Monday, January 02, 2012
The world's steepest train
Finally, an assisted train I have travelled on. Well, it is a bit like a train. It is at times described as a funicular, but I don't think it is. It is in New South Wales Blue Mountains near Katoomba. It was built to lift coal up from the valley below to then be moved perhaps by train or bullock and dray. This photo shows it among the denuded landscape in earlier days. As you can see in the video, the vegetation is now lush. It is the steepest railway in the world and opened in 1900. By the late 1920s it was already being used by tourists. It is good fun to travel on, if a little hairy. I think I've been on it three times.
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It's an amazing experience!!
ReplyDeleteGee, it moves quickly.
ReplyDeleteI've been on a similiar ride in the Blue Mountains back in 1992 but i'm not sure if this is the same ride it seems longer :-).
ReplyDeletelol someone said 'ooh my giddy aunt'. Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI've been on that, yeeeeears ago. Was a bit freaky.
OMG and WTF
ReplyDeleteHow funny. Just like a roller coaster only with scenery.
ReplyDeleteI remember traveling on that when I was a wee tacker.
ReplyDeleteNah! I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteChristine, I have never been up in it though. Usually catch the other thing up.
ReplyDeleteWindsmoke, I think that would be it. There was a chairlift thing and then a large machine you stand up in as it goes up and down.
Nice little thrill Fen.
Quite so Rubye. Scary without intending to be.
Smudgeon, I reckon many do have memories of it.
You can grip my arm Hels?
Andrew
ReplyDeleteif I have to die horribly from bush fire, shark attack, poisonous jelly fish, flooding, cyclones, tsunami or nuclear spillage, it won't be my fault and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyhow.
But to voluntarily go up a sheer cliff face protected by nothing except a funicular made of plastic is.... pushing fate.
Thank you for sharing this Andrew - now I don't have to go there :)
ReplyDeleteHeck, when I visit friends with steep driveways I get out of a car at the bottom and walk up.
Hels, I feel the same about kite surfing and similar. Why take the risk.
ReplyDeleteFRuitCake, I could make an unnecessary and cruel comment but I won't.
I visited Blue mountains about 20 years ago with my parent. It was my happy memories!
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy. You must have been young then. One day you will take yours sons to see the Blue Mountains.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I have memories of that train ride! Trouble is, I'm not sure if they're good or evil memories!!!
ReplyDeleteRed, I think it was pretty rough.
ReplyDeleteToo much imagination and one entertains visions of cables snapping, slow-mo carriages cartwheeling in free-fall and smashed body bits & pieces amongst the trees. Or is that just me!!
ReplyDelete