The APEC summit, due to be held in Sydney in September has got a lot of people steamed up, and it is expected that with much of Sydney closed to the public, many will be looking for ways to get away from the city.
The Zig Zag Railway, at Clarence on Bells Line of Road just east of Lithgow, has decided to join the party by holding a special three-day weekend "Steam Up" celebration over the weekend of Friday 7 September, Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9 September.
Throughout the weekend, in addition to the regular steam trains at 11.00, 1.00 and 3.00, from Clarence station, there will be many additional services running with a number of unusual and exciting features. There will be a number of steam locomotives in use, freight trains, mixed trains (re-creating the traditional country trains which combined passengers and freight), double headed trains (two steam engines working together) and perhaps a triple header too. Many of the railway's vintage wooden carriages will be in use, including the luxury Blue Train cars, allowing passengers to travel just as their grandparents did. In addition a regular diesel railmotor shuttle will run up the new extension towards Newnes Junction to allow people to see how much of the former line, closed in 1910, has already been recreated.
As Michael Forbes, the General Manager of the railway explained " traditionally we have held our annual "Steam Up" weekend in November, but this year the railway has added an additional one to the calendar to give Sydneysiders a good reason to get away from APEC".
"We have made it a three day event to give as many people the opportunity to get away from the big smoke and come and see our smoke instead", he added.
The usual return fares, $22 for adults, $18 for seniors and $11 for children and concessions will apply, with family tickets at $55. For those wishing to make a day of it and ride the various trains, a Day Ticket will be available.
The Zig Zag Railway will hold special Steam Up events featuring:
? Three steam locomotives (C17 934, DD17 1049, BB18? 1072), diesel locomotive (Emu Bay 1004).
? Many passenger services double headed (with all possible locomotive combinations )
? Triple Headers - in the afternoon, 3pm from Clarence, 4pm from Bottom Points
? Classic Wooden bodied Queensland carriages
? Vintage Blue Train - South Australian and Queensland Carriages
? Mixed train (passenger and freight - several new vehicles)
? Railmotor shuttle over the first part of the Newnes Junction extension
? Evening train on Saturday (for night photography)
? South Australian Railways Garratt 402 positioned for photography at Bottom Points
Photographers not travelling will be asked to make a contribution.
Lineside photographers must bring their own high visibility safety vests.
