Gaze from the window of your comfortable carriage and experience an unforgettable combination of tasmanian history, wilderness and railway engineering the west coast wilderness railway is an awardwinning railway and wilderness experience located on the. West coast wilderness railway will stop running page 1. Media in category west coast wilderness railway the following 63 files are in this category, out of 63 total. All aboard for a fantastic glimpse into the early life of strahan and the railway that sustained the community. The rail system is unique as the train racks are constructed in such a way that it allows the trains to operate in steep slopes. Apart from any use permitted by the act, the abt railway ministerial corporation armc, trading as the west coast wilderness railway, grants users of this site a licence within the meaning of the act to download, print and otherwise reproduce the information for noncommercial purposes only. The west coast wilderness trail is divided up into four roughly equal sections between greymouth the west coasts big smoke and small old gold town of ross.
The 10 best hotels near west coast wilderness railway in. Helisteam bookings bookings for the helisteam tour require some personal service please call us on 03 6471 0100 so we can help you. The railway is significant because of its abt rack system to conquer the mountainous terrain through rainforest, with original locomotives still operating on the railway today. The west coast wilderness railway between queenstown and strahan was originally built in 1896 to transport copper concentrates from queenstown to export markets via strahans port in macquarie harbour amazing feats of engineering and the human spirit of the pioneers. Heritage rail journey west coast wilderness railway. Number 1 was donated to the zeehan school of mines now west coast pioneers museum, number 2 was donated to the tasmanian transport museum society in hobart, number 3 remained in queenstown for preservation, and number 5 was donated to the australian railway historical society, and spent many years at the menzies creek steam museum, near.
As you travel through the west coast s cool temperate rainforest, you will ascend steep wilderness mountains under the power of the revolutionary abt rack and pinion system technology that transformed the fortunes of the west coast during the late nineteenth. Sit back in comfort as your guide brings stories of the railway and its. Supplement payable direct to operator at time of booking. Tours from west coast wilderness railway tend to sell out travellers recommend booking in advance. On this full day steam train journey, youll travel the length of the west coast wilderness railway, stopping at every station along the line and hearing the many stories of the resilient people and extraordinary events that brought the railway to life. The railway closed in 1963 due to high maintenance costs, and reopened as a tourist attraction in 2002. The fourhour river and rainforest tour takes you from the shores of macquarie harbour into the rainforest and mountains of tasmanias rugged west coast, while the full day queenstown explorer takes passengers all the way along the 35km. It uses the swissinvented abt rack and pinion system, one of the last surviving examples of its type still operating, and making this the second steepest steamhaul. The west coast wilderness railway is a restoration of the former mt. West coast wilderness railway museum discover tasmania. Find hotels near west coast wilderness railway, au online. Red carriages in the train station of the famous tourist attraction queenstown the west coast wilderness railway, a reconstruction of the mount lyell mining and railway company railway between queenstown and regatta point, strahan, tasmania, australia. High in the mountains on tasmanias west coast, a priceless piece of steam history carefully carries guests along a rugged railway track. Step back in history as you board a majestic steam train and journey deep into the tasmanian wilderness.
Now operating as a tourist experience with a focus on. West coast railways wcr, is a railway spothire company and charter train operator based at carnforth mpd in lancashire. The west coast wilderness railway is a reconstruction of the mount lyell mining and railway company railway in tasmania between queenstown and regatta point, strahan. Journey through tasmanias countryside aboard a steam train on the west coast wilderness railway. The west coast wilderness railway, tasmania is a reconstruction of the mount lyell mining and railway company railway between queenstown and regatta. Tasmanias west coast wilderness railway operates full and halfday steam train tours along a historic 35km track between queenstown and strahan on the. West coast wilderness railway queenstown 2020 all you. Historic train service operated by west coast wilderness railway. Make your way up across the macquarie harbour, into the rainforest, and across historic bridges, as you listen to stories about life in the.
See parts of tasmania that are inaccessible by car with a ride aboard the west coast wilderness railway. West coast wilderness railway strahan departures discover. Much more than a railway journey within a wilderness setting, the west coast wilderness railway is a heritage experience that will touch your soul. Subsequently it was prohibited from running on mainlines. The west coast wilderness railway climbs over a mountain pass at rinadeena at inclines of up to 1. The west coast wilderness railway is a reconstruction of the mount lyell mining and railway company railway in tasmania between queenstown and.
