Australian Railway Historical Society - Queensland

Sunday, 15 August 2010 to Thursday, 19 August 2010

Only 2 seats left!

In the 1950s, Queensland Rail decided to modernise its railcar fleet. It was arranged that Commonwealth Engineering would build two "1900 class" units (based on the American Budd Car design) while QR's Ipswich Workshops built two "2000 class" units. More 2000 class were subsequently built but there were only ever two "1900s" – 1900 itself and 1901.

For some twenty odd years commencing in the 1960s, QR in conjunction with the Queensland Tourist Bureau ran railcar tours to Cairns using the 1960s/1970s built 2000 class rail motors. Spread over 5 days these tours travelled only in daylight and passengers were accommodated in motels for the overnight stops.

The 1900 class rail motors never made the journey to Cairns. Join us for RM 1901’s greatest adventure as we re-create one of these Daylight Rail Motor Tours. This will be the itinerary:-

Sunday 15th August: Departing from Brisbane at 8.00am our railcar travels along the North Coast Line past the famed Glass House Mountains, citrus and pineapple plantations to Gympie for lunch. We then continue to Maryborough and Bundaberg where we spend the night. A short local bus tour has been arranged.    LD

Monday 16th August: It will be an 8.15am departure this morning from Bundaberg as we head through grazing country to Gladstone where lunch awaits. Then it’s onwards to Rockhampton with the strong possibility of our seeing several coal trains along this busy section of track. Our scheduled arrival time is 3.20pm and again a local tour has been arranged.    BLD

Tuesday 17th August: Back to an 8.00am start today and we travel through more grazing country en route to our lunch stop at St. Lawrence. At Flaggy Rock we strike the first of the North Queensland cane fields which continue through to Mackay where we are due at 3.45pm. There will be a short bus tour of the local sights.     BLD

Wednesday 18th August: Cane is still the dominant crop we see after leaving Mackay at 8.20am. This continues to north of Proserpine but It’s dryer country around Bowen. Cane returns by the Home Hill / Ayr region and we should arrive in Townsville at 5.45pm.     BLD

Thursday 19th August: Our last morning has us away from Townsville at 9.15am after a quick town tour. Lunch will be served at Tully as we journey through the tropics. There will be a short pause at Innisfail with Cairns arrival being about 5.00pm. Our tour will terminate on arrival in Cairns.    BL

Legend: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Train Information

Commonwealth Engineering RM1901 Rail Car, the only of its type in service in 2010.

Fares

Limited Seats Available

5 day Journey
One Fare Only	$1,595.00

Conditions

This fare includes all meals from lunch on Sunday to lunch on Thursday, accommodation on a twin or triple share basis in comfortable motels, town tours as shown in the itinerary and transfers where required. Single supplement available on application. A deposit of $250.00 person is required and further payments can be made at any time with full balance due 1st July 2010 (close of booking date). An instalment plan is available, please download the brochure for more details.

Timetable

Sunday 15th August
ROMA STREET	8:00am
GYMPIE	Afternoon

Monday 16th August
GYMPIE	8:15am
ROCKHAMPTON	3:20pm

Tuesday 17th August
ROCKHAMPTON	8:00am
MACKAY	3:45pm

Wednesday 18th August
MACKAY	8:20am
TOWNSVILLE	5:45pm

Thursday 19th August
TOWNSVILLE	9:15am
CAIRNS	5:00pm

Times subject to confirmation by QR

Refreshments

Refreshments will be available on board, as well as meals included where indicated above.

Download Tour Brochure

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