NSW Bushfires: Zig Zag Railway needs volunteers after Gospers Mountain fire

Fancy yourself a dab hand at trackwork? Australia’s famous heritage railway needs people like you after bushfire damaged infrastructure for the second time in six years.

• Hope in Gospers’ scorched earth
• ‘We were very lucky not to lose the train station’
• Fire damage fails to derail Zig Zag comeback

After an amazing effort by volunteers, Lithgow’s fire-damaged attraction Zig Zag Railway is reopen for section cars — but more hands are needed to make the work lighter.

The Blue Mountains News reported last week that when the then emergency-level Gospers mega-blaze burnt towards the railway on December 20-21, they lost an office, some small buildings, a toilet block and many sleepers.

Firefighters were, however, able to save the critical infrastructure and carriages.

The James 934 carriage at Zig Zag narrowly escaped fire. Picture: Zig Zag Railway

“It’s not as catastrophic as it could have been,” Zig Zag’s spokeswoman told The News. “We were very lucky not to lose the (train) station and the top point signal box.”

Since then, a small crew has successfully cleared the line from Bottom Points all the way through to Clarence Station, and they are now calling for volunteers keen to try their hand at track work.

Crews clear the railway line at Zig Zag Railway, near Lithgow. Picture: Zig Zag Railway Facebook

Crew members ride a section car. Picture: Zig Zag Railway Facebook

“Roughly 1500 sleepers to replace in the near future but, above all, the team is positive and we are rising to the challenge,” Zig Zag posted on Facebook.

Zig Zag Railway was burnt by bushfires on October 17, 2013, and has remained closed for refurbishment ever since.

The Great Zig Zag Railway, circa 1870, courtesy of the State Library of NSW. The line was part of the Main Western Line from 1869 to 1910, and operated as a heritage railway from 1975 to 2012.

A steam train on the Zig Zag rail line near Lithgow in 2005. Picture: Supplied

This has been the longest time the full size, narrow gauge tourist railway has been offline since it was built in the 1860s, to transport people and produce from the western plains of NSW to Sydney.

The trains, track and rolling stock are maintained and operated by volunteers from the non-profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd who had hoped to re-open the railway last year, before facing down Gospers.

Fortunately train carriages were moved from this area a week before the December 20-21 bushfires. Picture: Zig Zag Railway

Zig Zag Railway is always on the lookout for more volunteers and, where required, provides training courses for accreditation under the Rail Safety Act.

“We have volunteers on the Central Coast, in Sydney, even in Queensland — a lot of them have a train passion, while others just like the tourist side of things,” Zig Zag’s spokeswoman said.

To volunteer or donate call 1300 ZIG ZAG (944 924) or email [e-mail].