Aerial Ropeway of the Jamison Valley
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Maps: LPI Katoomba 89301S & LPI Jamison 89302N GR: 497 639 - 489 616 Comments: The Aerial Ropeway was built by John North to transport oil shale from his mines near the Ruined Castle to the Katoomba Incline, some 3.4 kilometres across the Jamison Valley. It was built using imported equipment and local hardwood timber and used a continuous cable to transport buckets across the valley. The Aerial Ropeway was driven by an engine near the Katoomba Incline and supported along its route by support towers constructed on ridgetops across the valley. The Ropeway had to rise steeply from the valley at each end of it's route and this contributed to the mechanical problems that dogged its operation. After only 9 months the Aerial Ropeway was abandoned. During its short life, the Aerial Ropeway transported 20,000 tons of oil shale. Cables, buckets, pulleys and the remains of some pylons can still be found in the valley.
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