A never-before-seen perspective on Australias amazing wilderness, Join UK author Alexander McCall Smith at Brisbane Powerhouse, Say goodbye to summer in style by sitting on a rooftop drinking rose, Elevate your fitness routine with a diverse range of free classes for all fitness levels, including Pilates, Zumba & Yoga Flow, A green party boat cruise, the annual St Patrick's Day parade and a fantastic Irish concert - three of the top ways to celebrate, From sunset opera by the river, 2-day cocktail expo, and stunning arts and food night market to a secret new laneway bar some top things to do, Get into the Irish spirit this St Patrick's Day weekend with a stunning dance performance that has wowed the world. Shes also a member of Oral History NSW and her latest venture is recording individual life stories. Brisbane's annual St Patrick's Day Paradeis back! There you find some of Australias most eccentric and appealing trains and together with a mail-plane flight over the Gulf and some interesting local coach and boat trips you have the essence of a quintessential Aussie outback adventure. Liane manages all Marketing and Communications within the Railway Adventures team. Air accident: Tarago, New South Wales: 6: 1992 Jun 19: . A not-for-profit organisation, most of the restoration work has been completed by 'work for the dole' participants. (Source: Toowoomba to Gladstone Inland rail project submission) Cr Burnett . Weve seen many people become life-long friends from the time they shared together along the line. Downs Explorer has restored a Heritage C17 Steam Locomotive to operational condition. Heritage Train Tour Leaders Q & A with Steve Matchett, Heritage Train Tour Leaders Q & A with Graeme Hind, ICONS OF ENGLAND AND WALES - INNOVATION, INSPIRATION, AND INTRIGUE, A Classic South American Tour: Journey from Buenos Aires to Lima, ANZAC Day and North Borneo trip of remembrance at Sandakan Memorial, Heritage Train Tour Leaders Q & A with Bob Daniel. Call1300 800 977now to request a brochure on our domestic tours in 2021. Loco 106 is also the last surviving loco to be built at the historic Toowoomba Foundry. The schedules shown below are for the next available departures. It is also referred to as the capital of theDarlings Downs. Passionate about the arts, culture, and how others live, Bernadettes travel experiences are many and varied. Trains run through the beautiful scenery with a Model Railway Museum to visit as well. Membership grew steadily and in 1945 a Division was formed in Victoria. The Westlander travels from Brisbane to Charleville twice a week, with RailBus Coach Connections to Quilpie and Cunnamulla. Those who board the Grandchester Express will experience the sights, sounds and smells of a heritage steam train, travelling to the first train station built in Queensland, on the very first Queensland rail route. State-wide rail connections leave from Roma Street Station's Transit Centre, which is only one train stop away from South Bank. 0000012061 00000 n The Westlander travels from Brisbane to Charleville twice a week, with RailBus Coach Connections to Quilpie and Cunnamulla. Book Your Rail Adventure BROWSE ALL TOURS Register your interest and as soon as the tour is launched we will be in touch to make your booking. 0000014710 00000 n 0000092140 00000 n 0000088627 00000 n 0000055929 00000 n A fabulous venue for small events birthdays, Mothers Day and Fathers Day, Christmas and anniversaries. Upon arrival at Palmwoods, travellers will have 4 choices: A. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Being the hub of the fertile Darling Downs region has resulted in a city with extensive manufacturing, education, health, retail and professional services. While working predominantly in the aviation industry for over 25 years he has also worked in varying capacities in the rail industry, including as rail booking officer for the NSW Department of Tourism and as a relief station attendant based in Northern NSW. Bernadette has navigated groups of kids through Eisteddfod competitions, teens through personal development programs, and adults across countries. His list of countries visited now exceeds 70. Bundamba Racecourse Station (Out of Service During Covid) Located on T.L. Scott McGregors Railway Adventures tour is more than just a holiday, it is a unique way to experience the world. Premium Economy class seats on the Spirit of Queensland, The lounge car on the Spirit of Queensland tilt train, Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. Departing Tuesday, February 28, 2023 19:15 Brisbane He also did a number of TV roles for the ABC, as well as some very small parts in a few movies. This station is the boarding point for passengers on The Swanbank Collier or a Heritage Pass ticket. Bob is the founder and original owner of Guidepost Tours, established nearly 40 years ago, which now operates niche market tours to many destinations around the world. There is widespread community transmission globally.Some travel restrictions are being lifted in Australia. Peter is a Tour Leader, a Rail Enthusiast, and a Tour Organiser speciali s ing in Railway Journeys in South America. 