WEST COAST WILDERNESS RAILWAY

Welcome to the West Coast Wilderness Railway

The West Coast Wilderness Railway blends captivating history with lush rainforest and a deep gorge.

Stretching 35 kilometres between Queenstown and the port of Strahan, the West Coast Wilderness Railway was built in the late 19th century to transport Queenstown’s copper riches across some of the state’s toughest terrain. Today, this breathtaking journey brings to life the traditions and stories surrounding this incredible feat, and the people who made it possible.

Surveyors who tried to tell the bosses at Mount Lyell Mining that it was impossible country for a railway were promptly fired. Using only picks and shovels, teams of workers pushed through the mountains against the odds and in terrible conditions, to eventually complete the line in 1899.

At the railway’s heart is a climb that was an engineering marvel of its day. A Swiss-engineered Abt Rack and Pinion system, with a central cog under the locomotive engaging the teeth of a “rack”, was installed on the steep slopes of Rinadeena Saddle, allowing trains to drag themselves up and over the one-in-16 gradient.

It’s the steepest steam-haul railway line in the Southern Hemisphere, and the only operating Abt Rack and Pinion railway in Australia.

If this railway journey remains a challenging labour for its locomotives, it’s nothing of the sort for today’s passengers. The ride is a gentle journey through the cool-temperate rainforest that blankets Tasmania’s west coast, with guides on board to recount the stories of hardship from the railway’s construction, and resilience of the men, women, and children who called the surrounding wilderness home.

There are several train experiences available through the West Coast Wilderness Railway, leaving from Strahan and Queenstown. Listen on to learn more about the Rack and Gorge railway return journey – a five-hour exploration departing Queenstown and winding through temperate rainforest to the impressive King River Gorge.

The Rack and Gorge railway journey

Begin your journey from the historical train station in Queenstown – a portal into another world. Hear puffs of warm steam emanating from inside the tunnel-like station, where a dark-green engine sits ready to whisk you away. This charming, old-timey train has several red carriages kitted out with glossy timber; warm lamps; comfy, black upholstered booths; wide windows; and, overhead, a row of glass panels to let the natural light inside. Choose from the two available carriage types: the heritage or wilderness carriage. The heritage carriage is comfortable, heated and air-conditioned with the option to buy snacks and drinks at station stops during the ride. The upgraded wilderness carriage is fitted with booths and tables, offering a more spacious journey, and allowing passengers to stand on the carriage balcony in the open air. This option also allows you to luxuriate with local sparkling wine or juice, and tasty small meals.

Fascinating commentary plays over speakers during this trip. The train chugs into action amid more thick steam clouds. Roll slowly through Queenstown, beside Queen River – a forested waterway with unusually vivid orange water. Learn how historical mining activity from what was once the richest copper mining company in the world impacted this striking body of water.

Roll into gradually wilder and wilder terrain to reach your first stop: Lynchford Station. Pillowy, fresh grass blankets the ground here. Head to an undercover area and learn how to pan for gold with your own hands under the instruction of the guide. This is a fun and entertaining activity for adults and children alike. However, back in the day this was serious business. Droves of people panned the rivers here with the hope of striking it rich – just like Cornelius Lynch, the namesake of “Lynchford” – who found a cricket ball-sized nugget of gold in the area in the 1880s.

Into the wilderness

If you’re travelling on one of the wilderness carriages, enjoy morning tea on board as you journey further into the western wilds – perhaps nourished by some steamy, fluffy scones with jam and cream.

The next stop after Lynchford is Rinadeena, reached by climbing the incredibly steep Rinadeena Saddle. This is when the traditional abt rack and pinion railway system kicks into gear. The smooth train ride now becomes slow and rhythmic – pulsing forwards, up and up into the hills. The rainforest environment here becomes wilder, and the air mistier.

