Gulflander
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Italic title Template:Infobox rail service
The Gulflander is a passenger train operated by Queensland Rail on the isolated Normanton to Croydon line in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland, Australia.[1][2][3][4]
History
Steam locomotives were used until 1929. By that stage railmotors had been introduced since 1922.[5] By 1974 the line was under the threat of closure, earning just $3,000 in revenue but costing $64,000 to maintain.[6]
Today the line exists as a tourist attraction and is said to be more an adventure than a train ride. The crews are qualified guides and will stop the train and talk about points of interest. The present three-car railmotor set of RM93 Gardner diesel railmotor and carriages TP1809 and TP1811 is known as "the old Tin Hare".[7]
Service
The service runs once per week to Croydon on Wednesdays, returning to Normanton on Thursdays. Shorter charter services on most other days are also available.[8]
Rollingstock
Thirteen power units have been used on the line. It is unusual that of the 13 units, 12 survive in one form or another and most are still in the region due mainly to its remoteness.[2] They are as follows:[9]
- A10 class steam locomotive 202, undergoing restoration to operational condition by Croydon Shire Council[10][11]
- A10 class steam locomotive 203, used as parts for the restoration of 202[12]
- A10 class steam locomotive 204, on display at Croydon station[13]
- B12 class steam locomotive 28, on display at Normanton station
- B13 class steam locomotive 161, on display at Normanton station
- B13 class steam locomotive 234, on display at Normanton station
- RM14 Panhard-Levassor petrol railmotor, operated Gulflander 1923–1929, returned to Normanton for 120th anniversary in 2011, on display at Workshops Rail Museum[14]
- RM31 AEC petrol railmotor, operated Gulflander 1929–1945, eventual fate unknown
- RM32 AEC petrol railmotor, operated Gulflander 1945–1960, on display at Normanton
- RM60 AEC petrol railmotor, operated Gulflander 1960–1964, operational at Normanton
- RM74 Gardner (formerly AEC) diesel railmotor, operated Gulflander 1964–1982, on display at Redland Museum, Cleveland[15]
- RM93 Gardner diesel railmotor, operational at Normanton station, arrived 1982, hauls present Gulflander
- DL4 diesel-mechanical locomotive, arrived November 1988, operational at Normanton
- TP1809 carriage, former PL1809 passenger/luggage trailer transferred to Normanton in 1980, forms present Gulflander[16][17][18]
- TP1811 carriage de-motored and reclassified RM1811, was the QR Commissioners Car throughout the 1980s before conversion and transfer to Normanton in 1991, forms present Gulflander[16][18]
References
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- ↑ Gulflander Train Template:Webarchive Croydon Shire Council
- ↑ Timetable & Fares Template:Webarchive The Gulflander
- ↑ Locomotives Template:Webarchive The Gulflander
- ↑ Croydon Heritage Preservation Association Template:Webarchive Croydon Shire Council
- ↑ A10 202 Template:Webarchive Australian Steam
- ↑ A10 203 Template:Webarchive Australian Steam
- ↑ A10 204 Template:Webarchive Australian Steam
- ↑ Railmotor on 2200km journey Template:Webarchive Queensland Times 15 July 2011
- ↑ RM74 Template:Webarchive Redland Museum
- ↑ a b The 1800 Class "Blue Lagoons" Template:Webarchive Queensland's Great Trains
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External links
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