Description

Hard cover, 160 pages, A4 size, 190 photographs, 14 maps and diagrams, with references, and index

For over fifty years the small mining town of Tullah, in the rugged mountains of western Tasmania, had only one connection with the outside world – a lightly built 2 ft gauge tramway worked by small four-wheel steam locomotives. The most famous of these was Wee Georgie Wood, which often featured as a curiosity in the mainland media.

This book not only gives a very comprehensive history of the tramway and its rolling stock, but it also gives many fascinating insights into the lives of Tullah’s residents, both at work and at play. As well as describing the Tullah tramway, the book also describes the building of the Emu Bay Railway from Guildford to Zeehan. This was another vital link providing Tullah’s connection to the outside world. The methods used to get to Tullah before this railway was built were ingenious, and are described in detail.

Tullah’s isolation ended in December 1961 with the opening of a road to Rosebery. Wee Georgie Wood continued to work on tramways around the mine at Tullah for about four more years. But
this was not the end. Its operation was later taken over by volunteers, and it still operates, carrying passengers within the township of Tullah.

The history extends to several other tramways in the Tullah area, and is complemented by many
maps and historic photographs.

LRRSA