Fri, 19 Sept, 2014 Megalong Valley (Blue Mountains Scenic World)

4 degrees at 7am but wanted to be up the top by 9 to go to Scenic World. Glad Steve raised the temperature on the hot water system.

Looked back up from the valley to Hawthorne Lookout where we were yesterday. We didn’t make it to the point but you can see the carpark in the third picture and we got down on the flat bit and along a bit.

Scenic World was $35 each and you can ride Railway, which used to bring the coal up the mountainside from the mines below – 52 degree incline, it is the steepest passenger train in the world. The Skyway, glides between cliff tops above Jamison Valley. At 270 meters it is the highest cable car in Australia. Cableway, carrying 84 people is Australia’s biggest cable car, descending 545 meters into the Jamison Valley from the top of the escarpment. They had their “winter” stuff on sale, 50% off, so we grabbed a pair of leather gloves each as our hands were freezing.

Smiling Steve – we haven’t left yet!! He had to keep a smile on as the car we were in was full of school kids yelling their heads off.

Was just as good as Superman rollercoaster at Movie World – they even played the superman tune. We went down on it first – Steve came too but he wouldn’t put the seat at Cliffhanger – angles the seat so you feel you are slipping forward. Amazing as you drop straight down then through the dark tunnel then out where there is a slit of light coming down through the crack above and straighter down again. After the first drop you go through a dark tunnel then the crack appears over head as you descend between the ravine.

Out to look over the valley and you can see the rail end ahead. I am taking this photo through the roof of the carriage.

Steve was a bit worried that all that stopped you at the end was a couple of rubber stoppers!!!

Great view of the Three Sisters at Katoomba as we got off the train.

Looking back up didn’t do justice to the incline. Got you giddy looking up. 310m length of incline with a vertical drop of 250m. Then the train goes straight back up, backwards – our driver said we should try sitting backwards in the seat to watch it go up backwards – will try that later.

Found out why they call it the Blue Mountains – it is the haze given off by the oils of the eucalypt trees going into the air. It is called “Raleigh Scattering”.

Checked out how they used to travel down and up the railway – I thought the very safe car was scary – how did they do it in those days!! This is a replica of the “Mountain Devil” Scenic Railway Car. The original car was built by the Katoomba Coal Mine to replace the skip which had been used as passenger transport at weekends. This was to satisfy the growing demand from bushwalkers and tourists seeking a more comfortable ride to the valley – as if!!!

Great history information about the Katoomba Coal Mine. They have props in the ventilation shafts to show the furnace used to draw air through the mine to the work face. The air was directed to the miners by use of baffles made of wood or hessian.

Nice big hunks of coal – wonder how much people try to walk out with. One of the school kids was showing his mates a small bit he had picked up!!

Lovely brass sculpture of the miner and his pony.

Interesting history plaques in front of the mine and props in the mine opening. A big TV screen was set in the back of the mine, a bit hard to see but you could hear it ok except for the 50 school kids and later to 300 Chinese.

The workers in the mine.

Scary to think of all those tunnels under the mountain.

Followed the boardwalk around the floor of Jamison Valley, 545 meters from the top. Fantastic escarpments though photos don’t do justice to the colour and the sheerness of the cliff faces.

Lots of fallen trees – can understand it after the wind we had yesterday.

Watching the Cableway car arrive. Then up we went.

I zoomed in to the top of Katoomba Falls.

Then the 3 sisters in the distance.

Great view of Orphan Rock – back in the early 1900s people would come here to holiday and travel down to Jenolan Caves.  There was a walk way down the mountain and across and up the side of Orphan Rock and a walkway to the lookout at the top. People would get all dressed up in the full dresses, parasols, men in suits with walking canes – even weddings on there. Amazing!!

You can see through the hole in the rock.

The lookout on top of Orphan Rock. There is no access to it these days though they used to abseil down it years ago.

Checked out the workings of the Cableway. All safe!!

Had a cuppa and yummy in the Café at the top next to the Cableway. Bought some leather gloves – half price winter sale – it is still freezing, how can they say winter is over!!

Waiting for the Cableway to go back down – selfie in the mirror!

 Here it comes.

 Over we go and looking down to Jamison Valley.

The boardwalk winds its way further down into the Valley. Lots of informative signs along the way.

 A lot of burnt out, lightning hit, rotten and wind wiped out trees too. This is a Turpentine Tree.

Found our Blue Mountain Gum – tall and straight. The magnificent eucalypt is famous for its white trunk. This tree was 180ft/54m tall in Dec 2001. It grows about 5m per year.

This Turpentine tree is a typical example of the trees of this area. Its top has been blown off by the wind and it has sprouted new branches from where it had broken off. This tree is about 6m around the base.

Lots of pieces of coal everywhere.

Unreal vines.