0000007823 00000 n . Reduced mobility access is available on specific carriages. Enjoy a mid-week staycation at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park between Sunday to Thursday, and kids eat free with any paying adult! His interest in rail was sparked as a youngster by watching steam trains shunt in the yards at Nyngan, and later by regular travel on the Western Mail between Dubbo and Sydney to attend university. Date: 17 Mar 2021 25 Mar 2021. After completing an Economics Degree Stephen initially worked within corporate and retail banking areas then moved into the employment, education and training sector where he worked for over 20 years in both metropolitan and regional areas of NSW, and federally in Canberra. One of his favourite journeys is by private train in Sri Lanka. Stephen is interested in connecting with people and tailoring his expertise to enhance the enjoyment of all travellers. Our Heritage Railway is a living Rail Museum. 0000037942 00000 n It takes you across Southern Queenslands Granite Belt from Brisbane to Warwick and then to Toowoomba by special steam train for the stunning Carnival of Flowers festival. 2021. This short and sweet adventure centres on a springtime excursion along the historic and dramatic railway which formed the Queensland section of the Great northern Railway linking Sydney and Brisbane by rail in 1888. National party leader Barnaby Joyce is pushing for a rail extension to take coal from Toowoomba to Gladstone for shipping. Make sure to copy Registration number after successful submission. Steam Train Tours. He began at an early age as an international flight attendant with Qantas progressing eventually to cabin crew line manager. Cooney Avenue, just off Brisbane Road, is the Racecourse Train Station. itinerary Day 1. Springtime Steam Spectacular to the Carnival of Flowers and Beyond - 22 - 30 September 2021 BRISBANE WARWICK TOOWOOMBA DALBY MARYBOROUGH GYMPIE Scott McGregor's Railway Adventures tour is more than just a holiday, it is a unique way to experience the world. Born and bred in Scotland, David has lived in Lisbon in Portugal for the last 20 years and has always enjoyed travelling, especially by train. Not only does he get to expand his own horizons and indulge his love of train travel, he gets to use his extensive hosting experience and love of people to lead other like-minded travellers onescorted train toursaround the world. All services run direct with no transfers required, and take on average 3h 50m. The resulting photographs and articles have appeared in numerous Australian and overseas publications. 0000088344 00000 n Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Welcome to the Sunshine Express Operating rail tours in Queensland since 1957 There are currently no upcoming Tours. He is a Swiss resident who has been living in Quito in Ecuador for almost 15 years, and he loves organising unusual travel experiences both for rail enthusiasts and adventurous travellers alike. Barbara has been part of the Railway Adventures tour leader team since April 2021 and loves being part of a like-minded group that supports a well-planned and inspirational itinerary, creating lifelong memories with enthusiastic passengers. Join a coach to travel up the range to the quirky village of Montville to browse the boutiques and galleries and enjoy lunch 400 metres above sea level. 0000010540 00000 n Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Southern Queensland Country Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways that run through these regions. He has also lived in Canada and spent a few years in South Africa working for the railways there. He holds an Advanced Diploma (hons) Tourism Management. Queensland Rail Limited ABN 71 132 181 090. Train lovers will thoroughly enjoy the museum carriage! Take a coach ride to the seaside resort of Mooloolaba for a cooling swim in the ocean or just have lunch and breathe in the salt sea air. See a variety of layouts where the trains run through the beautiful scenery. Ballarat Velocity (160km/h) and Steam Loco A2986 (not 160km/h) Ballarat has a train every 40 minutes taking around 1 hour, while Toowoomba has a train only twice per week taking 4 hours. Greyhound Australia. Experiencing the half-light of Icelandic winters and driving into the unending horizons of the South Gobi Desert have been some of her favourite moments. The final steam-hauled train in South East Queensland pauses at Esk as the locomotives take on water (Image courtesy of Stan Moore) With the stroke of a pen, the Queensland Railways went from having 178 steam locomotive on the books in 1969 to just 15 in 1970. 0000009666 00000 n 0000003049 00000 n The difference could hardly be more stark. After 15 years with USyd, she ventured into the world of specialist small group tour operators, where she has found her niche. I have a background as a professional squash player and undertook an accountingand finance degree in the background. All in all, youll experience a grand round trip tailor made to showcase the rich characters stories and great train journeys of Queenslands great South East. The train runs, on average, 2 times per week from Brisbane to Toowoomba. Thu, Mar 9, 5:30 PM. Upgrade tickets are available which include discounted entry to The Workshops Rail Museum. 