West coast wilderness railway in tasmania tasmania travel guide. The west coast wilderness railway on tasmanias wild west coast uses the swiss abt rack and pinion drive system to climb through. We describe it here in that northtosouth direction, but note that its equally enjoyable ridden in either direction. Enjoy the full fourday ride starting in either greymouth or ross or chose one of the awesome one day options. Departing queenstown station, youll pass through a temperate rainforest then ascend steep mountains under the power of a rack and pinion systemthe only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The train runs a 35kilometre track between the towns of queenstown and strahan, and is of important historical significance for the area. West coast wilderness railway is reconstructed to restore the unique rail system and the mining history of the community of the people of west coast. Jul 22, 2015 high in the mountains on tasmanias west coast, a priceless piece of steam history carefully carries guests along a rugged railway track. West coast wilderness railway tasmania forum tripadvisor. With a range of full day and half day steam train experiences and yearround departures from both queenstown station and the historic harbourside regatta point station in strahan, there is a journey to suit everyone. The west coast wilderness railway climbs using the abt rack and pinion system.
Combine your heritage steam train ride with white water rafting, exploring ghost town or getting a birds. West coast wilderness railway great australian secret. Find out more by downloading our information sheet. The railway closed in 1963 due to high maintenance costs, and reopened as a tourist attraction in 2002 as the west coast wilderness railway. The west coast wilderness trail provides a unique immersion into the nature and the people of the west coast. Gaze from the window of your comfortable carriage and experience an unforgettable combination of tasmanian history, wilderness and railway engineering the west coast wilderness railway is an awardwinning railway and wilderness experience located on. Queenstown monument miners st helens view, tasmania fishing boats bay of fires queenstown tasmania lookout liffey falls west coast wilderness railway georges bay at bay of fire, st helens, tasmania sunrise over godfreys beach with the nut stanley tasmania australia ocean blue gold tasmania. On this full day steam train journey, you will travel the length of the west coast wilderness railway, stopping at every station along the line and hearing the.
If youre touring tasmania, the west coast wilderness railway is. Step aboard the west coast wilderness railways historic steam train to explore wild rivers and ancient rainforests between queenstown and strahan a mustdo experience at the heart of any visit to tasmanias west coast. Queenstown station tasmania stock image image of west. Using buildings and other facilities previously owned by the steamtown carnforth visitor attraction, in june 1998 the company became the first privately owned company to be given a licence as a train operating company.
West coast wilderness railway west coast wilderness railway. West coast wilderness railway, strahan ticket price. Hi guys, i am planning to do 12 day train journey from strahan in may, wondering if anyone who has done the trip could tell me the difference between the 2 carriages wilderness or heritage. In 1899, the mount lyell mining and railway company of tasmania opened a 34. Mechanical examination of the locomotive found that the front right hand axle box horn guide had jammed due to a.
Seating upgrades available please enquire directly. Woolmers estate, tearoom and national rose gardens. A tasmanian heritage railway on the states west coast is set to close. Join our fourhour rack and gorge tour and take a steam train journey through remote rainforest to the incredible king river gorge. Its tours are also journeys into the history of the region and the ingenuity behind the railways construction, which required solutions to huge environmental and logistical challenges, and has been recognised as an engineering. Home tasmania westcoast west coast wilderness railway. Our stations at queenstown and strahan are bikefriendly and offer racks to secure your. The west coast wilderness railway museum at queenstown station has been fully refurbished to better reflect the history or the railway. Using a combination of original authentic artifacts and informative displays, the museum recognises all those who have played a part in the railways story, from its original construction in the 1890s as a means of getting minerals from the mines of queenstown. West coast wilderness railway strahan 2020 all you need. The king river gorge and old growth rainforest complete the experience.
