The West Coast Wilderness Railway

The current railway is a reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company railway between Queenstown and Regatta Point, Strahan. The railway is significant because of the Abt rack system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_railway#Abt) used to conquer the mountainous terrain. However, because of the gradients, tonnages were always limited. The original locomotives still operate on the line today. The original railway began operations in 1897 as the only means of getting copper from the mine at Queenstown to the port of Strahan, and later, onto the government railway that linked Strahan and Zeehan with Burnie on the north coast of the island. Until 1932, when a Hobart road link was completed, it was also the only means for people to get to Queenstown. Due to increasing maintenance costs and the improvement of road access to the West Coast from the north the railway ceased operation on 10 August 1963. The last train was hauled by the same locomotive that ran the first service in 1886. Following the closure of the railway, the rolling stock was dispersed and it was not until the 1990s, after the demise of the main Mount Lyell Company mining operations, and the downgrading of Hydro Tasmania's activities of dam building on the West Coast, that some very committed local West Coast people campaigned for its restoration, made possible through federal and state government funding and private investment. The restored railway commenced operations in 2002 under the banner of the Federal Group which operated the line until 2013 when they relinquished the lease. Funding was found to keep the railway open, and following track rehabilitation work, it re-opened in 2014 as the West Coast Wilderness Railway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Wilderness_Railway).

All aboard, Queenstown, bound for Dubbil Barril

Pride in the engines and the rolling stock is very evident

No 3 was one of the origional locos built in Glasgow and purchased by the Mt Lyell Mining Company in 1898 to service mining operations, namely the transport of copper from the mine at Queenstown to the port at Strahan, 50km south-west at the mouth of the Gordon River.

Rewatering at Lynchford Station. Topping up regularly is critical to ensure sufficient steam to make the steep grade between this station and Rinadeena using the Abt cog railway system.

It takes around 100 staff to operate the railway, mostly locals. Tourism is an important diversification for the west coast economy where mining has, for more than 100 years, held sway. The re-building of the railway in the early 2000s was a labour of local love which has now morphed into a major tourist drawcard for the area.

The Queen River valley, rugged country, particularly when building a railway

Hand operated turn-table at Dubbil Barril

Preparing to head back to Queenstown

Typical bridge design used on the railway

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