Australia's Alpine Railway: The Perisher Skitube

When people think of Australia, the last thing that comes to mind is snow, yet Australia has an extensive alpine area with several ski resorts. In this video we look at the Perisher ski resort in New South Wales and its Skitube Alpine Railway, climbing 780m up into the ski fields.
Credit to footage owners:
Skitube at Perisher - Myles Harris-Ayling
• Skitube at Perisher
Cab ride on the Skitube from Bullocks Flat to Perisher Valley - Atticus F
• Cab ride on the Skitub...
Skitube (Part 1) - griffin rails
• Skitube (Part 1)
Perisher - Perisher Skitube - Perisher
• Perisher - Perisher Sk...
2021 Season Recap - The Good, Bad and Ugly - Perisher
• 2021 Season Recap - Th...
And Photos from the Wrenford Collection and Perisher Historical Society
perisherhistory.org.au/photo-...

[@brucelamberton8819]

FYI all, not some ,of the four areas used to be separate resorts. Perisher Valley bought Smiggin Holes to become Perisher Smiggins, then Mt Blue Cow was build whch later bought Guthega to become Blue Cow Guthega. Then Perisher Smiggins bought Blue Cow Guthega to become Perisher Blue.

[@MetroManMelbourne]

Very interesting, quite a feat of engineering that I'd never really heard of. Running it with buses looks a bit weird but also quite cool lol

[@griffinrails]

how tf did they turn around?

[@MetroManMelbourne]

@@griffinrails double ended buses idk

[@griffinrails]

@@MetroManMelbourne nah those are regular buses i guess they just reversed them back up the tunnel 💀

[@railrover]

Ski tube O-Bahn

[@brucelamberton8819]

@@griffinrails they had uphill- and downhill -facing buses which would pass each other in the passing loop. There was also a turning area at Blue Cow for when they needed to turn around. I rode it many times in its first season in '87.

[@griffinrails]

Very nice, always a compliment seeing my footage in a much better video. I wish that Skitube was built all the way along to Jindabyne, where it could be even more useful. (Heck, maybe even all the way up to Cooma or something? It would serve the region well even outside of ski season, obviously with different rollingstock to cater for a longer distance, maybe gauge converted QR ICEs?)

[@veneratedmortal4369]

As far as practicality goes what they have done is optimal for speed and cost. Driving is much cheaper and faster than the train. That much parking in Jindabyne might be an issue and a high speed train link from Sydney would be great but no one wants to pay for that.

[@ethans-dk4bk]

Blue Cow opened on the 21st of August 1988. Skitube only Operates during Ski Season from June to October.

[@mce_AU]

Did not know this even existed. Thanks for making the video and bringing it to my/our attention. Cheers.

[@adama3231]

I recently drove to Perisher for the first time just for a day trip. I wish I’d seen this video before I went, you did such a great job of explaining the area & history. Nice work.

[@jashugg]

Great video, very informative. There is also a small diesel hydraulic locomotive built by Tulloch in Rhodes, NSW, which is used for shunting and workshop trains.

[@Lachtrain]

Very nice video and nice explanation of the kinda peak railway

[@brucelamberton8819]

I remember back in its very first season in 1987 that although the tunnel went all the way to Blue Cow the track only went as far as Perisher where you had to transfer to buses for the remainder of the journey (which was very bumpy) - it wasn't particularly pleasant as the tunnel would be full of diesel fumes. To this day whenever I smell strong diesel fumes it takes my mind back all those years. NB the trains were originally white and red.

[@hypercomms2001]

I have been on it. It was an amazing experience!

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Great video. 👍 Very informative!

[@railrover]

Thank you glad you enjoyed

[@dosaussiethai2127]

1:48 this is Mt Buller in Victoria XD

[@veneratedmortal4369]

This is pretty cool I'll have to try it. I do love driving to perisher when it's a blizzard, but it can be slow.

[@davidwicks5099]

Well Done

[@joelpackett7582]

Interesting railway here I never knew it existed

[@Blanchy10]

Because of the rack system it also can stop very quickly!

[@aydoyt]

I saw a Skitube train on Wednesday

[@HazptMedia]

Always wanted to go here, but it’s expensive, and far away

[@railrover]

It’s definitely is, but a ticket to Talbot is only $25.40 return concession please film there

[@HazptMedia]

@@railrover 😐😐😐

[@HazptMedia]

@@RealNotOrrio 😐😐😐

[@metromanmemes]

@@HazptMedia Talbot is a pretty neutral location I have never heard of any wars breaking out there

[@veneratedmortal4369]

Far from where? Less than 5 hours from Sydney. We stay in Cooma for normal rates, drive in is about an hour. Lift passes are still 200 per day but that's the main cost. If your in NSW you could do a day trip. Leave at 4 am get home at 12pm after a day of skiing.

[@simonf8902]

Sadly Australia has not much snow these days. So the ski tube will be scrapped soon.

[@raph6931]

Incorrect

[@ThePaulv12]

That ski tube train would have to go down as about the ugliest, characterless train I have ever seen. Even in engineering, form follows function seems to have some kind of synergy but this 'thing' seems bereft of even that. I suppose the wealthy upper middle classes that can afford to be snow bunnies don't care and money is all that matters. Yuk!