The original railway was opened in 1896 and extended to
Strahan in 1899; it was built by the “
Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company” to aid their international business. The railway was closed down in 1963 until being restored and reopened to the public in December 2002. Trains run one-way daily, leaving from either Strahan or
Queenstown. The journey is approximately 35 km and takes just under five hours to travel. Optional coach shuttles are available for the return trip. The train makes a lunch stop in the heart of the dense forest at
Dubbil Barril where passengers can experience the surrounding forest and the quaintly beautiful King River. The railway uses the unusual “rack and pinion third rail ABT system” on the steep railway grades between
Halls Creek and Dubbil Barril.