2nd Photos Page
I visited the State Mine museum and the Zig Zag tourist railway during July '04.
The State Mine museum wasn't open as such, but we could walk in and wander around. They have an interesting collection of industrial locomotives and rollingstock, as well as some NSWGR rail motors and rollingstock. There was also a small 2' gauge critter and some coal skips on display, and several other wagons based on skip chassis. Unfortunately there was no track set up for them to run on.
The Zig Zag Railway is perhaps NSW's premier tourist railway, the line featuring magnificent sandstone viaducts, tunnels and spectacular views. Formerly part of the standard gauge Main Western Line of the NSWGR, deviations made it redundant. Many years after closure, the Zig Zag Tourist Railway restored the line and relaid track to 3'6" gauge and run trians hauled by ex Queensland steam locos and Ex Tasmanian and NSW industrial diesel locos. The engineering is quite spectacular and the sound of the loco working up the stiff grades is well remembered, particularly since I got a cab-ride!
State Mine Photos: (click on thumbnails for links to larger pictures)
D20, formerly used by BHP (I think) it features awesome rod coupled bogies. Its a Diesel Hydraulic B-B
What's left of a steel bodied coal skip
and another very rusty skip, with an uncharacteristic load
This skip chassis has a load of timber, not sure what for though...
here is just a chassis, a good layout detail-everyone seems to have a discarded wagon
this skip was in much better condition, they are on display at the visiotor's centre
four views of the little 20 horsepower Jenbacher-model JW20
It would be a challenge to model this in O scale or smaller with
a spinning flywheel and all that engine detail
I love the abused look though! Very much a narrow gauge look
Zig Zag Photos:
Bety, the Zig Zag's BB18¼ 4-6-2 tender engine, seen here showing off its Wizard's Express plate and a paint scheme for a movie
A very well proportioned hopper, ideal for an On30 model I reckon
An open wagon, the loads in the above two wagons are fibreglass-for the same movie the loco is in
The Ex Emu Bay Railway (Tasmania) Walker's DH 10 class at Zig
Zag. ZZ have two of these road diesels, but only this one sees
regular use.
Several similar Walkers DH locos have been regauged for 2' in the
QLD canefields!
A view of the engineering involved in constructing this scenic railway. You can just see three levels of track here.
any comments?
Email me: trainbrain @ optusnet . com . au
(remove spaces from address before sending)
Mark Kendrick 22/09/04