Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania facts for kids

The history of the Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania 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.

Points of note include the Mount Lyell rack railway which has an Abt rack system, the presence of the world's first Garratt locomotive and a Hagans articulated 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 at Mount Read, and the various ones in the area of the Mount Lyell mining lease, were also significant in their use in moving both people and metal ore. Also aerial ropeways were operating in the region well into the late twentieth century.

A number of railway lines were proposed in the late nineteenth century, and early twentieth century – but they never appeared – not all proposed lines are 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.

Proposed but not constructed

• Great Western Railway (Tasmania) discussed and spent money upon approximately in the era 1890 - 1908
• Chudleigh Zeehan Railway - debated in parliament, never commenced.

West Coast Railways Timeline

• 04.02.1892 Strahan to Zeehan line opened
• 25.04.1892 Zeehan to Mount Dundas line opened
• 18.03.1897 Mount Lyell line to Teepookana opened
• 01.11.1899 Mount Lyell line to Regatta Point opened
• 15.12.1900 North Mount Lyell line opened
• 21.12.1900 Emu Bay line Guildford Junction to Zeehan opened
• 23.01.1902 Magnet Tramway opened
• 26.11.1902 North Mount Farrell tramway opened
• 05.07.1932 Mount Dundas and North East Dundas lines closed
• 08.10.1933 Comstock Tram closed
• 02.06.1960 Strahan-Zeehan line closed
• 22.12.1961 Tullah Tram closed
• 10.08.1963 Mount Lyell line closed
• 27.12.2002 First day of operation of rebuilt Mount Lyell line
• 03.04.2003 Official opening of Mount Lyell line as West Coast Wilderness Railway

Dispersal of Rolling Stock

Following closing of various lines, engines and carriages were often re-located on other working railways. Ex Mount 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.

Following the closures of most railways in the early 1960s, rolling stock was dispersed but engines were fortuitously retained 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.

Images for kids

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  Emu Bay railway connected with most lines on the West Coast directly or indirectly