Today the West Coast is known for its beauty, tourist and mining industries, but in days gone by it was also known for its amazing variety of railways, timber and its isolation from the rest of Tasmania. The only way one visited the west was by train on the Emu Bay Railway or by ship.

With the opening of the West Coast road in 1932, the area could be reached by road transport. This book chronicles the construction of this and other roads as well the railways that served the area including the various mines.

Introduction -- 1. The original trailblazers -- 2. Ogilvie takes charge -- 3. Contractors and operators -- 4. Mt Lyell goes modern -- 5. Transport Commission comes to the west coast -- 6. Everyone is heading west -- 7. First taxis -- 8. Hydro and tankers -- 9. P.W.D. and the big flood -- 10. Rail motors and locomotives -- 11. Past memories -- Old driving mates.

Includes index and bibliography.