The history of the Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania has fascinated enthusiasts from around the world, because of the combination of the harsh terrain in which the railways were created, and the unique nature of most of the lines. The Mount Lyell rack railway which has an Abt rack system, the presence of the world's first Garratt locomotive on the North East Dundas Tramway, and the collection of narrow-gauge lines as the only links to the outside world for a number of the communities for over fifty years.
The haulage railways at Mount Read, and at the Mount Lyell mining lease - were also significant in their use in moving both people and metal ore.
A number of proposed railway lines that were proposed in the late nineteenth century, and early twentieth century - but never appeared - are not listed here.
The main mining towns during their boom times were connected with the outside world by railway as the main form of transport into their communities and also out to the outside world.
Read more about Railways On The West Coast Of Tasmania: Railways and Tramways, Proposed But Not Constructed, West Coast Railways Timeline, Dispersal of Rolling Stock
Famous quotes containing the words railways, west and/or coast:
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—H.G. (Herbert George)
“The American West is just arriving at the threshold of its greatness and growth. Where the West of yesterday is glamorized in our fiction, the future of the American West now is both fabulous and factual.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)