The historic Zig Zag Railway is on the cusp of reopening ahead of winter after bushfires, floods and vandalism closed it down more than a decade ago.
Train enthusiasts once visited the Lithgow steam train in masses to ride through the scenic Blue Mountains. However, the tourist attraction was closed in 2012 by then-transport minister Gladys Berejiklian to address numerous safety deficiencies.
The Zig Zag Railway suffered significant damage in the 2019 bushfires.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Plans to reopen in October 2013 literally went up in flames when fires ravaged the station, leaving former chief executive of Zig Zag Michael Forbes “bloody gobsmacked” by the damage.
The site was hit again by the 2019 bushfires, floods and recent storm damage.
Now, it is almost ready to take on new passengers.
Chief executive of the railway, Lee Wiggins, said the decision on vital accreditation needed to reopen was imminent, which wouldn’t have been possible without the support of volunteers, community and government.
“Zig Zag Railway is a national icon and holds a special place not only in the hearts of Lithgow residents, but also for the many people who have travelled on this historic railway over nearly half a century,” Wiggins said.
The railway undergoing reconstruction in February 2023.
“The sights, sounds and smells of an old steam locomotive chugging over sandstone viaducts is an unforgettable experience.”
Wiggins and Deputy Premier Paul Toole are expected to tour the station on Friday, inspecting the reconstruction and maintenance works ahead of the reopening.
Toole said the revitalisation of the railway would keep attracting visitors to the Central West. “Zig Zag is set to return as a local drawcard that will have people heading further over the mountains for an authentic steam-era experience,” he said.
The train originally opened in the 1860s as the first rail link between Sydney and Western NSW before closing in 1910 following a deviation of the main line to bypass the inefficient zig zag.
In the 1970s, a team of volunteers resurrected the railway as a not-for-profit before it closed in 2012. Volunteer and professional train driver Garth Schwartz said he expected the reopening to draw in major crowds.
“I am sure we will get train and history enthusiasts, tourists and those who just want to enjoy the locomotive meandering through the mountains as they take in this remarkable landscape,” Schwartz said.
“Passengers will get to see first-hand how locomotives used to operate during Australia’s steam train era, as a volunteer fireman shovels coal into the train’s red-hot firebox.”
The railway will be staffed by dozens of volunteers who all received training as part of the organisation’s revamped safety management plan.
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