page_title: Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania
section_title: Railways, tramways and haulages
hierarchical_section_title: Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania / Railways, tramways and haulages
caption_attribution_description: Map of Emu Bay Railway
context_page_description: 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.
context_section_description: Most lines were 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)  2 ft (610 mm) track gauges.
  See also Zeehan for tramways that centred on that location
  The following list is of most of the significant named lines but it is not a complete list. There have also been haulage lines, and other tramlines within small areas that existed in mining leases and forest areas.
  Comstock Tramway, Zeehan
  Zeehan to Comstock – 2 ft (610 mm)
  Comstock Tramway, Mount Lyell
  Queenstown to Comstock Mine – 2 ft (610 mm)
  Emu Bay Railway
  Burnie to Zeehan – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
  Lake Margaret Tram
  Howards Plains to Lake Margaret power station and community – 2 ft (610 mm)
  Macquarie Heads breakwater railway
  The main access between Cape Sorell lighthouse and the local jetty and wharf
  Magnet Tramway
  Magnet Junction to Magnet Mine – 2 ft (610 mm)
  Mount Dundas – Zeehan Railway
  Zeehan to Maestris 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
  Mount Lyell Aerial Trams
   Four aerial systems are shown on Mt Lyell Mining Field Map (1900–1901) in editions of The Peaks of Lyell 
   Lyell-Tharsis Aerial Tram – Lyell Tharsis Mine (just south of the North Lyell Mine) to Mt Lyell Aerial Tram 
   Mount Lyell Aerial Tram – from Mount Lyell Mine on Philosophers Ridge to Queenstown Smelters 
   North Lyell Aerial Tram – from North Lyell Tram to Linda Railway Station 
  Mount Lyell Haulage
  Located on Philosophers Ridge down to Mt Lyell smelters
  Mount Lyell Quarry Railway
  2 ft (610 mm) 
  Mount Lyell Underground Railway (also known as the North Lyell Tunnel) 
  2 ft
  Mount Read Haulage (also known as the Hercules Haulage)
  Williamsford to Mount Read – 2 ft (610 mm)
  North Mount Farrell Tramway
  Farrell Siding to Tullah – 2 ft (610 mm)
  North Mount Lyell Railway
  Gormanston and Linda to Pillinger/Kelly Basin – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
  North Lyell Tram
  North Lyell Mine to Mount Lyell Haulage 
  North East Dundas Tramway
  Zeehan to Williamsford – 2 ft (610 mm)
  Strahan–Zeehan Railway
  Regatta Point to Zeehan – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
  Tasmanian Metals Extraction Company 
  Zeehan – Granville 
  West Coast Wilderness Railway – Formerly Mount Lyell Railway
  Queenstown to Regatta Point – 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) (Abt)
  Williamsford to Rosebery (Hercules ropeway) Aerial ropeway
caption: Emu Bay railway connected with most lines on the West Coast directly or indirectly
exif: {}