Zig Zag Railway Clarence

"The volunteers were amazing, well informed about the history of the rail road, efficient and courteous.

The train was well maintained, carriages were clean and in good repair and the scenery was absolutely stunning.

We were fortunate enough to visit close to Halloween so we were treated to a lolly hunt at one of the stations. Many of the volunteers were in costumes which only added to the enjoyment of the passengers, both kids and adults."

Nicky Marr

"Historic zigzag railway and iconic activity to experience while in out west, only located a short drive from Lithgow CBD, the zigzag railway will take you on a historic trip back in time climbing aboard an old steam train named yank, that will literally zigzag from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the mountain and back whilst taking in beautiful views of the Chifley region,

Purchasing tickets is essential, which can be purchased online prior to your trip. Recommend getting there about 30 minutes before there is a cafe and amenities on site.
Also recommend bringing a picnic lunch for a bite to eat along the way as there is a couple of stops ,

A great experience for all ages
Fairly priced
Staff for ship friendly, interactive and knowledgeable

Large car park where the train ride begins at Clarence Station

Would recommend"

Ritchie William

"The Zig Zag Railway is a must visit tourist attraction just 15 to 20 minute drive out of Lithgow New South Wales the old steam engine and rickety old carriages are a blast from the past and so much fun; especially when the whistle blows and the steam fills the aiir. Although the carriages are old, the seats are very comfortable. It’s also disability friendly as they will provide ramps if you need them to get on and off the carriages. There’s a small Canteen with hot snacks and pastries, and a Souvenir shop. You even get an old-fashioned cardboard train ticket, which gets clipped by the ticket inspector, a great little souvenir to keep. The staff are all volunteers and are extremely friendly and helpful. There is also commentary telling you all about the history of the line and the engines themselves. There’s a 10 minute stop halfway and the ride goes for an hour and a half, which is really good value for money for only $39 a ticket for adults. Cheaper for concession, children are even cheaper and there is free tickets for younger children.The scenery was beautiful, especially the old Sandstone Bridge, multiple tunnels and being able to look out of the open windows down into the beautiful valley to all the lovely scenery. But make sure you bring warm clothes, especially in winter I went at the end of September and it was 11° at lunchtime, despite being sunny. If you book in advance be prepared for any weather conditions, if you leave it for a couple of days before hand, you should be pretty right with booking and the weather forecast. It’s best to travel on a sunny day so you can see the entire valley and open the windows and get the best photos, but I suggest closing the windows when you go through the tunnels as the carriages can get full of steam and smoke ha ha - there was a few of us coughing, but I think it was all put on for the videos! Definitely worth the trip. If you’re driving, you can park at the Clarence Station or if you’re traveling by the Sydney Metropolitan or Country Link Railway line you can meet up at the Bottom Station. If you’re driving from Lithgow, it’s a short 15 to 20 minute drive but the road is very steep and windy with the top of 60 km an hour, So take it easy on some of those tight bends. I highly recommend a visit to the zigzag railway. It’s a great family outing for people of all ages - kids to seniors a great family day out highly recommended! 🤩 🚂❄️❄️"

Lisa Pratley (ILuvCooperAlan)