Zig Zag Railway

This article is about the tourist attraction and railway line. For The Great Zig Zag railway line, see Lithgow Zig Zag. For the track feature, see Zig zag (railway).
Zig Zag Railway
BB18¼ 1072 City of Lithgow in the head
shunt at Top Points station
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 12 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)
Preserved era 18 October 1975 - October 2013 (second)
Commercial history
Opened 18 October 1869
Closed 16 October 1910
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
2016 Limited train movements resume
Website
www.zigzagrailway.com.au

The Zig Zag Railway is an Australian heritage railway, situated near the town of Lithgow in the state of New South Wales. The line climbs the western flank of the Blue Mountains, using railway zig zags to gain height. It was opened by the not for profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op. Ltd. 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.

Operation of the heritage railway was suspended in 2012 following accreditation issues with the New South Wales Government. 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 are ongoing and trials of restored rail vehicles and track commenced in August 2016 and it is planned to re-commence limited heritage operations in early 2017.[1][2][3]

History

Construction and abandonment

A 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
Main article: Lithgow Zig Zag

The Lithgow Zig Zag line 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 known as Top Points and Bottom Points, 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[4]

Revival and preservation

Top Points station in July 2006

Lithgow Zig Zag routes

Legend
to Sydney Central
Bell
Dargans Deviation Junction

Newnes Junction

Newnes Junction(original)

Newnes railway line
Clarence

Clarence(original) Parking
Summit

Clarence Tunnel
Mt Sinai Halt
No. 1 Viaduct
Ten Tunnels
(on Main Western Line)
Top Points
No. 2 Viaduct
No. 3 Viaduct
Belmore (Zig Zag) Tunnel
Bottom Points

Bottom Points Depot

Zig Zag
Mileage 92.1 Junction
Eskbank
Lithgow
to Dubbo and Bourke

As the end of steam operation in New South Wales approached, in 1967 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.[6][7]

In 1972 the Lithgow Switchback Railway Co-op Limited was born and this became the Zig Zag Railway Co-operative Limited in 1974. 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.[7]

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. Services commenced on 18 October 1975, the 106th anniversary of the original opening.[7]

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.[9]

Accreditation and collision

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 and the collision caused a minor misalignment of the track. 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, particularly a lack of radio communications; operational safe working errors; the delayed notification of the accident; poor maintenance of registers; passengers travelling in the driver's cab; fatigue; and excess speed.[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]

Bushfire and Storm Damage

The Railway was severely damaged by the 'State Mine Fire', part of the October 2013 bushfires. The Railway suffered millions of dollars of damage which included ten passenger carriages, four accommodation carriages, a nearly completed shower block and meal room destroyed and a spare parts centre and the machine shop and workshop badly damaged. 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. The caretaker was "lucky to escape with her life" according to the Zig Zag's then CEO Michael Forbes. 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 and to the loop track at Bottom Points. As at October 2016 restoration of vehicles and infrastructure is still being undertaken and hopes are for recommencement of services in early 2017.[15]

Former schedule

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 loco with train would operate with Sunday having a two train timetable. Special events included a 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 Chifley Road/Bells Line of Road.

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 the South Australian Railways and TasRail.

The collection includes Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motors, Queensland Railways Evans carriages, Tasmanian Diesel locos, South Australian 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

218 The Yank
Number & Name Description Disposition Livery
218 The Yank QR 2-8-2 AC16 Operational, Zig Zag Railway's most recent restoration, returning to steam in 2008 Black
934 QR 4-8-0 Class C17 Withdrawn pending overhaul. Red
966 City of Rockhampton QR 4-8-0 Class C17 Static Black
1046 QR 4-6-4T DD17 Operational 1975 until the 1980s, fully dismantled with parts stored in various places around the railway Blue
1047 QR 4-6-4T DD17 Operational from the 1970s until the early 1990s, overhaul started but now halted. Green
1049 Stormin' Normin QR 4-6-4T DD17 Restored by Hunter Valley Training College, Penrith 1994, now withdrawn pending overhaul. Blue
1072 City of Lithgow QR 4-6-2 BB18¼ Restored to service early 1980s, currently undergoing major overhaul. Black
402 SAR 4‑8‑2+2‑8‑4 Garratt Class 400 Static Green

Diesel locomotives

Emu Bay 1004 at Bottom Points Station pulling\pushing a Thomas special event train with a DD17 steam locomotive at the other end
Number & Name Description Status
1003 Emu Bay Railway 10 class Purchased as a source of spare parts for 1004 in March 2001.
1004 Emu Bay Railway 10 Class Operational. Its vacuum brake has been converted to air train brake and its auto coupling to hook and buffers. Zig Zag named it Emu Bay in recognition of its Tasmanian heritage. Purchased March 2001
5802 Mount Isa Mines In Service
6 Mines engine, powered by Gardner engine, designed to haul low level flat wagons Disposed of in 2013. Formerly used for hauling works trains.

Railmotors

Number Description Status
2006, 2011, 2051 QR 2000 class rail motor Operational.
2020, 2008 QR 2000 class rail motor Awaiting Restoration
2016, 2055 QR 2000 class rail motor Burnt in October 2013 bushfire. Fate to be determined

Passenger Carriages

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.

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 [6][7]

Freight and Works Vehicles

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 HiRail vehicle (Can operate on road or rail)

Film use

In 2003 the railway was used in the production of the Hollywood film Stealth.[16] The area stood in for mountainous regions in North Korea and locomotives were specially painted with Korean Chosongul (Hangul) characters.

See also

References

  1. Holliday, Rebekah. "Fire tears through iconic Zig Zag Railway". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. Zig Zag Railway Zig Zag Railway retrieved 13 January 2015
  3. Zig Zag Railway battling adversity to finally get itself back on track Blue Mountains gazette 20 January 2015
  4. 1 2 "Great Zig Zag Railway and Reserves". NSW State Heritage Register. Government of New South Wales: Office of Environment and Heritage. 30 September 1997. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  5. Langdon, Mark (2006), "Chapter 6: Avoiding the Lithgow Zig Zag", Conquering the Blue Mountains, Eveleigh Press, p. 104, ISBN 978-1-876568-30-6
  6. 1 2 Bentley, James (1988). Black Smoke Blue Mountains. Robert Brown & Associates. pp. 123, 127. ISBN 0 949267 58 9.
  7. 1 2 3 4 The Lithgow ZigZag Railway. Zig Zag Trust & Zig Zag Railway Co-op. 1976.
  8. "Zig Zag Railway On Top" Railway Digest August 1987 page 260
  9. personal observations
  10. Rail Safety Act, 2002 (NSW)
  11. "Discussion paper: Safety regulation of heritage railway operators" (PDF). Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator. NSW Government. November 2007. 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. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  13. Update on Zig Zag Railway Transport for NSW 6 September 2012
  14. Zig Zag Railway postpones reopening Lithgow Mercury 14 May 2013
  15. Holliday, Rebekah (19 October 2013). "Fire tears through iconic Zig Zag Railway". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2013. ... we've had fires before but this is the first one that's gone through the workshop, the first time we've suffered damage to this extent.
  16. "Stealth (2005)".

Further reading

Media related to Zig Zag Railway at Wikimedia Commons

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

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