0000089148 00000 n The grounds can be accessed most days of the week, however the train tracks are out of bounds to visitors as it is an operating line and trains can come through unannounced. Our Vietnam tour makes use of private carriages attached to regular trains to explore that great country in comfort and in South Africa we use a variety of trains including the luxurious Rovos Rail and the Royal Livingstone steam train to move from one incredible adventure to another. He flew internationally with QANTAS Airways for some 20 years. DownsSteam was formed to enable the preservation and active restoration of the last remaining steam locomotive built at the historic Toowoomba Foundry Company, C16-106 Southern Cross Works No. He has had a great interest in railways since early childhood. Let us share our specially curated holiday tips, news and deals, ensuring you can revel in all the beauty our country has on offer. This Steam Railway is definitely one to tick off your train bucket list and will be sure to delight the whole family. DownsSteam would like to thank the Westbrook Correctional Centre for allowing Domi (meaning thunder) to solely undertake this unique and extensive art project over very short 19 weeks, as many other artists had declined due to the magnitude of the project. Jagera Community Hall South Brisbane, QLD. Surrounded by railway books and antiquities as well as being immersed in a household operational life of Queensland Rail, Mike soon found opportunities to travel with his father on locomotives. 0000037278 00000 n Lived in Europe for 6 years competing in squash and when it was time to move on, I dove into bookkeeping and finance, aiming to help small businesses plan forward and manage their monies. The hinged ridge pole was replaced by a fixed tarpaulin supports. In the steam locomotive era, all the heavy goods trains from Brisbane had to have an engine at the rear to push them from Murphy's Creek to Toowoomba. All Aboard! What a great job they are doing there all volunteers and NO Government assistance it is a great tourist attraction. Along with popular destinations like Switzerland, Scandinavia, Outback Queensland and Sri Lanka, a new breed of more unusual destinations has gained great interest. She has worked in wholesale and retail travel, then as an events coordinator in a 5-star hotel, before living and working in Japan for 2 years as a conversational English teacher with her husband Duncan. Departing from Roma Street the train, which features wooden carriages from Queensland Rail's heritage fleet, will stop to pick up passengers at Northgate, Lawnton and Caboolture. Trains run twice a week between Brisbane and Toowoomba. 0000048442 00000 n 0000006406 00000 n Once John visits Taiwan, he can say he say he has been to every country in Asia. A classical music concert for curious first-timers & devoted aficionados alike, Dont miss the Grammy Award-winning banjo virtuosos, Rewind to the 80s with Mixtape at Metro Arts, Take a nostalgic Friday night trip back to the 1980's. His career in Scotland was in banking, helping him to be the careful organiser that he is today. Please subscribe for the latest news and upcoming tours. 0000023582 00000 n Will Coronavirus (COVID-19) affect my travel to Toowoomba? Prices start at $150AUD per night. Graeme says The back blocks of Australia, the Isle of man (Motor bikes AND trains! Bus from Brisbane to Toowoomba: Find schedules, Compare prices & Book Greyhound Australia tickets. Need to know - The special steam train is scheduled for the 2.5 hour round trip, departing from The Workshops Rail Museum at 10am on 6 October 2018. From Rob Brydon & Dr Michael Mosley live, famous banjo players & cutting edge theatre to wine-tasting and a sunflower festival, The top things to do in March around Brisbane, The top things to do around Brisbane this weekend, Sherlock Holmes' The Mystery of the Valkyrie, Australian Geographic: Our Country 360 Cinematic Experience, A sensory fusion of food and art set outdoors within a popup village, A stunning al fresco restaurant, 2 bars, ice-cream parlour and cellar door, Sing, dance and sway your weekend away with family & friends. Having moved permanently to Australia in 2002 she developed her skill set in Marketing and the rapidly changing world of Digital Marketing. Commuter train crashed into a stalled chartered steam train. Your email address will not be published. The Swanbank Collier is a 1 hour 10 minute trip from the scenic Swanbank station set in idyllic lakeside grounds. (A $90; Conc $85; Child $50; Fam 2A+2C - $240)D. Take a short trip on the same train for to Yandina and return (for the locals). Both have populations of around 100,000, Toowoomba being a bit larger. During his time in Adelaide Phil has gained considerable knowledge about South Australia in a variety of areas, including previous and current rail operations. Mariah fell in love with travelling after living in Belgium on a student exchange, and she has not stopped travelling since. 2021 Dec 16: An inflatable castle that was being used for a year-end celebration at Hillcrest . As a keen photographer he has photographed a number of rail operations there. 0000027384 00000 n Depart Brisbane to Toowoomba (L,D) Departing on our opulent 'Diamond Class' coach from Brisbane Transit Centre on Roma Street, travelling responsibly knowing all coach emissions are 100% offset, we travel through the lush Lockyer Valley to Spring Bluff Railway Station, to discover the prize-winning gardens here. Duncan loves the freedoms and camaraderie of train travel. After more than a decade leading tours he decided to establish Railway Adventures in 2012. Thu 21 Oct 2021 12.30 EDT Last . All tours feature reserved seating. 