Steam train back from wilderness on Tasmania's West Coast

THE West Coast wilderness put on its best rainforest weather for the reopening of its historic railway ride.

West Coast Wilderness Railway

THE West Coast wilderness put on its best rainforest weather for the reopening of the historic railway that has become Queenstown's tourism lifeline.

The first West Coast Wilderness Railway train out of the Queenstown station in eight months was running an hour late because debris had to be cleared from the track.

However, the 116 paying passengers on board the heated train yesterday did not mind the wild weather.

The Amos family from Brisbane said they were happy to be out of the Queensland heat.

"It is a lovely escape," Angela Amos said as husband Greg and sons Hugh, 2, and Lachlan, 5, soaked up the experience.

"We heard about the railway through Lonely Planet and also heard it would be raining today. The weather is all part of it."

Already the railway has taken 800 bookings for the Queenstown to Dubbil Barril ride.

"Today's maiden trip was a sellout with many hundreds more locals coming along to celebrate the rebirth of this icon," Tourism Minister Scott Bacon said at Queenstown Railway Station.

The railway closed in April after the Federal Group walked away from its contract with the State Government to operate the tourist attraction.

The Federal and the State Governments both contributed $6 million to upgrade the rail infrastructure and get the service operating again.

The railway is now being run by the Abt Railway Ministerial Corporation headed by Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne, who said it was exciting to see tourists again filling seats and $25,000 would be spent on a television campaign to lure more visitors to the West Coast.

While the historic railway is back on track it is only taking passengers half-way to Strahan and return while works continue on the other section.

General manager of the ministerial body, Zeehan businessman Phil Vickers, said negotiations with a potential new operator were ongoing, along with talks about how the railway experience could be expanded beyond the Queenstown to Strahan journey.

Queenstown businessman Phil Evans said he had seen and spoken to a lot of disappointed tourists during the eight months the railway was not operating.

He said the community expected a new operator to be found.