The Filter Beds, constructed in 1909, were for two septic tanks, 250m above here. Originally designed for a population of 4800 people. It was decommissioned in 1935 when a 1100m tunnel was built connecting Katoomba and Leura systems. The system worked by allowing the sewerage material to decompose in septic tanks that were designed to slow down and hold the material for 24 hours so bacteria could work. The resultant liquid was then piped to the filter beds where it was sprayed in the air to expose it to oxygen and allow other bacteria to complete the clarification process. Interesting concept.

Lots of remnants of the past. Old wire that has laid there since 1890s.

 A replica miners hut.

 Polly putting the kettle on.

Looking back up from the boardwalk to the bottom of the Train. We had 300 chinese who were on a convention tour but we managed to miss them most of the time. You could spot them easily in their bright green coats.

More history and looking up at the same spot as the photo in 1878.

Looking from the valley through to Katoomba Falls. My little camera’s zoom is great. The falls were created by a series of small waterways falling over the escarpment 55 meters into the Jamison Valley below.

The Skyway going overhead.

The miners used galvanised this water tank in the 1930s and 1940s to provide water for themselves, their pit ponies and small steam boilers. When the mine was finally closed in 1945, the tank was tipped over the edge of the track and has laid here ever since.

The old counterweight sitting on the ground was first installed in 1953. It was decommissioned in 1974. Its purpose was to increase the capacity of the Scenic Railway from 16 to 28 passengers by counterweighing the mass of the passenger car through a connection on a winch. The counterweight made from a steel tank, which was filled with water and weighed 3 tonnes. It ran on a 30 tonne breaking strain galvanised track rope. The current counterweight operating overhead, now weighs 7 tonnes and runs a 180 tonne breaking strain.

This ropeway bucket and hanger used on the aerial tramway which was built in 1890 to bring kerosene shale from the mines at Ruined Castle across the valley to the terminus at the top of the cliff under the present train tower. It was made in East Germany. There was a lot of problems with the buckets coming loose from the haulage rope and running down the track ropes until they hit another bucket and were knocked off the track rope. This is one of those runaway buckets. There are scattered throughout the valley floor. Even though this bucket has lain here for the past 110 years, the wheel on the rope grip still turns, a silent tribute to the skills of the German fitter who built it, and the water resistance of the lubricant used. (and it did turn)

Steve checking out the boardwalk supports – was a bit concerned at the quality of the work!

The climb back up from the valley floor to the train station.

But first a wander along the dirt path of the Federal Pass (takes you around the valley to all the other ways back up to the top) to more mines.

The coal seam.

Big rock blocked our path so Steve shifted it.

Back up on the train – bit weird going backwards up the hill.

Turned round and took a photo of going up.

At the top looking at the workings.

 The workings for the train.

Went out to the car for lunch. Toasted sandwiches and soup beside the car. We had the side of the truck open with the cooker pulled out etc and a Chinese gent walked past who peered in. A few minutes later he was back with 50 more to check it out. Tried to explain and then they took photos and selfies with me – international we are now.

Rang the Tuckshop girls to wish them happy holidays. Glad the place hasn’t fallen apart after I left!!!

Ropeway bucket and hanger near the carpark.

Wandered around the park outside and found an original Skyway car. It could carry 30 adults. It was built inhouse in 1958, utilising bucket hangers from Glen Davis Aerial Ropeway. This cabin completed 587,401 return trips across the valley, travelled 200,000km (5 times around the world) and carried over 7 million passengers. It was removed from service in April, 2004.

Ingersoll Rand Compressor and steam winch.

A duck!!  Steve and his birds.

We then went back inside Scenic World and boarded the newer Skyway across the valley. Looking forward across the valley to the landing site on the other side.

Great views of Katoomba Falls – weird being overhead looking down to the valley floor.

At Cliff View lookout halfway between the Falls and Echo Point there is a plaque. Jamison Valley opens below you – Mount Solitary lies ahead, the ruined castle to its right (really a pile of rocks!), Sceniscender and scenic railway carry tourists to the valley floor. Below, the bell-birds tinkle and pairs of black cockatoos soar and screech. On foggy days this beautiful panorama is often invisible, blanketed by a wall of mist.

Didn’t see any black cockatoos but there were a heap of white ones screeching.

We have been so lucky with the weather. Such clear skies. Looking back to Scenic World.

Cableway and the train station below.

Tourist love doing the poses.

As we did the Three Sisters yesterday we headed to Katoomba Falls. Down some more steps and found the top of the falls. Lovely area.

Had another go at a selfie!!

Followed the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to the Duke & Duchess of York Lookout then Reids Plateau Lookout (a lot of abseiling used to be done from here). The creek flows towards the falls.

The falls going down.

Sheer cliff where the Skyway lands.

Looking to the next lookouts.

Another great view of the falls and the Skyway with the 3 Sisters on the end.

Orphan Rock

Through a rock hole to another lookout on Reids Plateau.

Scary view below for all the abseilers.

Down the path (600m) to Witches Leap.

You can see the witches face in the rock formation – heavy eyebrows, nose and lips. “Leap” is a Scottish dialect word meaning waterfall. Maybe the explorers of past saw the witches profile hence the name.

