Historic rail line returns to Southern Highlands

Transport Heritage NSW yesterday announced that Thirlmere's NSW Rail Museum received several deliveries of second-hand rail which will be used to build the Picton-Colo Vale Loop Line.

The organisation's operations manager Daniel Page said the 110m length rails would be used to repair the current track and revive sections which had long been unused.

He said the rail, which was unloaded at Buxton, was removed from the Junee to Griffith line.

"The rail is around 80 years old and is being repurposed or recycled onto our network where it will be used for decades to come," he said.

"Once the rail has been assessed it will be gradually unloaded and installed along sections of the Picton to Colo Vale Loop Line - firstly between Couridjah and Buxton where we are dealing with a 30 year legacy issue of crippled joints, where then ends of the rail are slightly bent down and can't be stratightened up again.

"This long welded rail enables us to have a smooth track surface which will minimise maintenance wear and tear both on the track and the trains."

The 34-kilometre single track loop line was established during the 1860s, but has not been used for 44 years.

Wollondilly MP Nathaniel Smith had long touted the idea of reviving the long lost track before being elected.

And back in 2019 Mr Smith was able to secure $5.5 million in state funding for the project.

Mr Smith said it was something many people mentioned to him during his election campaign.

"It feels great to be seeing it come to life," he said.

"It's not a huge project like the new Picton High campus or the upgrades to Bowral Hospital - but it is something that could be very big for tourism in Wollondilly.

"People will be able to come to Thirlmere, get on a steam train and head out to other town's along the way.

"And the rail that has been received will be able to take some of the bigger steam trains as well."

Mr Smith said additional funding was needed to complete the entire track, but the first round of funding would be used to repair some of the track which was damaged during the Green Wattle Creek bushfire.

"Some of the towns along this line absolutely copped it during the bushfires - like Buxton, Balmoral and Colo Vale," he said.

"Repairing the track will bring more people out to these towns and help to support their recovery.

"There are endless opportunities for tourism - they are talking dining carts and steam buggies - there are just so many possibilities.

"Town's might be able to organise market days or other events to coincide with the train trips - it's a great way to support local business."

Mr Smith said people would travel from all over Australia to take 'a trip back in time.'

"It's something you just don't really see anymore," he said.

"People love watching shows like The Crown and Downton Abbey and steam trains have the old time feel - it's an art form.

"Puffing Billy in Melbourne is a very famous train and pre-covid they were averaging 400,000 visitors a year.

"The Thirlmere train museum is already one of the best rail museums in Australia and it was averaging about 60,000 visitors a year, but if we have a track to rival Puffing Billy we could double or even triple those numbers.

"Between this and agritourism the shire will have so much to offer - we want to be the green in between so people will come out and see what our wonderful agritourism businesses have to offer."

Mr Smith said the the loop line could even be tied in Wollondilly Council's proposed Great Burragorang Valley Walk.

"People could catch the train and jump off for a walk or they could go for a walk and then jump on the train," he said.

Mr Smith said the Picton-Colo Vale Loop Line could be complete as early as 2022, funding and weather permitting.