Railways and Tramways of Australia
Queensland
C17 class locomotive 720 with train at Cabanda, Rosewood Railway, Queensland, 26 September 2010.
Aramac Tramway Museum
www.outbackqueensland.com.au/attractions/aramac-tramway-museum
The Aramac Tramway Museum has a range of exhibits relating to the former Aramac tramway, a railway linking Aramac to Barcaldine that was operated by Aramac Shire Council. It is located within the former railway goods shed, with exhibits including RM28, the last rail motor used on the line, and a rail motor trailer. The museum is open every day except public holidays. Aramac is located approximately 1140 km north-west of Brisbane.
Archer Park Rail Museum
Archer Park Rail Museum is located at Rockhampton’s former Archer Park railway station. Exhibits include a working Purrey steam tram that operated in Rockhampton, a former Queensland Railways diesel locomotive, railway trikes, and displays regarding the history of railways and tramways in the Rockhampton area. The museum is open from Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays, while the steam tram operates on Sundays from February to November. Additional opening and tram operating days take place on Wednesdays during April, June and September school holidays. Rockhampton is located approximately 640 km north of Brisbane.
Association of Tourist Railways Queensland (ATRQ)
The Association of Tourist Railways Queensland (ATRQ) aims to represent the interests of tourist and heritage railways in Queensland.
Atherton–Herberton Historic Railway
Atherton–Herberton Historic Railway operates services between Herberton station and Herberton Historic Village using a 1905 steam locomotive and wooden passenger carriage. A railway museum displaying photographs and other items is housed at Herberton station. The museum and trains rides operate on selected days as advertised. Herberton is located approximately 1710 km north of Brisbane.
Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society (ANGRMS)
Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society (ANGRMS) operates the Woodford Railway over a short section of the former railway line from Caboolture to Kilcoy. The society has a collection of steam, diesel and petrol locomotives, mostly from the Queensland sugar industry, as well as rolling stock and other heritage items. Train rides operate on the first and third Sunday of each month, mostly using steam locomotives. Woodford is located approximately 80 km north of Brisbane.
Australian Railway Historical Society, Queensland Division
Activities of the Australian Railway Historical Society, Queensland Division, include operating the Rosewood Railway and Rosewood Railway Museum, tours by special train and to places of railway interest, the publication of books and a monthly magazine, Sunshine Express, and maintaining a railway library.
Australian Society of Section Car Operators
The Australian Society of Section Car Operators operates motor section cars, which are small railway vehicles used to transport railway employees to worksites, on railway lines in Queensland. The section cars are operated by members and are not open to the general public.
Australian Sugar Cane Railway
www.bundabergcanetrains.org.au
The Australian Sugar Cane Railway operates a 610 mm gauge railway in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. It has several steam and diesel locomotives that formerly worked in the Queensland sugar cane industry. Trains operate on Sundays, Wednesdays and public holidays, and also Tuesdays and Fridays during school holidays. Bundaberg is located approximately 370 km north of Brisbane.
Big Pineapple
The Big Pineapple is a tourist attraction located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It includes the Pineapple Train, a 610 mm gauge railway which takes passengers through the pineapple plantation and Big Pineapple complex. The Big Pineapple is open daily, and is located at Woombye, approximately 100 km north of Brisbane.
Brisbane Tramway Museum
Brisbane Tramway Museum has a collection of 24 former Brisbane tramcars and two trolleybuses. Six of its tramcars are operational. Short tram rides are available, with planning underway to extend the track. The museum is open on Sundays. It is located at Ferny Grove, approximately 15 km north-west of Brisbane.
Downs Explorer
Downs Explorer operates steam and heritage diesel-hauled trains from Warwick to a number of destinations in Queensland’s Southern Downs region. Tours include a day trip to Wallangarra (on the New South Wales–Queensland border) and return. The Downs Explorer collection includes former Queensland Railways C17 Class steam locomotive 971, diesel locomotives, railcars and heritage rolling stock. It also has a museum of railway items. Warwick is located approximately 160 km south-west of Brisbane.
DownsSteam Tourist Railway and Museum
DownsSteam plans to establish a tourist railway from Toowoomba. Its locomotive and rolling stock includes a former Queensland Railways C16 Class steam locomotive under restoration, an 1170 Class diesel locomotive, as well as a rail motor, passenger and goods rolling stock. The DownsSteam depot is open to visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Toowoomba is located approximately 120 km west of Brisbane.
Ginger Factory
The Ginger Factory is a factory and tourist attraction on the Sunshine Coast. It includes a railway using a 610 mm gauge former sugar cane steam locomotive, now powered by a diesel engine mounted inside the tender. The Ginger Factory is open every day except Christmas Day, and is located at Yandina, approximately 110 km north of Brisbane.
Gulflander
The Gulflander travels on the isolated railway between Normanton and Croydon in Far North Queensland. The line was opened in 1891 and crosses remote countryside. Plans to link it to the remainder of the Queensland Railways network never eventuated. Services use a Queensland Railways rail motor and trailer. It is operated by Queensland Rail as a passenger service, but has become a tourist attraction as a unique outback railway experience. The Gulflander runs from Normanton to Croydon on Wednesdays, a distance of 152 km, and then returns on Thursdays. Some shorter trips also run. Normanton is located approximately 2060 km north-west of Brisbane.