120 99 Visit us /museum-of-tropical-queensland Townsville Museum of Tropical Queensland 0000056325 00000 n Corner of Fitzroy Street Mariah is passionate about gastronomy and languages and speaks English, Portuguese, French and Spanish. He and his wife live on a property near Kandos where for 12 years they ran a B&B located in the old homestead house, established circa 1845. Warwick 4370. And dont miss the incredible Dreamtime carriage a 3D artwork that needs to be seen to be believed. Transform your holiday into the most unforgettable adventure of a lifetime with Railway Adventures. Fine food excursions to Warwick and Stanthorpe will give our guests the opportunity to sample the best our region has to offer. In my mind, travelling by rail is still the most wonderful way to immerse yourself in the country youre visiting. It began in her very early twenties, when she set off to see the world. In between working in travel, he travelled the world for almost two years, spending a great deal of time in the Middle East and North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, China and Russia where he was lucky enough to ride the famous Trans-Siberian Railway, The Orient Express, Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan and many trains elsewhere. In 2007 he became CEO of Puffing Billy Railway heading up seventy staff and over 1000 volunteers. The infrastructure project is expected to cost around $14.5 billion and create more than 21,500 jobs across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland during construction. 0000042834 00000 n Every year, Toowoomba celebrates its reputation as the Garden City with the most spectacular display of spring flowers during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. A charter flight from Windorah to Toowoomba broke up in flight and crashed on the evening of 28 August 1983, near Adavale . 0000037867 00000 n Originally from Sydney, Phil now resides in Adelaide where he continues to lobby governments for improved urban and regional rail services across Australia. John says Its hard to define a favourite destination, as I still get a buzz out of visiting new destinations. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays; use the search form on this page to search for a specific travel date. Compare your options: plane, train, bus, car, ferry, bike share, driving and walking directions all in one search. From Rob Brydon & Dr Michael Mosley live, famous banjo players & cutting edge theatre to wine-tasting and a sunflower festival, The top things to do in March around Brisbane, The top things to do around Brisbane this weekend, Sherlock Holmes' The Mystery of the Valkyrie, Australian Geographic: Our Country 360 Cinematic Experience, A sensory fusion of food and art set outdoors within a popup village, A stunning al fresco restaurant, 2 bars, ice-cream parlour and cellar door, Sing, dance and sway your weekend away with family & friends. 0000056547 00000 n 0000005730 00000 n In the 1970s, Queensland Rail introduced steam train excursions from Toowoomba to Spring Bluff in response to public interest in the prizewinning . The best feeling in the world is when I welcome these same people on repeat journeys. There are 99+ hotels available in Toowoomba. After 30 years in the finance industry Chris turned his attention back to his passion, working with the heritage steam locomotive 3801, and later, managing the Railway Bookshop on Sydneys Central station. Visit award-winning museums, grand old country homesteads, and, of course, some of Australias most spectacular parks and gardens in the flush of spring. Only electric trains and SX cars are allowed to use high level platforms. She has worked as a tour leader in Africa, Canada, all around Australia and New Zealand, as well as Asia, Europe and Greenland / Iceland. It has currently reached capacity, We are, however happy to put you on a waitlist and we will contact you if places become available. Just one example of how Scott finds inspiration for a tour can be found in Outback Queensland. Choose from one of our prepared itineraries or create your own. We offer regular tours from Warwick to Stanthorpe and Wallangarra, Clifton, Wheatvale, Hendon, Toowoomba, plus special long weekends to Goondiwindi and Tenterfield, NSW. Other Divisions were subsequently formed in South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and ACT. While we do visit famous tourist destinations on some trips, the attraction is i n the journey itself, as well as in the remote regions most travellers have never seen. Journey west to the Great Dividing Range. By train you are completely immersed in culture and adventure, exploring the most scenic corners of the world in the comfort of a luxury train. 0000007213 00000 n Whilst still involved with the development of itineraries for Guidepost Tours and Railway Adventures, Bob is heavily involved with Heritage Rail Groups in New South Wales, is qualified in Rail Safety and Track Awareness, and travels regularly on steam and diesel tours as train manager or in other capacities. 