Skyway from the western side.Scenic RailwayKatoomba scenic railway prior to upgrade (photographed before 2006)The lowest section of 45-degree angle trackKatoomba Scenic Skyway in 1963
Scenic World is a family-owned tourist attraction located in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, about 100 kilometres west of Sydney. Scenic World is home to four attractions, the Scenic Railway, the Scenic Skyway, the Scenic Cableway and Scenic Walkway, a 2.4-km elevated boardwalk through ancient rainforest.
Overview
Railway
The Scenic Railway is an incline railway now used for tourism. The steepest section of track is on an incline of 52 degrees (128% gradient) contained within a total distance of 310 metres (1,020 ft).[3] It was originally constructed for a coal and oil shale mining operation in the Jamison Valley in the 1880s, in order to haul the coal and shale from the valley floor up to the escarpment above. From 1928 to 1945, it carried coal during the week and passengers at weekends. The coal mine was closed in 1945 after which it remained as a tourist attraction. The Scenic Railway was temporarily closed on 13 January 2013 (although the Skyway, Cableway, and Walkway remained open) as construction to upgrade both tracks and carriages began. The work was completed and the railway reopened in April 2013.[4] The Scenic Railway makes many claims to be the steepest passenger railway, the steepest funicular, and the steepest incline in the world.
However the railway uses a winch system[3] and no counterbalancing carriage, therefore it is an inclined lift rather than a funicular.[5]
As of 2017[update] the steepest true funicular is the Stoosbahn in Switzerland.[6]
Skyway
Built in 1958, the Scenic Skyway is another cable-driven conveyance at Scenic World. It travels across the gorge above the Katoomba Falls, 270 metres (886 feet) above the valley floor. The original Scenic Skyway was withdrawn on 4 April 2004 after 587,401 crossings and now sits in the picnic area at Scenic World. It was replaced by a new cabin in December of the same year. The new Skyway was built by Doppelmayr and CWA Constructions, and features a 72-person cabin with sections of liquid crystal glass that turns a raised section of the floor transparent as the ride progresses. In November 2005, a second station on the opposite cliff-face opened, allowing Skyway passengers to disembark and follow bush walking trails to the nearby Echo Point.
In November 2017, the latest Scenic Skyway cabin was launched. This Skyway cabin is 30% bigger than its predecessor, offering visitors a more spacious ride with easier boarding, as well as free Wi-Fi.[7]
Cableway
In 2000, Scenic World installed the Sceniscender, now called Scenic Cableway, 84-passenger cable car from Doppelmayr that passes over a 25-metre-high (82 ft) tower on the edge of the cliff, and then 510 metres (1,673 feet) to the Botton Station in the Jamison Valley 200 m (656 ft) below.[8]
Like the redevelopment of the Railway and Skyway, the Cableway had a replacement of its cabin in 2018.[9]
Dining
Scenic World operates two food and beverage outlets, namely EATS270 and the Terrace Café.
The former Scenic Revolving Restaurant was renovated and reopened in late 2012 as an eatery. During this time, a decision was made to cease operation of the revolving floor. The floor can still, however, be turned on by request for private functions. Both EATS270 and the Terrace Café feature balcony areas with extensive outdoor seating overlooking the Three Sisters and Jamison Valley.
Scenic World food and beverage outlets are not open in the evenings for general dining, but can be booked for private functions and corporate events.
Orphan Rocker
In 1984, Scenic World began building a roller coaster known as the Orphan Rocker, named after the nearby Orphan Rock.[10] This is the first roller coaster to be completely designed and manufactured in Australia. The highlight of this ride is meant to be a swooping banked turn that takes riders within metres of the edge of a 200 m (656 ft) cliff. It has in the past been referred to as a "sitdown suspended" coaster, because although it is a conventional sitdown coaster, the trains can tilt from side to side, like a suspended coaster, giving it its name. It was originally planned as a scenic monorail ride, but it soon evolved into a roller-coaster ride. The roller coaster has never publicly opened due to demands for redevelopment elsewhere onsite.[11] Visitation to Scenic World in the 1980s was increasing rapidly, mostly due to increased numbers of Japanese visitors, necessitating additional access into the valley and the idea for Scenic World's third ride, The Cableway (originally Scenicscender), was born.
Portions of the coaster's track have been removed as of 2017.[12]
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