Carnival of Flowers to Toowoomba

Saturday, 19th September 2009 & Sunday, 20th September 2009

The Society will be running two steam train excursions to Toowoomba for the Carnival of Flowers. Trains will run on Saturday 19th (which is the day of the procession) and Sunday 20th.

Of necessity, Saturday’s tour will make an early start from Brisbane's Roma Street Station so that the train should arrive in Toowoomba in time for the spectacular procession. Some pick-up stops will be made en route for the convenience of passengers.

The trains will take us all the way to Toowoomba. The route includes the crossing of the Little Liverpool Range, the fast run across the black-soil plains of the Lockyer Valley and the steep climb of the Main Range. Mid-way up the range the trains will slow as we pass through the station at Spring Bluff which is normally a delight at this time of the year.

Lunch will be available at the historic (and recently refurbished) Railway Refreshment Rooms in Toowoomba if pre-ordered with your tickets. This will be a two-course meal consisting of roast and dessert at $22.50 a head. There will be two sittings for lunch on Saturday - the first immediately on arrival of the train, the second at 1.00pm. Please indicate your preference on the booking form. However it should be noted that if you select the first sitting you will miss seeing the procession but will have a longer gardens tour. If you watch the procession then dine on the second sitting your gardens tour will be slightly shorter. There will only be one meal sitting on Sunday. (There is no procession on the Sunday).

After lunch, coaches will take passengers on a tour of the prize-winning gardens and thence to Helidon Railway Station to re-join the train for the trip back to Brisbane. The refreshment car will be open for sustenance on the way home.

Train Information

Subject to availability, BB18¼ locomotive No. 1089 should work the tour assisted from Helidon to Toowoomba on Saturday by a diesel engine. The train will consist of wooden carriages from QR's heritage fleet.

Fares

Saturday or Sunday Tour
Adults	$99.00
Pensioners/Seniors	$89.00
Children (4 - 15 years)	$69.00
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children)	$279.00

Conditions

ARHS Qld Div members may deduct 10% from these fares (maximum five tickets) if paid for by 19th August 2009.

Junior Rail Fans' Club: Any JRFC member accompanied by an adult may travel free.

Timetable

Saturday
Forward Journey - Roma Street	6.45am
Corinda	7.00
Ipswich	7.30
Rosewood	8.05
Toowoomba	11.30am
Return Journey - Helidon	4.15pm
Rosewood	5.30
Ipswich	5.55
Corinda	6.25
Roma Street	6.45pm

Sunday
Forward Journey - Roma Street	7.20am
Corinda	7.35
Ipswich	8.05
Rosewood	8.40
Toowoomba	12.05pm
Return Journey - Helidon	5.10pm
Rosewood	6.20
Ipswich	6.45
Corinda	7.20
Roma Street	7.35pm

Note: These times are still subject to confirmation from QR

Refreshments

Light refreshments (sausage rolls, pies, sandwiches etc.), hot and cool drinks, chips & sweets will be for sale on the train.

Download Tour Brochure

Download PDF (116kb) You will need the free Adobe Reader to view this document.

Smoking

Queensland Rail has a policy of 'NO SMOKING' on board all trains and at all railway stations. In accordance with this policy, smoking is not permitted on tour trains and passengers are advised to observe any areas in which smoking is prohibited at stations.