The historic Scenic Railway at Katoomba will take its last ride next month before being replaced by a new Swiss-designed train.
The iconic Scenic Railway has thrilled 25 million visitors on its journey down to the pristine rainforest floor but it will depart for the last time on January 13, 2013.
The world’s steepest passenger railway at 52 degrees is being replaced by a new Swiss-designed train and railway line under a $30 million redevelopment at Scenic World, expected to be completed by Easter 2013.
Fondly known as ‘Mountain Devil’, the current train has taken almost 700,000 journeys through the rainforest corridor to a parcel of the World Heritage-listed Jamison Valley.
Siblings and Scenic World joint managing directors, Anthea and David Hammon, said the decommissioning of the train would be a nostalgic time for their three-generation family business.
“This train has been a big part of our childhood, the generations before us, and the wider Blue Mountains community,” said Mr Hammon.
“But it is now the time for a new chapter at Scenic World and this railway transformation will provide our visitors with a fresh perspective on the rainforest with some new surprises entwined with our history.”