Zig Zag Railway

The Zig Zag Railway is an Australian heritage railway, situated near Lithgow, New South Wales. It was opened by the not-for-profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op as an unpaid volunteer-staffed heritage railway in October 1975, using the alignment of the Lithgow Zig Zag line that formed part of the Main Western line between 1869 and 1910. The line climbs the western flank of the Blue Mountains, using railway zig zags to gain height.
The operation of the heritage railway was suspended in 2012 following accreditation issues with the Government of New South Wales. The railway was aiming to resume services in October 2013, but was then severely damaged during the 2013 NSW Bushfires and then subsequently by torrential rain.
Repairs and trials of restored rail vehicles and track commenced in August 2016 and it was planned to re-commence limited heritage operations in 2019, until the 2019–2020 bushfires damaged key infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed restoration. Heritage train services resumed on 27 May 2023.
==History==
The Lithgow Zig Zag was constructed as part of the Main Western line and opened on the 19 October 1869. Between Lithgow and Clarence, the Main Western line needed to climb the western flank of the Blue Mountains, overcoming a vertical distance of 550 ft (170 m). The alternative eventually decided upon required the use of two railway zig zags where all trains had to reverse. The line had a ruling grade of 1:42 (~2.38%) on three inclines known as the Top Road (above Top Points), Middle Road (between the two zig zags) and Bottom Road (below Bottom Points). The line included several short tunnels and some viaducts.
The steep gradients and need to reverse trains proved to be a serious bottleneck to traffic on the line, and there were several accidents with runaway trains at the reversing points. Attempts were made to mitigate this by realigning the track and relocating and extending the reversing stations, but the problems continued. As early as 1885, plans for alleviating the Zig Zag problem involved the construction of a 2 mi (3.2 km) long tunnel.
This was said to provide little gain for the cost proposed. In 1908, work began on the Ten Tunnels Deviation, a double-tracked route that by-passed the two reversing stations and the upper two inclines, although retaining the Bottom Road with its 1:42 gradient. Once this was completed, the by-passed section was closed in October 1910.
==Locomotive roster:==
;Current Locomotives:
=== Steam locomotives ===
Number 	Images	Heritage 	Type 	Builder 	Built	Status 	Notes
218A The Yank 	 	Queensland Government Railway	2-8-2 	Baldwin Locomotive Works 	1943 	Operational 	One of two surviving Queensland AC16 class locomotives
402 	 	South Australian Railways 	4‑8‑2+2‑8‑4	Beyer, Peacock and Company	1953 	Stored 	One of two surviving South Australian Railways 400 class locomotives
934 	 	Queensland Government Railway	4-8-0 	Clyde Engineering 	1949 	Stored awaiting overhaul 	
966 City of Rockhampton	 	Queensland Government Railway	4-8-0 	Walkers Limited 	1950 	Stored 	
1046 	 	Queensland Government Railway	4-6-4T 	Ipswich Railway Workshops 	1950 	Stored 	
1047 	 	Queensland Government Railway	4-6-4T 	Ipswich Railway Workshops 	1951 	Stored awaiting restoration 	
1049 Stormin' Normin 	 	Queensland Government Railway	4-6-4T 	Ipswich Railway Workshops 	1951 	Stored while awaiting for major boiler overhaul. 	
1072 City of Lithgow 	 	Queensland Government Railway	4-6-2 	Walkers Limited 	1956 	Stored while awaiting for major mechanical overhaul	
=== Diesel locomotives ===
Number 	Images	Heritage 	Type 	Builder 	Built	Status 	Notes
1003 	 	Emu Bay Railway	Emu Bay Railway 10 Class	Walkers Limited	 	Stored pending restoration	
1004 Emu Bay	 	Emu Bay Railway	Emu Bay Railway 10 Class	Walkers Limited	 	Operational 	
=== Railmoters ===
Number	Images	Type 	Status
2006 	 	QR 2000 class rail motor	Stored pending restoration
2008 	 	QR 2000 class rail motor	Stored
2011 	 	QR 2000 class rail motor	Stored pending restoration
2020 	 	QR 2000 class rail motor	Stored awaiting restoration
2051 	 	QR 2000 class rail motor	Stored pending restoration
2055 	 	QR 2000 class rail motor	Stored
==Trivia==
*Prior to the suspension of services in 2012, the Zig Zag Railways was unique in New South Wales being the only heritage operator to run every day except Christmas Day. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays railmotors were operated.
*Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday a steam locomotive with train would operate with Sunday having a two train timetable. Special events included Day Out With Thomas and a Wizards Express event held a couple of times per year. During most school holidays, steam services ran every day. Passengers could join the service at Bottom Points where Zig Zag railway station is served by NSW TrainLink services from Sydney or at Clarence which is adjacent to the Bells Line of Road.
*In 1901, a train has lost control, and running down the hill of the Zig Zag Railway and hung out over the edge of a cliff. No one was hurt by the train nearly went over the edge, and into the valley below the driver and fireman jumped out just in the nick of time.
*In 2003, the railway was used in the production of the Hollywood film Stealth. The area stood in for mountainous regions in North Korea and locomotives were specially painted with Korean Chosongul (Hangul) characters.
==Gallery==
file:ZigZagsteamengines.jpg
Zigzagsteamtrainunderrestoration.jpg|A steam locomotive is under restoration in the Zig Zag Railway’s shop.
File:ZigzagQR2000classrailmotor.jpg
File:Engineatedgeofcliff.jpg|An engine of the Zig Zag Railway hung out over the edge of a cliff in 1901.
Freightonzigzagrailway.jpg
Zigzagrailwayoldendays.jpg
Category:Heritage Railways
Category:Preserved Railways
Category:Preservation societies
Category:Australia
Category:Tourist Railways
Category:Tourist attractions
Category:Australian Railways
Category:Zig Zag Railway