Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania

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West Coast Tasmania Railways

This article is a summary and lead into details about the Railways and Tramways of West Coast Tasmania.

The history of the West Coast railways has fascinated enthusiasts from around the world, because of the combination of the harsh terrain in which the railways were created, and the unique nature of most of the lines. The Mount Lyell rack railway which has an Abt rack system, the presence of the worlds first Garratt locomotive on the North East Dundas Tramway, and the collection of narrow-gauge lines as the only links to the outside world for a number of the communities for over fifty years.

The haulage railways occurred at Mount Read, and at the Mount Lyell mining lease - and they were both significant in their use in moving both people and metal ore.

A number of proposed railway lines that were proposed in the late nineteenth century, and early twentieth century - but never appeared are not listed here.

The main mining towns during their boom times were connected with the outside world by railway as the main form of transport into their communities and also out to the outside world.

Most lines were 3'6" gauge, or 2' gauge.

Following the closures of most railways in the early 1960s, rolling stock was dispersed but engines were fortuitously kept on the west coast, in most cases at the museum in Zeehan. Some of these have returned to service on the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Contents

[edit] Railways and Tramways

The following list is of most of the significant named lines, it is not a complete list. There have also been haulage lines, and other tramlines within small areas that exist in mining leases and forest areas..

[edit] West Coast Railways Timeline

  • 04.02.1892 Strahan to Zeehan line opened
  • 25.04.1892 Zeehan to Mt Dundas line opened
  • 18.03.1897 Mt Lyell ine to Teepookana opened
  • 01.11.1899 Mt Lyell line to Regatta Point opened
  • 15.12.1900 North Mt Lyell line opened
  • 21.12.1900 Emu Bay line to Zeehan opened
  • 03.12.1901 Magnet Tramway opened
  • 26.11.1902 North Mt Farrell tramway opened
  • 05.07.1932 Mt Dundas and N.E. Dundas lines closed
  • 08.07.1933 Comstock Tram closed
  • 04.06.1960 Strahan-Zeehan line closed
  • 22.12.1961 Tullah Tram closed
  • 10.08.1963 Mount Lyell line closed
  • 27.12.2002 Mount Lyell line re-opened - as West Coast Wilderness Railway

[edit] Dispersal of Rolling Stock

Following closing of various lines, engines and carriages were often re-located on other working railways. Ex Mt Lyell passenger stock can be found on the Puffing Billy Railway in Victoria, while by serendipity the West Coast Wilderness Railway has seen the return of reconditioned engines that used to work on the original Mount Lyell lines. A number of steam engines are held at the West Coast Pioneers Museum in Zeehan.

[edit] Glossary of Alternative names

  • 'Abt Railway' - section of the Mount Lyell Railway
  • 'Maestris Tramway'
  • 'Wee Georgie Wood Railway' = North Mount Farrell Tramway
  • 'West Coast Wilderness Railway'- Mount Lyell Railway

[edit] Sources

  • Rae, Lou (2001). The Abt Railway and Railways of the Lyell region. Sandy Bay: Lou Rae. ISBN 0-9592098-7-5.
  • Whitham, Charles (2003). Western Tasmania - A land of riches and beauty, Reprint 2003, Queenstown: Municipality of Queenstown.
  • Whitham, Lindsay (2002). Railways, Mines, Pubs and People and other historical research. Sandy Bay: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. ISBN 0-909479-21-6.
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