History of the West Coast Wilderness Railway

Tasmania’s West Coast is a rugged and isolated place, with spectacular mountain ranges, wild rivers, deep gorges and dense rainforests. From the early days, West Coasters have always been tough, resourceful, hard-working people – and they still are.

The pioneers were drawn to the region by underground treasures – from the late 1800s until today, untold fortunes have come from the rich copper mines of Queenstown. But for a long time, Queenstown had no road link to the outside world – to transport the pure copper ingots from the smelters to the Macquarie Harbour port of Strahan, they built an amazing railway through the wilderness. The 48-kilometre line climbed up from Queenstown, then descended steeply through the King River Gorge, crossing 19 timber trestle bridges before reaching the Iron Bridge at Teepookana, then running along the level banks of the river into Strahan.

It was a mammoth task – but it was done – for more than 60 years, steam trains hauled their loads through the rainforest.

By the early 1960s, road access to Queenstown had improved and the West Coast harsh conditions were taking their toll on the trestle bridges. The last train ran on the original railway in 1963. It carried a shield with the proud motto of the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company – ‘Work conquers all – we find a way, or make it’.

The men and women who lived and worked along it were determined, persistent, courageous people. They were bold and not afraid to take a risk.

When a new breed of West Coast pioneers set out to rebuild the line after 40 years of neglect, they needed the same qualities.

Many said it couldn’t be done – the rails had been lifted, bridges had rotted and fallen, rainforest had swallowed the line. But with the skill, persistence and resourcefulness of the first builders, the job was done – and today, travellers can ride in recreations of the original rolling stock, pulled by the original steam engines, crossing authentically-rebuilt trestle bridges.

It’s called the West Coast Wilderness Railway – and it’s one of world’s great train journeys.

For more details about the history of the West Coast Wilderness Railway, please click here.