Bushfires at Zig Zag Railway

[harburg@ozemail.com.au (Mayling Hargreaves)]

NEWS RELEASE

Bushfires at Zig Zag Railway

Savage bush fires swept through the Zig Zag Reserve at Lithgow on the
afternoon of Tuesday 2 December damaging rollingstock, track, and
buildings of the Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd.

Shortly after 3pm the fire which had been burning on the north side of
Lithgow moved rapidly towards Bottom Points and local Bush Fire
authorities were unable to contain it.

The 3pm rail motor from Clarence was terminated at Top Points and
returned with its passengers to Clarence.

Shortly after 4pm high winds pushed the flames through the Bottom
Points area whilst on another front fire advanced up Ida Falls Gully
to Top points.

The fires engulfed the siding at Edgecombe, the picnic area at
Cockerton, and the lookout near No.1 sandstone viaduct and then roared
through the reserve to the Chifley (Bells Line) Road.

Prompt and courageous action by Zig Zag Railway staff minimised damage
at Bottom Points where fires were able to be confined to accommodation
vehicles and were quickly extinguished.

The accommodation vehicles suffered significant damage but the prompt
action allowed other vehicles and the buildings to be saved.

At Top Points the staff hut was completely destroyed, the rail motor
platform burnt beyond repair, and a small number of sleepers damaged.

At No.1 Viaduct a railmotor platform and fencing were destroyed and a
number of sleepers were damaged.

At Edgecombe two ex South Australian brakevans, together with an ex SA
carriage were destroyed, a number of freight vehicles badly damaged,
and half the siding sleepers burnt.

Telephone lines and plastic water supply pipes along the railway were
badly damaged and a number of trees fell across the track. Electric
power had also been disrupted.

All train services were cancelled from Wednesday 3 December to Friday
5 December inclusive due to the damage and fallen trees.

A spokesman for Zig Zag Railway said that removal of fallen trees and
replacement of damaged sleepers was being immediately undertaken and
it was anticipated that train services will resume on Saturday 6
December.

Rail motors will operate services departing Clarence at 10.30am,
12.15pm, 2.00pm and 3.30pm.

The spokesman said that almost all the reserve had been affected by
the fire but trustees anticipated that the bush would regenerate
quickly.



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Mayling Hargreaves
Sydney, Australia
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~harburg