Thread: Train Rides

Gosh, Cliff, they now make smaller cameras that don't have to be hauled by locomotive.

Joe

I know, mine fits in a car but the car tracks go nowhere near the train tracks.

Queensland went for narrow guage (3ft 6in) which is basically an American (Rio Grande) guage. New Zealand eventually went for the same guage after initially playing with broad guage. Someone with a few brain cells worked out that in a mountainous country like New Zealand broad guage would end up being a total disaster.

A great train ride exists in South Australia, and the fare cannot be beaten. FREE train rides at the Penfield Park Railway, Salisbury South Australia. They have a great railway there, and infernal combustion as well as steam engines pull the trains. They have a web page and meet on the last Sunday most months.

There is another "great" train ride up here in far North Queensland, goes from Cairns on Wednesday morning to Forsyth and back to Cairns by Saturday afternoon. We did that trip two years back. It is unique in that it is the only train to use the line and will stop at any time for any reason. It is total relaxation, basic and you will get to see none of the "tourist" track, but the real Australian "outback" and at a leisurely pace. The "train" is an old two carriage rail motor.
Jim

Being an ex North Queensland Mareeba boy the Cairns - Kuranda rail is a must. but when we visited some friends in Tasmania we were impressed with the rack and pinion train that went over the mountains from Strahan to Queenstown.

How they built that track shows the pioneering fortitude of those who came before us.

Small world this Cliff.

I was born in Mareeba North Queensland and yes the North Queensland Cowboys are my Number one team followed by the Gold Coast Titans and then the Brisbane Broncos.

Unfortunately they all bombed out this year but Queensland did win the State of origin series.

And to our American friend Joe who told me previously that his office was only 200 meters from the Restaurant called ' Thank God it's Friday ' at Tallahassee. Where my family and I had lunch when driving from New Orleans to Orlando Florida.

Originally Posted by STAR

Small world this Cliff.

I was born in Mareeba North Queensland and yes the North Queensland Cowboys are my Number one team followed by the Gold Coast Titans and then the Brisbane Broncos.

Unfortunately they all bombed out this year but Queensland did win the State of origin series.

And to our American friend Joe who told me previously that his office was only 200 meters from the Restaurant called ' Thank God it's Friday ' at Tallahassee. Where my family and I had lunch when driving from New Orleans to Orlando Florida.

'Twould be a neat coincidence if it were so. It seems that TGIF was near a different highway exit, and have now folded their tent. The one near my office was/is "Ruby Tuesday." Close, but no cigar. Probably a population explosion in memory. Why do they have to be so cute with the names?

BTW, my favourite RR name is the "Crab Orchard and Egyptian" - a short line RR in southern Illinois, only about 15 miles of track, and 3 (or so) locomotives. Crab Orchard is a nature preserve near Marion IIRC, and "Egyptian" derives from the area's copious agricultural productivity. They were the last 'Murrican RR to switch from steam to diesel-electric.

Joe

Just got back from a month in Canada and U.S.A. Took the "Rockie Mountaineer" from Jasper to Toronto. Was very impressed by the trip, but more impressed with the quality of the food. The only downside was that the train had to give way to the freight trains, and was 4.5 hours late into Toronto. Still a very impressive train ride.
Jim

Originally Posted by powderpost

Just got back from a month in Canada and U.S.A. ...........

Welcome back Jim, you were just about to head off last time I saw you at the markets. Hope everything is OK at your place as I know there were a few bushfires down your road, with one today.

Mick

http://www.ksr.com.au/