Skitube Alpine Railway

Skitube Alpine Railway
A skitube train commences its ascent just west of the Bullocks Flat terminus
Overview
Termini	Bullocks Flat Blue Cow
Stations	3
Services	1
Operation
Opened	29 August 1988
Owner	Broadspectrum (49%) Kumagai Gumi (49%) Ken Bilston 2%
Technical
Line length	8.5 kilometres ()
Number of tracks	single track with passing loops
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	1.5 kV DC Overhead line
Maximum incline	12.5%
Rack system	Lamella
Route map Skitube Alpine Railway Bullocks Flat Workshops Little Thredbo River Perisher Valley Blue Cow This diagram:

The Skitube Alpine Railway is an Australian standard gauge electric rack railway in the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. It provides access to the snowfields at Blue Cow Mountain and the Perisher Valley.

In the 1980s development of the Thredbo and Perisher Valley skifields was increasing, but the mountain road providing access to them was limited, and road and carparking expansion works were financially and environmentally unacceptable. In 1980 the National Parks & Wildlife Service proposed the establishment of a day visitors resort at Blue Cow Mountain, which would increase the traffic demands. A number of transport modes were examined, including a funicular railway, chairlift, and an aerial gondola, but all were of limited capacity, affected by weather, and would scar the mountainsides.

A rack and pinion railway was found to be the best option, running mostly underground. The Perisher Skitube Joint Venture was established, with Transfield and Kumagai Gumi each holding a 49% share. The main proponent of the scheme, Canberra engineer Ken Bilston, held the remaining 2% share and was technical manager for the project. Feasibility studies commenced in 1982 for a double track railway on the assumption that the road would close in winter, but this was altered to a single track line with passing loops when the closure was ruled out.