While grey nomads are not surprisingly best known for their love of road travel, there are plenty of caravanners who also have a keen interest in rail transport and – given the rising price of petrol – maybe there will be a few more eager to take the train before too long!
For many travellers, of course, exploring the historic significance of the railway is an important part of their trips.
With the romance of rail firmly etched into the public psyche, there are plenty of opportunities for grey nomads – and others – to hop aboard and take a journey back in time.
Certainly, the tourism authorities in Queensland are eager to emphasise the rail credentials of the Sunshine State, and get people back on track.
The Mary Valley Rattler is hugely popular. PIC: TEQ
It has listed some of its top rail experiences for visitors. They are:
The Kuranda Scenic Railway, born back in the 1880s when frustrated tin miners working on the Wild River near Herberton demanded ways to access supplies. The train, which has authentic timber carriages, rises from sea level to 327 metres as it winds its way from Cairns through the lush tropics and past spectacular waterfalls to Kuranda.
The Kuranda railway travels through the lush tropics and past spectacular waterfalls to Kuranda. PIC: TEQ
The Mary Ann Steam Engine in Maryborough is a full-size replica of the first steam engine built in Queensland in 1873 at John Walker and Co’s Union Foundry. It steams through a park along the rail tracks which were laid to service the foundry.
Gympie’s Mary Valley Rattler takes passengers back in time on scenic journeys through the Mary Valley hills. The return journey will take passengers from Gympie or Amamoor Stations via Dagun through some of Queensland’s most beautiful rural landscapes.
The Savannahlander departs from Cairns and winds its way up through Kuranda and then out west through the Outback Gulf Savannah country on comfortable 2000 class railmotor units.
The Gulflander, or ‘Tin Hare’, which was originally built in the late 1880s to connect the port of Normanton with the goldfields of Croydon, traverses wetlands, grasslands and arid Savannah territory.
And for grey nomads who are really tempted by the idea of taking a break from the open road – and high fuel prices – there are some amazing long-distance rail journeys that might persuade them to park the van and take the train to far flung corners of the state instead.
The Gulflander was originally built in the late 1880s. PIC: TEQ
The Spirit of Queensland travels the spine of the Sunshine State between Brisbane and Cairns on stopping off along the way at some of state’s best coastal holiday hubs.
The Spirit of the Outback takes passengers from Brisbane to the pioneer town of Longreach with historic authentic outback towns along the way.
The Westlander heads out from Brisbane across the towering mountains of the Great Dividing Range through the lush green countryside of the Darling Downs, and out to the historic town of Charleville in Outback Queensland, while the Inlander operates between Townsville and the mining centre of Mount Isa.
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