At Rinadeena, take a short walk through the historical, white-picket-fenced train station and café. Cross an overhead bridge that climbs over the train and takes you to the other side of the tracks, where lime-green grass grows beneath lush ferns. It’s a peaceful place, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, with crisp rainforest air and gentle birdsong.

Reach the next stop, Dubbil Barril station, via a gradual downhill descent on the rack and pinion. If you’re in the wilderness carriage, enjoy a hearty lunch along the way. Perhaps you’ll devour hot pumpkin soup with crunchy bread to stay warm and well-fed on this epic adventure. You might then like to step outside onto the carriage balcony. Dense trees and ferns flanking the railway line form a natural, shadowy tunnel behind you, punctured with beams of sunlight. The air feels cool and thick with an intense, earthy scent.

More fascinating stories are told enroute to the final stop, offering insightful perspectives from the individual miners who forged the railway in brutal conditions at a great personal cost, to the bigshots whose cunning business decisions helped line their pockets.

King River Gorge

Arrive eventually at Dubbil Barril station on the sloping terrain high above the breathtaking King River Gorge. Admire the ambition and audacity of the early railway and its creators, as the train climbs above the deep chasm of the King River Gorge and crosses historic bridges. The faded remains of the 244-metre trestle bridge at Quarter Mile speak volumes about the fierceness of the terrain.

Passengers hop off the train at Dubbil Barril while the staff turn it by hand on a traditional turntable track. The slow but fascinating process sees the locomotive do a 180 degree turn in preparation for the return trip to Queenstown station. While this process is underway, take a short walk beneath a canopy of leatherwoods, sassafras and myrtle trees with their sprawling leaves dancing in the breeze. Take a moment to explore their distinctive scents, with fragrant notes of lemon, sweet herbs and warm spice.

Below you, King River winds between steep sloping hills blanketed with rich green forest. Fresh water races at an impressive pace through the epic gorge. It’s certainly not a place for a dip – stand nearby and hear the ferocity of the river, which gushes particularly powerfully after high rainfall.

This more leisurely outdoor stop is an opportunity to immerse your senses in the spectacular and remote wilderness surrounding you, and marvel at the captivating raw power of nature. Have a chat with the train driver or fellow passengers while you wait to climb back on board for the return journey.

The train puffs and chugs in a cloud of steam to make its final stop in the heart of Queenstown. Find a quiet place to sit and reflect on the riveting journey, or set out on a quest for more fascinating history in this rocky former mining town.

Accessibility

The West Coast Wilderness Railway offers a range of half and full-day steam and heritage diesel experiences. Tours depart daily from Queenstown Station at 1 Driffield Street, and every day except Tuesday and Sunday from the Regatta Point Station in Strahan. Prices and timetables are subject to change without notice.

Their immersive tours range from the half-day Rack and Gorge return journey ex Queenstown described above, to a Raft and Steam trip combining the train ride with a white-water rafting adventure through King River Gorge.

Dog guides are allowed on board, but please bring your assistance dog’s certificate on the morning of travel. Carriages on this traditional train feature narrow doors and walkways, and are not wheelchair accessible. For safety reasons, passengers are required to have some mobility to be able to get on and off the carriage either by themselves or with assistance from a travelling companion.

Queenstown is a 197-kilometre drive from Devonport and a 260-kilometre drive from Hobart. Strahan is a 266-kilometre drive from Devonport and a 300-kilometre drive from Hobart.

There is no quick public transport route from Hobart to Strahan. Passengers need to travel via Launceston and Burnie, with the trip taking almost 13 hours. The bus leaves the Hobart Transit Centre each morning from Wednesdays to Sundays. Buses also depart during the afternoon on Sundays and Mondays, but this option necessitates an overnight stop in Devonport. The 747 Tassielink bus transports people from Burnie to Queenstown and Strahan daily, stopping at both towns within walking distance of their respective train stations. Find more public transport information at transport.tas.gov.au.

Accommodation close to the railway is available in both towns, including regal old hotels, modern bed and breakfasts, and other versatile options.