Railway Digest August 1987 page 260
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Rail Safety Act, 2002 (NSW)
  11. ^ "Discussion paper: Safety regulation of heritage railway operators". Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator. NSW Government. November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Collision between Hi-Rail and Rail Motor, Zig Zag Railway, Clarence: 1 April 2011" (PDF). Rail Safety Investigation Report. Office of Transport Safety Investigations. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  13. ^ Update on Zig Zag Railway Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 6 September 2012
  14. ^ Zig Zag Railway postpones reopening Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Lithgow Mercury 14 May 2013
  15. ^ Holliday, Rebekah. "Fire tears through iconic Zig Zag Railway". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Zig Zag Railway battling adversity to finally get itself back on track". Blue Mountains Gazette. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  17. ^ Zig Zag Railway Archived 30 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Zig Zag Railway
  18. ^ Holliday, Rebekah (19 October 2013). "Fire tears through iconic Zig Zag Railway". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  19. ^ Pillans, Laura (15 January 2015). "What next for the Zig Zag Railway?". Lithgow Mercury. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Historic railway badly damaged by NSW bushfire, but 'God's own backburn' saves museum". www.abc.net.au. 24 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  21. ^ Bastow, Ciara (24 July 2020). "Eight years in the making; A locomotive pulls up to Zig Zag Railway". Lithgow Mercury. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  22. ^ Blue Mountains historic Zig Zag Railway reopens News.com.au 27 May 2023
  23. ^ Grand Re-Opening of Zig-Zag Railway Artsoutwest.org.au 21 October 2023
  24. ^ Iconic Zig Zag steam railway celebrates birthday in style Bluemountainsgazette.com.au 9 October 2023
  25. ^ "Stealth (2005)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related to Zig Zag Railway at Wikimedia Commons

33°28′18.33″S 150°11′39.20″E / 33.4717583°S 150.1942222°E / -33.4717583; 150.1942222