14/08/2025
The Steepest Railway in the World
📍Blue Mountains NSW Australia
According to the Guinness Book of Records, it’s the steepest railway in the world and was originally built to be part of the Katoomba mining tramways that were constructed in the late 1800s. With a measure of 52-degree incline (128% incline), even the most daring guest will have butterflies fluttering in their stomach.
The railway itself weaves down sandstone cliffs, dipping into a rock tunnel next to the famous Orphan Rock landmark, and then re-emerges to incredible views of the surroundings.
In 2013, the railway underwent an award-winning redevelopment, which made the unforgettable experience even better, with glass-roofed carriages for more expansive views of the rainforest and the Jamison Valley below.
But that’s not all. The Scenic Railway allows passengers to choose their adventure. The custom-designed carriages give passengers the chance to adjust their seating position up to 20 degrees and choose an adrenalin-pumping “Cliffhanger” option that ascends the mountain at a breath-taking 64-degree angle.
If you’re after a more relaxing experience, you can opt for the “Laidback” option or the “Original” adventure which runs at a 52-degree angle.
Dating back to 1945 when it first started operating as a tourist attraction, the railway has seen more than 25 million passengers on their adventures, and the current version is the fifth-generation train.
At any one time, the Scenic Railway can carry 84 passengers, departing every ten minutes. You can get off the train at the bottom station and hit the Scenic Walkway, which takes you around a 2.4-kilometre walk through Jurassic rainforest.
~Ctto