Kalamunda Zig Zag

The Kalamunda Zig Zag was part of the Upper Darling Range Railway line in Western Australia opening in July 1891 and closing in July 1949.

History
The Kalamunda Zig Zag was completed in July 1891, as part of the Upper Darling Range Railway line in Western Australia which was built by the Canning Jarrah Timber Company from a junction with the Midland line at Midland Junction to Canning Mills to transport railway sleepers to Perth's growing railway system. On 1 July 1903, the line was taken over by the Western Australian Government Railways.

To overcome a steep gradient up the Darling Scarp, a zig zag was built between Ridge Hill and Gooseberry Hill stations, being cheaper to build than a continuous gradient line. It closed on 22 July 1949 along with the rest of the line, with the track removed in 1952 and converted into a narrow bitumen road. The road is one-way for most of the Zig Zag, and is not recommended for hiking.

Sections
The sections of the railway that made up the zig zag were:
 * Ridge Hill (lower section of Zig Zag)
 * Number 1 Points
 * Number 2 Points Statham's Quarry known also as Perth City Council Siding from 1920
 * Number 3 Points
 * Number 4 Points (upper section of Zig Zag)

The gradient was as steep as 1 in 27 with an average of 1 in 38.

Events
Every year the City of Kalamunda holds a Zig Zag Walk event, in which the Zig Zag is closed to all but pedestrians, providing people with the opportunity to admire the views and see the area's wildflowers; the Zig Zag is a part of the Darling Range Regional Park. The Zig Zag Walk occurs around early October every year. On the last Sunday of October each year, there is a community Arts Festival called the Zig Zag Festival held in Stirk Park, Kalamunda.

The Zig Zag is also used as a stage in the Targa West Rally. The road is closed to all traffic and the stage is run in reverse road direction, from the bottom to the top.