West Coast Wilderness Railway

When the ABT Railway (now the West Coast Wilderness Railway) was built in Tasmania, it was considered one of the engineering marvels of Australia.

The West Coast pioneers who built the original railway in 1896 accomplished a great feat of labour. For many miles along the King River the railway line was hewn with pick and shovel out of the steep side of the gorge. Forty two bridges were built over the 22-mile long stretch of wilderness; for the 'quarter mile' bridge below the gorge, pylons had to be driven 60 feet into the silt with men constantly up to their waists in the cold water.

The West Coast Wilderness Railway forms a gateway for visitors to explore Tasmania's unique rail heritage, discovering the inspiring story of the pioneers who built the railway more than 100 years ago

Take a trip back in time to where men laboured through mud, rain and treacherous landscapes to forge a railway link between the mining town of Queenstown and the port of Strahan. Authentically recreated with its many timber trestle bridges and the unique Abt rack and pinion system for the steep grades, the West Coast Wilderness Railway crosses the wild King River and climbs through sheer sided rainforested gorges.

Along the 35km journey you will stop at stations of the past - Lower Landing, Dubbil Barril, Rinadeena - where your trained guides will bring to life the stories of these historic points on the railway.