Zig Zag Railway
The Zig Zag Railway - John Whitton, chief engineer of the NSW Government Railways, designed a 'Zig-Zag' line - a series of gently sloping ramps in the form of a letter 'Z' - which alternately push and pull trains down the escarpment.
Located 10 km east of Lithgow, at Clarence, the Zig Zag Railway, passes over three wonderful sandstone viaducts and through two hand-hewn tunnels plus a cutting. The views during its descent from the Blue Mountains into the Lithgow Valley are striking..
By the beginning of the 20th century rail traffic over the Blue Mountains was heavy and the single track was inadequate. A ten-tunnel line was constructed through the escarpment and completed in 1910 bypassing the zig-zag line.
Nowadays steam trains operate on weekends, public holidays and most school holidays. A diesel-powered vintage motor runs during the week and includes a tour of the workshop and gives you more time to study the viaducts and scenery.
The Lithgow
Town and around Website
