On a tiny railway that zigzag's its way up a steep bushclad mountainside, we sat sharing knees with two other strangers! The tiny compartment was so close and as I put it to this stranger who I think was German, - its like being thrown into instant companionship!
This is known as the Driving Creek Railway and was built by a man, Barry Brickell over a period of decades. The project required significant civil engineering works due to the steep and complex terrain that the line traverses. Among these are the famous Double-Deck viaduct, three tunnels, ten bridges (including the Double-Deck Viaduct) and inclines as steep as 1 in 14. Barry is 81 now and gets all his income from the pottery he makes. The rail initially was built to bring the clay needed to the pottery!
At the top 168 metres - there is an octagonal viewing platform called the "Eyefull Tower"!....Eiffel tower?
Definitely better than going to the movies, I said to John!
Yay, how fun. So glad you got to do it and it looks like you had some lovely weather too. Isn't the view at the top amazing and all the bottle walls and clay sculptures along the way?
The bottles are amazing - they must have been drunk all the time building these bottled walls! The view at the top was stupendous - everybody -mainly overseas tourists were taking selfies of themselves. I was naughty and took photos of them!
Sounds like an incredible train journey! I laughed as with my long legs I unfortunately often had to share knees with other commuters on the Redhill to London Bridge train every day! Sometimes very embarrassing!
@pamknowler This guy's knees were ensconced in John's wide open knees, Pam! On the way back we sat in different places and our partner, hubby was opposite us - much more acceptable!
They look like very little compartments Maggie, no wonder you had to intertwine knees. M-I-L is visiting this Christmas and she loves the Coromandel but hasn't been on this train yet. Is there much walking involved because she's not too mobile? If not it could be a good day out while she's here.
We must have a go at this it looks exciting! Love your POV between the heads. Does indeed look slightly cramped up but all good fun! Clever Barry for persevering!
OK, this one is definitely going on my bucket list!! Nothing like making new, intimate friends on vacation!! Did you end up buying any of his pottery? He is getting on in years, and someday those will become collectibles, not to mention the memories of your trip!