Part of the septic pipe that lead down the mountain to the valley floor where the Filter Beds were.

Great caves and rock formations.

Down more stairs to Rainforest Lookout to see part of Katoomba Falls. This lookout was popular with visitors during the 1900s. There was plenty of timber around for BBQs. Imagine them trekking down here with food and in their style of clothing. Further on the Underfalls Walk was cross over the stream from Witches Leap as it descends to Vera’s Grotto.

Great view of the falls and the girls took a nice photo of us. I imagine lots of people went over the fence to get under the falls but I wouldn’t want to go to close to the edge – a long way down.

The cockatoos like it here – did they follow us from home!!

Back to the main walk and down more stairs.

Better be like the other tourists!!!

Great rest area - Hope the top doesn’t fall down.

More stairs

Our first Lyre Bird – but he wasn’t very cooperative so didn’t get a good shot before he scooted off up the hill.

Stopped at Queen Victoria Lookout – amazing cliff faces and Katoomba Falls.

Another shot of the Three Sisters – I have deleted a lot of photos too. Great to have a digital camera and just shoot away and sort out later.

Below that lookout was another one – Lynes Point. Another shot of the falls.

Now we start down the Furber Stairs to Furber Lookout. Can’t get enough of these views.

 Glad we are going down these stairs and not up. We just have to be at the train station before 4.50 for the last ride up.

View from Furbers Lookout.

More stairs

Katoomba Falls with the Skyway going over.

And just for something different – more stairs.

A nice flat bit to Vera’s Grotto. This water is from Witches Leap and continues on to join the Katoomba Falls Creek which becomes the Kedumba River.

Lots of birds come here, the signs says. Golden Whisters, Yellow Robins and Lyre Birds, well we have seen one. Bell birds are singing. The Whip Bird too. Its call is a combination of male and female birds. The male calls first and the female with amazing timing answers the male. This is called an “antiphonal response”.

Now we join the Federal Pass which winds its way around the valley and up to the lookouts, with more stairs. The Federal Pass was built on the talus slope at the bottom of the cliffs. Here, this corresponds with the Katoomba Coal Seam. Part of the Federal Pass, from here to Leura Forest (3½ hours walk) (it is 2 hours walk to the Giant Stairway under the Three Sisters), was built in the 1900s with money raised by public donations. The track continues in the other direction, past the Scenic Railway (5min walk), to the abandoned coal and oil shale mines at Ruined Castle across the valley. The Federal Pass there follows the route of a horse drawn tramway which transported the coal to the inclined railway. The mines closed down in 1932.

Great overhangs.

More stairs.

Another overhang. Steve's time for a pose.

More stairs. Just wanted everyone to see how many stairs!!!

Magnificent specimen of a Turpentine tree.

Down to the picnic area at the base of the falls called Katoomba Falls View. I would love to have seen how they ladies and gents in the 1900s got up and down here with their food etc.

The crossing over Katoomba Falls Creek to follow the Federal Pass is called “Cook’s Crossing”.

Along way up to the top of Katoomba Falls.

Back to the boardwalk near the railway. A heap of chinese were taking photos sitting on the pony so I played tourist too.

Going back up in the train but sitting backwards in the seat so I can be facing upwards. Was ok with my knees hooked over the rail but the first steep incline I slipped so was glad I had hold of Steve with one hand as I was videoing with the other.

It was awesome but I wanted to go back down without filming the ride so I could enjoy it so off I went again. Got the front seat of the front car – fantastic. Anne Quinn and I had a ball doing this on Superman at Movie World. 

Hope we stop!!

Steve went down on the Cableway and I got off and went round the boardwalk to meet him. 

One last ride up to finish off a fabulous day. Definitely worth the money.

There are monorail tracks all around Scenic World so we asked why isn’t it being used. It was built in 1983 but the government would pass it and the regulations they put in place made it too expensive to upgrade so it was just left. Would have been spectacular but a bit scary where it goes near the cliff etc.

Steve found a plaque marking the original winch pit which was built in 1878 to service the coal mine at the bottom of the Scenic Railway incline.

The steam clock announcing it was 4.45 so time to head off.

Stopped at Eagle Hawk Lookout as we had missed smoko. Enjoyed a cuppa chatting with some Victorians as we watched the sun reflect on the Three Sisters as the afternoon drew to an end.

Our pet cockatoo was back. Had lots to say.

Stopped  at Cahill’s Lookout to watch the sun set but it was taking ages so headed home.

Got a nice shot along the road.

Steve commented that we need a rest as he has had to drive this range in the dark three times so far!!! I pack too much into the day, but there was so much to see and so much left to see and do when we come back next time. Decided to stay in the valley tomorrow and explore.

When we got back to camp a motorhome towing a car and another caravan had arrived. Chatted with them by the fire – they didn’t realise the road was so narrow and windy too. Fire not warm enough so into the van to warm up with the heater and cook dinner.