Scenic Railway, Katoomba
The Scenic Railway at Scenic World runs down the cliff from the main building into the Jamison Valley rainforest. Guinness World Records lists it as the steepest passenger railway in the world.
Trains leave about every 10 minutes from the top and the valley stations and run in all weather.
Scenic Railway facts
- Steepest section
- 52° (128% gradient)
- Length
- 310 m
- Train capacity
- 84 passengers
- Speed
- 4 m/s
History of the Scenic Railway
The line was built in the 1880s to haul coal and oil shale up from the Jamison Valley. From 1928 it carried coal on weekdays and passengers at weekends.
When the Katoomba Colliery closed in 1945, Harry Hammon turned its railway into a tourist ride, the start of Scenic World. His family still runs it.
In 2013 the railway closed from January to April while its track and carriages were upgraded.
Riding the Scenic Railway
Cliffhanger seats: the seats can be tilted. The Cliffhanger setting leans you forward to 64°, and a laid-back setting makes the descent gentler.
Down or up: on the entry ticket you ride the Railway down, walk the 10-minute boardwalk to the Cableway and ride that back up.
Strollers: only a small stroller that folds onto your lap is allowed. Take the Cableway, which carries prams and wheelchairs, to reach the valley.
Heavy rain: the Railway runs in the rain, but in very heavy rain it may close for safety.
Scenic Railway questions
Is the Scenic Railway really the steepest in the world?
Guinness World Records lists it as the steepest passenger railway. Technically it is an inclined lift rather than a funicular, so the Stoosbahn in Switzerland holds the separate record for the steepest funicular.
Can I ride only the Scenic Railway at Scenic World?
No. Scenic World sells no single-ride tickets; the entry ticket covers the Railway together with the Skyway, the Cableway and the Walkway. Scenic World tickets
Where does the Scenic Railway end?
At the valley station in the rainforest, on the Scenic Walkway. A 10-minute boardwalk leads from there to the Cableway for the ride back up.
Is the Scenic Railway wheelchair accessible?
No. Wheelchair users can reach the valley floor on the Cableway and follow the accessible 10-minute boardwalk towards the Railway's valley station.