The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a 34.5 kilometre heritage railway line that runs from Queenstown to Regatta Point in Tasmania, Australia.
History Original operation The first section of the Mount Lyell railway line opened between Queenstown and Teepookana. It was extended to Strahan on 1 November 1899.The West Coast Wilderness Railway Locomotives International issue 151 October 2024 page 50
The railway was built by the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company to carry copper from its mine in Queenstown. Until 1932, when a Hobart road link was completed, it was the only access through to Queenstown.
The railway utilised the Abt rack and pinion system for steep sections. Because of the gradients, tonnages were always limited on the railway. The gauge is .
The original line continued into the Mount Lyell mining operations area in Queenstown, and at Regatta Point the line linked around the foreshore of Strahan to link with the Tasmanian Government Railways' Zeehan to Strahan line.
At its peak in 1936, the company owned six locomotives, three railcars, eight coaches and 131 goods wagons.
The last passenger service ran on 29 June 1963, with the railway closed on 10 August 1963 due to increasing maintenance costs and the improvement of road access to the West Coast from the north with the opening of the Murchison Highway.The Last Passenger Train on the Mount Lyell Rly Light Railways issue 13 Winter 1963 page 11Closure of the Mt Lyell Rack Railway Divisional Diary July 1963 pages 1-3Mt Lyell Line Closes: Govt Takeover Not Possible Railway Transportation September 1963 page 7
With the removal of the track the formation from Regatta Point was used by road vehicles for access to Lette's Bay and Lowana to the east.
Most bridges remained intact but fell into disrepair, and the route was unsuitable for vehicle access beyond the Iron Bridge that crosses the King River at the location of the early port of Teepookana.
Reconstruction Despite various proposals post 1963, it was not until the 1990s after the demise of the main Mount Lyell Company mining operations, and the downgrading of Hydro Tasmania's activities of dam building on the West Coast, that some local West Coast people campaigned for the restoration of the Abt Railway as a heritage tourist attraction featuring the unique rail system and the community's mining history.
The restoration of the Abt Railway was made possible through the allocation of $20 million from the Federal Government, with further funding from the State Government and some private investment.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 734 December 1998 page 489Rebuilding Tasmania's Abt Railway Railway Digest September 1999 pages 28/29West Coast Wilderness Railway Steam Railway issue 521 23 July 2021 pages 90-96 Sinclair Knight Merz managed the project with Hazell Bros the main contractor.Mt Lyell Abt Railway in Western Tasmania EHA Magazine April 2016 page 8/9
New railway
The first 5.5 kilometre section between Queenstown and Lynchford opened on 4 November 2000.Abt Railway Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 760 February 2001 page 77 It was opened in full on 27 December 2002.West Coast Wilderness Railway finally opens Tasmanian Rail News issue 219 January 2003 page 8The West Coast Wilderness Railway Locomotives International issue 151 October 2024 pages 50-52 It was officially opened by Prime Minister John Howard and State Premier Jim Bacon on 3 April 2003.West Coast Wilderness Railway finally opens Tasmanian Rail News issue 220 April 2003 page 9
The new terminus in Queenstown is on the site of the original station yard. The station at Regatta Point terminus has been renovated.
The railway follows its original alignment except for the Quarter Mile Bridge near Teepookana. The old bridge was washed away in a flood in 1974, with the new bridge just south of the original.
Change in operations In February 2013 the Federal Group announced that it would be terminating its lease of the railway in April 2013, citing a downturn in business and a need for investment in infrastructure had made the railway no longer viable.West Coast Wilderness Railway closure Tasmanian Rail News issue 252 June 2013 page 9 The Tasmanian government responded by estimating that maintaining the railway would cost $15 to $20 million, and that the government alone could not fund it.Jobs in balance as tourist railway closes ABC News 4 February 2013
Following track rehabilitation work, the railway re-opened between Queenstown and Dubbil Barril on 6 January 2014.Abt Latest News: Progress Update Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources 15 November 2013Tassie's West Coast Wilderness railway reopens Rail Express 15 January 2014West Coast Wilderness Railway returns to action minus a new operator The Mercury 6 January 2014 It resumed operation along its full length on 14 December 2014.Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway resumes full operation after contract issues ABC News 15 December 2014 It is operated by the Abt Railway Ministerial Corporation, a Government of Tasmania corporation.Steam train back from wilderness on Tasmania’s west coast The Mercury 7 January 2014
Rolling stock Locomotives For the commencement of operations, three of the five former Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company locomotives were purchased.Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company Rack/Adhesion Tracks Rail Tasmania A fourth was purchased from the Tasmanian Transport Museum in 2019.New steam heads for Wilderness line Narrow Gauge World issue 145 January 2020 page 14 The only former Mount Lyell locomotive not preserved was scrapped in the 1960s.Glasgow built rack tank to return to service in Tasmania The Railway Magazine issue 1426 January 2020 page 88
Two former Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company Drewry Car Company diesel locomotives that had seen further service with the Emu Bay Railway and Tasmanian Government Railways were purchased.Tasmanian Railways: 150 years in the making - Part 2 Australian Railway History issue 1014 August 2022 page 9
NumberManufacturerWorksnumberYearNotes1Dübs & Company336918862Dübs & Company35941898purchased from Tasmanian Transport Museum in 2019Locomotives Tasmanian Transport Museum3Dübs & Company377018985North British Locomotive Company244181938acquired from Puffing Billy RailwayAbt 5 and van B1 return to Tasmania Tasmanian Rail News issue 222 November 2003 page 9D1Drewry Car CompanyD1931953ex Emu Bay Railway 22Drewry Shunters Rail TasmaniaD2Drewry Car CompanyD1941953ex Tasmanian Government Railways V13
Carriages Twelve frames for carriages were built by Saunders & Ward, Kingston with 10 fitted with carriage bodies as at January 2006.West Coast Wilderness Railway fleet Tasmanian Rail News issue 232 July 2006 pages 13-19
Engineering heritage award The railway received an Engineering Heritage International Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.West Coast Wilderness Railway Engineers Australia
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