North East Dundas Tramway

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The North East Dundas Tramway (NEDT) was a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge tramway on West Coast Tasmania that ran between Zeehan and Deep Lead (now Williamsford). It was part of Tasmanian Government Railways. The world's first Garratt locomotives TGR K Class were used on the line, as were two 'G Class' 0-4-2T engines built by Sharp-Stewart of Glasgow in 1896 and a massive 'J Class' 2-6-4-0T articulated locomotive manufactured by Hagans of Erfurt in 1900.

Contents

[edit] History

The line was opened in 1896 to carry ore from the Williamsford mines to Zeehan where it would be loaded onto another train for shipment to Burnie. The narrow-gauge (2 feet) was chosen because of the extremely difficult terrain that the railway crossed, requiring several big trestle bridges, including one at the foot of Montezuma Falls. After some rain the engine and carriages would get soaked by spray from the falls.

[edit] Locomotives

Several tight-radius curves required careful consideration of the locomotives that were to run on them, and consequently mainly articulated designs were chosen. The 2-6-4-0T 'J Class' Hagans locomotive was the first articulated locomotive to run on the line, and was at the time the heaviest 2-foot gauge locomotive in the Southern Hemisphere, weighing 42 tonnes. It was more powerful than its 3' 6" gauge counterparts. It proved successful on the line, and was soon joined by the 1909-vintage 'K Class' 0-4-0+0-4-0 Garratt locomotives, with which it worked until the line was closed to locomotives in 1929.

The Sharp-Stewart locomotives had been sold some years before the closure, and K-2 was also scrapped. However, K-1 and the Hagans loco were saved. K-1, the first of the Garratt locos, was presented back to its makers, Beyer-Peacock of Manchester, while the Hagans languished in the Zeehan locomotive shed until 1949, when it too was scrapped.

[edit] Stopping Places

  • Zeehan
  • Wilson Street
  • Racecourse
  • King's
  • Hastings
  • Nickel Junction -- also known as Nickel Show
  • North Dundas Road
  • Melba
  • Commonwealth
  • Japi
  • Confidence Saddle
  • Good Intent
  • Great Northern
  • Fraser's -- also known as Fraser's Mine
  • Montezuma
  • Fahl Ore
  • Conliffe
  • Williamsford -- opened as Deep Lead -- renamed by 1898
    • Connected to Hercules Mine on Mount Read by a 2 foot (610mm) gauge haulage incline

[edit] Present Day

The Line can be accessed by foot from the Williamsford end (by driving up the access road to the Hercules Mine from Roseberry) or by foot or 4WD from the Melba Flats end. From the Williamsford end, the line makes for a delightful walk through thick rainforest and passing old water-filled adits disappearing into the side of the mountain. It takes approximately 90 mintutes to walk to the foot of Montezuma Falls, and is highly recommended to visitors to the West Coast.

From the Melba Flats end, it is possible to take a 4WD up the entire length of the line to the base of Montezuma Falls, however there are several extremely difficult creek crossings along the way. A well prepared 4WD is required, being equipped with a winch is highly recommended, as is being prepared to tolerate some damage to your vehicle! Walking is by far the better option, as you will see and experience more. By foot, the journey may take up to 3 hours to reach the falls. By vehicle, it may actually take longer.

Rainfall on Mt Read will rapidly lead to a significant increase in the creek and river levels. Be extremely cautious with river crossings, and be prepared to have to wait for long periods of time before being able to cross.

It is not possible to drive the entire length of the line, as the trestle bridge at Montezuma Falls has long since fallen down and the falls themselves cannot be negotiated by a vehicle. It is possible to do so by foot, however crossing at the falls is hazardous and slippery - be careful.

The formation winds through some elegantly sculpted cuttings, and it is quite easy to imagine how it must have looked with a tram hauling it's way up the mountain.

Following the line is easy from either direction, however there are multiple tracks leading off to either side of the line at different points. These can lead to some interesting historical locations. Do your research beforehand.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

2003 edition - Queenstown: Municipality of Queenstown.
1949 edition - Hobart: Davies Brothers. OCLC 48825404; ASIN B000FMPZ80
1924 edition - Queenstown: Mount Lyell Tourist Association. OCLC 35070001; ASIN B0008BM4XC
  • Whitham, Lindsay (2002). Railways, Mines, Pubs and People and other historical research. Sandy Bay: Tasmanian Historical Research Association. ISBN 0-909479-21-6. 

[edit] External links