| The Zig-Zag received much attention from the press,
both here and abroad. Some example may be viewed here... Opened Monday October 18, 1869; it was by-passed in October 16, 1910, by a
series of 10 tunnels, the new route utilising the zig zag's bottom road. In the 1980's a
railway preservation group re-opened the line. More info on the new route...
The zig zag attracted a great deal of attention both in Australia
and overseas; being regarded as a major engineering feat of its day and attracting many of
the ablest engineers of the time. It is said that, with two or three exceptions, the work
was without parallel in the world.
The construction involved, in some places, surveyors being
suspended by ropes from the cliff-tops. Two blasts were carried out, with great publicity
and ceremony, the second being triggered by the Countess of Belmore, the governor's wife.
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