Zig Zag Railway

I've wanted to take Louka on the Zig Zag Railway for quite a long time ― ever since she started to be interested in Thomas the Tank Engine and other steam trains. Last week I finally just said lets go, and Graham consented to come along. The weather was fine, if cold, and my parents said we could stay with them at their Blue Mountains weekender.

The trip started well with an easy drive, followed by Louka enjoying her dinner (mum made pasta al tonno) and coming back for seconds and thirds. Things didn't go so well overnight, with Louka sleeping in 10-minute bursts then waking and crying. No-one slept much. She seems to be coming down with a cold.

In the morning everyone (except Louka) was a bit tired and lacking in energy, but we headed off in good time and got there easily. We looked at the engine but Louka wasn't game to take up the driver's offer to go inside. We did get to see the fireman shovelling in more coal. We took our seats and the train started, then stopped. It waited for all the people arriving up to ten minutes late. Then we set off for real. The train chuffed along then went into a long tunnel. The carriage lights came on then flickered out, and the only light came from all the camera flashes. Louka put her hands over her eyes to shut out the dark.


We got out at the reversing station and climbed the railway overpass, then got back in for the short trip to Bottom Points. There the boiler was refilled with water ― apparently the same spring water you could buy bottled at the station shop. There were people waiting at Bottom Points station and we had to share our seats, but we were rewarded by these pleasant people sharing their strawberries with Louka.


Back at my parents' place, Louka wasn't hungry for lunch (probably because she'd consumed two cheese twists, a chocolate wheatmeal biscuit, a banana, two dried peaches and two strawberries during the ride). Then she fell asleep for most of the trip home.