Clarence, New South Wales

Clarence is a place in New South Wales, Australia. It was originally a railway outpost on the original railway line across the Blue Mountains, but by 1908 when Clarence was used as headquarters for the Ten Tunnel deviation works, the town population had flourished to over 5,000 residents, the majority being the navvies employed on the deviation works. When the deviation was opened in 1910, the town population quickly fell, despite a new platform built on the new deviation.

Zig Zag Railway

In 1975, the Lithgow Zig Zag, which had been abandoned for 65 years was taken over by the Zig Zag Railway enthusiast enterprise. Narrow gauge track was laid on the alignment and several withdrawn ex-Q.R steam locomotives were imported for use on the Zig Zag tourist line. Today, it one of Australia's well-known tourist lines and the original station at Clarence has since been restored for use as the terminus.

There is the nearby Clarence Colliery, opened in the 1970s, that was closed and then re-opened again. It is served by a loop line that branches off Newnes Junction.

See also

• List of Blue Mountains articles

References

• Full Steam across the mountains by Phil Belpin
• Shays in the Valley by George Hicks
• Conquering the Blue Mountains by Mark Landon

Coordinates: 33°28′25″S 150°13′34″E / 33.47361°S 150.22611°E / -33.47361; 150.22611