Wolgan Valley

[PeterB666]

Some pictures from the Wolgan Valley. This is a fairly remote area to the north of Lithgow and about 180 km from Sydney. A 2' rail line once serviced an oil shale mine and works in the remote Wolgan Valley. This line was very steep and used a number of articulated Shay locomotives to combat the 1:25 gradients. I believe this may have been the steepest non-cog railway in the world.

Now you can drive over part of the remains including through one of the two rail tunnels on the line. The other you walk to and is home to glow worms which are the larvae of an insect known as the fungus gnat. They produce light naturally with a process known as bioluminiscence. I will take you on a brief tour.

Drive through here...

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The First Tunnel by peterb666, on Flickr


Past some Japanese tourists (in the middle of nowhere)

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Glow Worm Tunnel-4 by peterb666, on Flickr


Into the tunnel...

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Glow Worm Tunnel by peterb666, on Flickr


To look at these fairly unimpressive creatures...

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The Glow Worms up close by peterb666, on Flickr

Out the end of the tunnel and under a tiny waterfall...

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Glow Worm Tunnel - Western end by peterb666, on Flickr

Where you will find people at the bottom of a 600' cliff.

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Glow Worm Tunnel-3 by peterb666, on Flickr

All photos taken with an Olympus E-P1 and Olympus M.Zuiko 9-18mm lens.

 

[Ulfric M Douglas]

OK, now post a macro of a "Fungus Gnat" : that's one cool name.

 

[Herman]

Great series and tour, thanks !