zigzag

Photo taken from one of the reversing points on the Zig-zag railway? Google Maps (+ Earth plugin) - maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&...

Photo by Lithgow Studios

"RAILWAY ACCIDENT ON THE ZIG-ZAG. [BY TELEGRAPH] SYDNEY, Wednesday.
An accident, involving some £200 damage, occurred on Thursday evening at the Zig-Zag, near Lithgow, to a goods train from Penrith. The train was descending the top line incline, and when the Westinghouse brakes were applied they refused to act. As a result the engine was impelled forward at terrific speed until it struck the end of the length upon which trains back up to enable them to run on to a different track. Here five feet of solid cut-out rock was encountered, and, having demolished the strong buffer stops, the engine bounded up on to the rock ledge, on the other side of which was a deep chasm. A truck next the engine mounted the tender by the force of the impact, and became a total wreck; the next truck also left the rails, but the remainder of the train kept its position. Beyond shock, the driver and fireman received no injuries. A departmental inquiry completed yesterday afternoon shows that the derailment of the engine was due to the injudicious use of the brake, which resulted in the train getting beyond control." - Barrier Miner, Wednesday 10 April 1901, p. 2.

A view from the other side shows the engine number to be 246

Derailment on the Zig Zag at Lithgow (04/04/1901) [SRNSW: 17420_a014_a014000988]

pellethepoet Thanks for adding this article. What a frightening experience for the driver and fireman!

AB

I love this photo, so much I tracked down the exact location & made a composite photo of the old photo & a new photo taken in the same location

Here it is
flic.kr/p/DsU3xa

John Bolt, the engine driver, is my GG Grandfather. He sadly died 7 months later.

what a beautifull photo..... very lovely

lovely indeed!

she is stunning!

I love it!

absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking photo.