The Zig Zag Railway is making a comeback after a decade-long refurbishment process.
As some of you may recall, back in 2012, the heritage-listed Blue Mountains tourist attraction originally opened circa 1869 as part of the Western line was forced to shut down due to a combination of financial and safety issues.
Shortly after, the Zig Zag Railway Co-op – a volunteer organisation dedicated to the icon’s restoration – made it their mission to see those steam billows dance along the skyline once again.
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Now, after a lengthy period of collaboration with the NSW government, as well as multiple delays ranging from the bushfires of 2013 – which reportedly caused approximately $4 million worth of damage – to the Gospers Mountain megablaze of 2019 and everything else in between (i.e. floods, vandalism, COVID-19)… the wait is almost over.
“Our [National Rail Safety Authority] accreditation is imminent. Our opening is just around the corner,” said Lee Wiggins, CEO of the Zig Zag Railway Co-op (via ABC).
“As a whole, the community really, really are showing a huge amount of support. [They] want to see the railway open again as part of their heritage and part of their culture.”
While a specific date has not yet been confirmed, we know both the 11-kilometre track and locomotives of the Blue Mountains’ Zig Zag Railway are expected to be fully operational before the coming winter season.
Full steam ahead.