Click any station name to see all the routes to that place. Tasmanias west coast wilderness railway operates full and halfday steam train tours along a historic 35km track between queenstown and strahan on the west coast. Historic train timetable west coast wilderness railway. Make your way up across the macquarie harbour, into the rain forest, and across historic bridges, as you listen to stories about life in the area long ago. They say, history that moves you and thats exactly the experience robby and macca had when they visited although separately. A tasmanian steam train firewoman is close to realising her dream of becoming the first female driver on the west coast wilderness railway. West coast wilderness trail new zealand cycle trail. Riding the west coast wilderness railway no visible means. We are very keen to make the experience a mandatory one for all visitors with a million visitors to tasmania every year it would certainly make a difference to our viability. West coast wilderness railway the operator investigated the occurrence. History that moves you west coast wilderness railway. Using a combination of original authentic artifacts and informative displays, the museum recognises all those who have played a part in the railway s story, from its original construction in the 1890s as a means of getting minerals from the mines of queenstown. On this full day steam train journey, you will travel the length of the west coast wilderness railway, stopping at every station along the line and hearing the many stories of the resilient people and extraordinary events that brought the railway to life. The west coast wilderness railway experience has something to offer everyone.
West coast wilderness railway, queenstown, tasmania. This fabulous cycling adventure guarantees an outstanding landscape ride through dense rainforest, past glacial rivers and lakes and through wetlands, all the way from the snowcapped mountains of the southern alps to the ocean. Take an informative tour along the west coast wilderness railway for an awesome experience when visiting tasmanias west coast. West coast wilderness railway in tasmania tasmania. To download, click the link, then right click and select save as. Let the west coast wilderness railway lead you to adventures on tasmanias wild west coast. Hear tales of resilience and triumph over rugged terrain, hardship and adversity. Sep 04, 2018 let the west coast wilderness railway lead you to adventures on tasmanias wild west coast. Trade west coast wilderness railway itineraries, timetables, fare. The west coast wilderness railway between queenstown and strahan was originally built in 1896 to transport copper concentrates from queenstown to export markets via strahans port in macquarie harbour. Much more than a railway journey within a wilderness setting, the west coast wilderness railway is a heritage experience that will touch. The federal group has announced the west coast wilderness railway will stop running at the end of april.
Nov 24, 2016 the west coast wilderness railway is a restoration of the former mt. If you have a day to spare when in queenstown, tasmania, a great way to spend it is to decide to check out the west coast wilderness railway and what a great day it will turn out to be. Allie hume from queenstown is steaming towards a new. West coast wilderness railway the west coast is considered one of tasmanias ultimate holiday destinations, a gateway to historic townships, magnificent lakes, rivers, rain forests, historic sights, and breathtaking wilderness. Steam train tours in tasmania west coast wilderness railway. One of new zealands most stunning cycling great rides. West coast wilderness railway west coast wilderness.
Federal group spokesman daniel hanna says the business is no longer viable. Rack and gorge queenstowndubbil barrilqueenstown a halfday steam train journey departing queenstown station and travelling the steep grades of the rack and pinion that the west coast wilderness railway is renowned for. The company has run tours between queenstown and strahan for the past 10 years. The west coast visitors touring guide to tasmania, australia. West coast wilderness railway is more than a railway journey within a wilderness setting, its. Queenstown monument miners st helens view, tasmania fishing boats bay of fires queenstown tasmania lookout liffey falls west coast wilderness railway georges bay at bay of fire, st helens, tasmania sunrise over godfreys beach with the nut stanley.
Helisteam bookings bookings for the helisteam tour require some. The west coast wilderness railway carves its way through thick rainforest on the west coast of tasmania and takes you to wild locations otherwise inaccessible. Step back in history as you board a majestic steam train and journey deep into the heritage of the tasmanian wilderness and hear tales of resilience and triumph over rugged terrain, hardship and adversity. West coast wilderness railway tracks to adventure youtube. West coast wilderness railway step back in history as you board a majestic steam train and journey deep into the heritage of the tasmanian wilderness and hear tales of resilience and triumph over rugged terrain, hardship, and adversity. Historic train timetable west coast wilderness railway west. Contact the west coast visitor centre in strahan for the latest. West coast wilderness railway about to employ first female. West coast wilderness railway strahan 2020 all you. Its tours are also journeys into the history of the region and the ingenuity behind the railway s construction, which required solutions to huge environmental and logistical challenges, and has been recognised as an engineering. West coast wilderness railway between queenstown and strahan.