The Blue Mountains Scenic Railway

A popular tourist attraction in the Blue Mountains is the famous "Scenic Railway" which (at an incline of up to 64 degrees) is reputed to be the world's steepest track. The train descends 310 metres through a cliff-side tunnel, emerging into ancient rainforest at the Jamison Valley floor. While the ride, in one form or another, has operated since 1945, it has recently been completely re-built. Today was my first experience of it since the old one was decommissioned last year.

I had been worried that the whole thing would be too pristine, too hysterically safety conscious and altogether too sanitised to be nearly as exciting as the rather more rattly older version. I can honestly say that was not so. I thought it was just as exciting as ever. Recommended.

Want to take the ride? Okay then.