Rinadeena, Tasmania facts for kids
Rinadeena is a special railway station and stopping point on the famous West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania. It's a place where trains can stop and passengers can get on or off. This station is an important part of the railway line, known for its unique location and history.
Contents
Rinadeena's History and Challenges
Rinadeena has an interesting past, especially during the building and operation of the original Mount Lyell railway line.
Landslides and Railway Building
When the first railway line was being built, Rinadeena was a challenging spot. There were many large landslides (when a lot of earth and rocks slide down a slope). These landslides made it difficult to build the railway. Even after the railway was finished, landslides continued to happen sometimes. This meant workers had to keep the tracks clear and safe.
Dealing with Wildfires
In the past, wildfires in the areas around Rinadeena were a big problem. There wasn't much to stop fires from reaching the railway line and the buildings at Rinadeena. Because of this, some parts of the station and tracks were damaged by fires over the years.
A Special Spot on the Railway
Rinadeena is unique because it's the highest point on the entire West Coast Wilderness Railway line.
The Abt System Explained
To help trains climb and descend the steep hills around Rinadeena, the railway uses a special system called the Abt mechanism. This is a type of rack railway. It means the steam locomotives have a special gear that locks into a toothed rail (a "rack") laid between the regular rails. This helps the train get extra grip and prevents it from slipping on very steep slopes.
The Abt system is needed for trains coming from both directions:
- From the Queenstown side, the Abt track goes uphill from a place called Hall's Creek towards Rinadeena.
- From the Regatta Point side, the Abt track goes downhill from Rinadeena towards Dubbil Barril.
Stations Along the Line
Rinadeena is one of several interesting stations you'll find on the West Coast Wilderness Railway. Here's the order of stations along the line:
- Queenstown (Tasmania) railway station
- Lynchford
- Rinadeena
- Dubbil Barril
- Teepookana
- Regatta Point
