Fire damage running into the millions of dollars has crippled Zig Zag Railway, one of the Blue Mountains' renowned tourist attractions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The railway was, until Thursday, on the cusp of reopening train rides to the public when it became a victim of New South Wales' crushing spring bush fire disaster.
CEO Michael Forbes described feeling 'bloody gobsmacked' as he toured the burnt facility on Saturday.
The site's caretaker was lucky to escape with her life, he said, and was left with only the clothes on her back and an ash heap where her converted sleeper carriage had stood.
"Everyone's sort of in shock," he said.
"We're working through things like getting power disconnected ... we've had fires before but this is the first one that's gone through the workshop, the first time we've suffered damage to this extent.
"This is just mind-bending."
Among items destroyed were 10 passenger carriages, accommodation carriages, a near-new shower block and meals room, spare parts centre and workshop.
More than 1,000 new sleepers were also destroyed.
Much of the train equipment was from the 1920s.
Mr Forbes said volunteers were devastated but the group was holding together as well as could be expected.
He said it would take more than a year for the railway to recover.
Donations can be made by visiting the website.
RELATED NEWS
