Kalamunda Zig Zag

Kalamunda Zig Zag

G class on the Zig Zag in 1937
Overview
Type Zig Zag railway
System Western Australian Government Railways
Status Converted to a public road
Termini Ridge Hill
Gooseberry Hill
Technical
Line length 3 kilometres
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Kalamunda Zig Zag was part of the Upper Darling Range Railway line in Western Australia opening in July 1891 and closing in July 1949.

History

Statham's Quarry Number 2 points
Gradient profile map

The Kalamunda Zig Zag was completed in July 1891, as part of the Upper Darling Range Railway line in Western Australia which was built by the Canning Jarrah Timber Company from a junction with the Midland line at Midland Junction to Canning Mills to transport railway sleepers to Perth's growing railway system. On 1 July 1903, the line was taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways.[1][2]

To overcome a steep gradient up the Darling Scarp, a zig zag was built between Ridge Hill and Gooseberry Hill stations, being cheaper to build than a continuous gradient line. It closed on 22 July 1949 along with the rest of the line, with the track removed in 1952 and converted into a narrow bitumen road. The road is one-way for most of the Zig Zag, and is not recommended for hiking.[1][2][3]

Sections

The sections of the railway that made up the zig zag were:

The gradient was as steep as 1 in 27 with an average of 1 in 38.[1]

Events

Every year the Shire of Kalamunda holds a Zig Zag Walk event, in which the Zig Zag is closed to all but pedestrians, providing people with the opportunity to admire the views and see the area's wildflowers; the Zig Zag is a part of the Darling Range Regional Park. The Zig Zag Walk occurs around early October every year.[4] On the last Sunday of October each year, there is a community Arts Festival called the Zig Zag Festival held in Stirk Park, Kalamunda.[5]

The Zig Zag is also used as a stage in the Targa West Rally. The road is closed to all traffic and the stage is run in reverse road direction, from the bottom to the top.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bromby, Robyn (1988). Australian Rail Annual 1988. Sutherland: Sherbourne Sutherland Publishing. pp. 115–120. ISBN 1 86275 004 1.
  2. 1 2 History of the Railway Pickering Brook Heritage Group
  3. ↑ Kalamunda Zig Zag Trail Rail Trails
  4. ↑ Walk the Zig Zag Shire of Kalamunda
  5. ↑ Zig Zag Festival Shire of Kalamunda
  6. ↑ Stage Maps Targa West

Further reading

Coordinates: 31°56′23″S 116°2′46″E / 31.93972°S 116.04611°E / -31.93972; 116.04611

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