The future of railway heritage tourism? The West Coast Wilderness Railway, Tasmania

It is perhaps fitting that one of the final chapters in this book addresses the development and management of the West Coast Wilderness Railway ['NCWR), located in the Australian state of Tasmania. The WCWRembodies many of the criteria presented in the railway heritage typologies introduced in Chapter 1 and which reflect the unusual characteristics of this particular niche of industrial heritage, particularly in the context of tourism. In stating this, it is not being suggested that the WCWR is necessarily a preferred model for the development of heritage railway tourism. Indeed, it is only one type of development model, one where a public-private form of partnership is a key element in its success. However, it is a particularly good example of how this particular form of development can be achieved. The initial result of this partnership was a superb example of a rejuvenated heritage railway attraction that formed part of a cohesive and comprehensive tourism attraction. As a result, one would think that the WCWR provides lessons and guidelines for the successful development and management of a railway heritage tourism attraction. Or does it?