0000061346 00000 n You'll find the Warwick Railway Precinct on the corner of Hamilton Street and Fitzroy Street where the old Warwick Locomotive Depot used to be, (closed in 1970). This adventure centres on a spring-time excursion along this historic and dramatic railway. The wagon were for Jas Hardie & Co Pty Ltd. Around 1944 these wagons were further modified . With a formal opening in 2003 and the railway renamed the West Coast Wilderness Railway, Eamonn led the team and became its first Chief Executive Officer. Recommended Bus Take the bus from Brisbane to Toowoomba 1h 45m $21 - $50 Train Take the train from Brisbane Roma Street to Toowoomba 3h 50m Thank you so much for allowing us to use your railway station and rolling stock for our wedding photo shoot. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. In addition, Allan was a Train Manager for Dunedin Railways and as such, managed cruise ships and tour trains into the Taieri Gorge and across the South Island. "Thank you to all the Mary Valley Rattler team for a truly fantastic footplate experience! A passion for history and wildlife is well served on his travels and he combines his many interests with regular and extensive train travel. 0000010011 00000 n 0000090572 00000 n Chris Harding has carried an interest in railways since he was a small boy. htRmHSQ~k996c?rA&RCFP5$a00[I#)}P=ry8 8@0F)~. This Mainline Tourist Heritage Railway and rail museum was established in Warwick in 1995. 0000010453 00000 n tartarus percy jackson fanfiction birmingham tv presenters steam train brisbane to toowoomba 2021 . Internationally, hes travelled throughout NZ, Cook Islands, North America, UK, and Thailand. Downs Steam is in the process of restoring the only C16-106 QR Class locomotive left in existence. Upon arrival at the heritage listed Grandchester Station, travellers can disembark to watch the locomotive uncoupled from its train and ran around for its return trip, prior to returning to the Museum. Springtime Steam Spectacular to the Carnival of Flowers and Beyond 22 30 September 2021 BRISBANE WARWICK TOOWOOMBA DALBY MARYBOROUGH GYMPIE . Kevin spent two years living in Switzerland running his own travel company and has led cultural and adventure tours to over 60 countries since 2000. This week, a group of passionate rail enthusiasts at Toowoomba's Downs Steam Tourist Railway . Toowoomba crowns the edge of the Great Dividing Range 700 metres above sea level, overlooking the Lockyer Valley. Operating completely independently I work with small business owners and accountants organising the accounting side of the business. Yes, there is a direct train departing from Brisbane Roma Street and arriving at Toowoomba. 0000011431 00000 n Win a double pass to The Poison of Polygamy at La Boite Theatre, Win a luxury 4-night stay for 2 at Eden Health Retreat, valued at $6,300. 0000062662 00000 n Fill out the form to enquire about the Tour. C17 is a steam locomotive with eight driving wheels and a 17" cylinder, originally built between 1920 and 1953. The morning tea was magnificent and the tour was so informative. The Port of Gladstone is publicly owned, paying an $80m dividend to the state government in 2019-20, plus $70m in taxes. Mende Mitrevski Customer Service and Sales. Train Experiences outside Brisbane. Required fields are marked *. Swanbank Station is Staffed on days when trains are operational. Along with some other special treats not available to the ordinary traveller, Railway Adventures passengers get to do it all!. DUNCAN WASS grew up in Sth Australia. He enthusiastically followed every boys dream of becoming a steam engine driver, becoming involved in the railway preservation movement at an early age, and today he is a regular volunteer steam driver and trainer at a number of preserved railways in Victoria. An inland rail line linking Melbourne and Brisbane via Wagga Wagga, Parkes, Moree and Toowoomba has been commissioned by the Australian Government, with $300 million committed to finalise planning, engineering design and environmental assessments. Carnival of Trains. Shes explored every state and territory in Australia and has the greatest fondness for those out of the way, quirky experiences that can only be found outside the cities. A once in a lifetime and thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to ride a living, fiery steam engine working from the footplate beyond amazing!!". Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. Since formation in 2001, DownsSteam has established an active railway precinct on the former Drayton sidings, acquiring a large rolling stock fleet including steam locomotive C16 No. Downs Steam is in the process of restoring the only C16-106 QR Class locomotive left in existence. Reduced mobility access is available on specific carriages. Getting Here Toowoomba is located in Southern Queensland, just a 90-minute drive from Brisbane By Air Fly direct to Toowoomba via the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, located on Toowoomba Cecil Plains Rd, approximately 17kms west of the Toowoomba CBD QantasLink offer services to Sydney Queensland Rail Travel operates a train from Brisbane Roma Street to Toowoomba twice a week. The steam train pulls the original Sunlander cars of the 1950s which the QLD Pioneer Steam Railway have spent close to .