We got these cool lunchboxes at the midway point of the trip.

A few friends and I went to Devonport and the West Coast earlier this year, just before Uni started again for the year. Like other times, we took all our computer gear up with us, travelling in a convoy of three cars, and like previous years, played games for most of it.

Most of it, that is, besides that one day that we took out to travel to the west coast of Tasmania to experience the West Coast Wilderness Railway — after learning of its planned demise, we decided it would be a great idea to do it before it went away for good. It just so happened that one of my friends had previously done his placement up there, which meant he knew all the people and whatnot.

The WCWR experience is definitely a tourist attraction rather than anything else. We took the steam train from Queenstown to Strahan, and bussed it back to Queenstown after. I’m glad I’ve done it (especially since it’s about to be shut down), but I’m not sure I’d be so hasty to do it again. Still, not a bad experience, by any means.

Random photos from the trip follow, in no particular order.

Yes, I know this notice is printed on a sheet of A4 paper, but what does that have to do with the back check statement?

Hey, look! The Portable Genius series. I remember those books.

Recognise anything, Apple aficionados? It even says “30 pin” on the sticker.

It might look all innocent now, but this cat just wants to kill people.

Appropriate, seeing as I’ve been playing a lot of Mass Effect 3 lately.

Mount Lyell Engine Number One. According to legend, there were four of these trains in existence. Three are currently used at the WCWR, and the fourth is buried under some rubble somewhere.

Spinny-things. Knobs and such. That kind of jazz.

That middle track there? That’s what makes the WCWR so unique. The engine uses a complex system to attach itself to that middle track so it can climb steep mountains. It’s all very fascinating, actually.

The Strahan Shoreline

A iPhone-powered panorama of Lake Plimsoll, on the west coast of Tasmania between Queenstown and Devonport.