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of Australia’s most popular tourist trains. It provides a spectacular 34 km railway journey between Cairns and Kuranda. The line climbs from sea level to an altitude of 330 metres, including 15 tunnels. It passes waterfalls and rainforest scenery, with views of the Cairns area, the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Barron Gorge. Commentary is provided along the journey. Travel on the railway can be combined with visits to other attractions, such as the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Trains operate every day except Christmas Day. Cairns is located approximately 1700 km north of Brisbane.
Mackay Heritage Railway
http://www.atrq.net/?page_id=100
Mackay Heritage Railway plans to restore and operate a former Queensland Railways BB18¼ Class steam locomotive over a short section of track near Mackay Harbour. Mackay is located approximately 970 km north of Brisbane.
Maryborough City Whistlestop
www.maryboroughwhistlestop.org.au
Maryborough City Whistlestop maintains a railway museum within the former Maryborough railway station. Its collection contains railway memorabilia and other items, and is open on from Tuesdays to Fridays. The museum also has a B15 Class steam locomotive 299, which it aims to restore, and a replica of 0-4-0 vertical boiler locomotive Mary Anne, which operates on Thursdays and the last Sunday of the month. Maryborough is located approximately 260 km north of Brisbane.
Mary Valley Rattler
Mary Valley Rattler operates steam train trips over 23 km between Gympie, Amamoor and Dagun along the former Brooloo railway line. The Mary Valley Rattler has several Queensland Railways C17 Class steam locomotives, heritage diesel locomotives and rolling stock. It is based at the former Gympie railway station and workshops. Steam trains operate on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, while a rail motor operates on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Gympie is located approximately 170 km north of Brisbane.
Mount Morgan Historical Railway Museum
Mount Morgan Historical Railway Museum is located within the former railway station building. Displays include a former Mount Morgan Mines tank locomotive, a rail motor, passenger rolling stock, and an audio visual display about the rack railway that operated nearby. Mount Morgan Railway Museum is usually open daily. Mount Morgan is located approximately 650 km north of Brisbane.
North Bundaberg Railway Museum
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057113423383
Bundaberg Railway Museum is housed in the town’s first railway station. It has a collection of railway items, including a 1921 guard’s van, fettlers’ vehicles, signalling equipment, photographs and historic records. It is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Bundaberg is located approximately 370 km north of Brisbane.
Queensland Diesel Restoration Group
Queensland Diesel Restoration Group is working on the restoration of former Queensland Railways diesel locomotives. Current projects are English Electric 1200 Class hybrid locomotive 1225, Clyde 1700 Class locomotive 1707D and Clyde 1720 Class locomotive 1741D.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway operates steam and diesel locomotives with heritage rolling stock on the former Swanbank railway line. Steam trains are operated by a former Queensland Railways PB15 Class locomotive or 0-4-2T industrial locomotive Kilrie. Trains operate on one or two Saturdays or Sundays each month. Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway is located at Swanbank, approximately 40 km south-west of Brisbane.
Ravenshoe Railway Company
https://ravenshoesteamrailway.webs.com/
Ravenshoe Railway Company has a former Queensland Railways D17 Class steam locomotive, which it operates over 7 km of railway line between Ravenshoe and Tumoulin. Train services are not running at present, but the site is open for viewing. Ravenshoe is located approximately 1700 km north of Brisbane.
Rosewood Railway
Rosewood Railway is operated by the Australian Railway Historical Society, Queensland Division. The museum is located at Kunkala station. Exhibits include former Queensland Railways steam and diesel locomotives, railcars and other railway items. Trains operate between Cabanda and Kunkala, but are not currently running. Rosewood Railway is located approximately 70 km south-west of Brisbane.
Savannahlander
The Savannahlander operates between Cairns and Forsayth from March to December using former Queensland Railways stainless steel rail motors. The journey traverses the wet tropics of the Kuranda range and the arid savannah country. It departs Cairns on Wednesday morning, stops overnight in Almaden, and arrives in Forsayth on Thursday evening. On the return journey it departs Forsayth on Friday morning, stops overnight in Mount Surprise, and arrives in Cairns on Saturday evening. Various packages can be booked for sectional journeys or the full return trip of almost 850 km, including visits to local attractions. Packages can combine travel on the Savannahlander and the Gulflander. Cairns is located approximately 1700 km north of Brisbane, and Forsayth is located approximately 1750 km north-east of Brisbane.
Sunshine Express Rail Tours
Sunshine Express Rail Tours are operated by the Australian Railway Historical Society, Queensland Division. Tours operate occasionally using steam locomotives and heritage carriages.
Texas Railway Museum
The Texas Railway Museum has a number of exhibits on display. It is open on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Texas is located approximately 300 km south-west of Brisbane.
The Workshops Rail Museum
www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au
The Workshops Rail Museum has a diverse collection of former Queensland Railways steam and diesel locomotives, rolling stock and other exhibits. It is located within the former railway workshops at Ipswich. Displays include a number of interactive exhibits and information about the social history of railways. Locomotives include an A10 Class 0-4-2 steam locomotive built in 1865, a Beyer-Garratt Class 4-8-2+2-8-4 steam locomotive, and DL1, the first diesel locomotive to operate in government service in Australia. Guided tours of the museum are led by former railway workers. The Workshops Rail Museum is open every day except Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day. Ipswich is located approximately 40 km south-west of Brisbane.
Wallangarra Railway Station and Museum
Wallangarra is on the border between New South Wales and Queensland and was a change of gauge station when railways of different gauges operated in the two states. The railway from New South Wales is now disused. A museum inside the station building has interpretive displays and historic exhibits. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays. Wallangarra is located approximately 250 km south-west of Brisbane.