Member - Melissa replied:

Craig, are you talking about the Gulflander that runs between Kalumburu and Croydon. If so, you area long way from Mackay. Anyway, I've only done the tourist run out of Kalumburu on the Gulflander, not the whole run but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Certainly quite unique when compared to other tourist trains around the country.

:o) Melissa

Member -Dodger replied:

Croydon to Normanton now sealed.
Yes the Gullander is worth the effort and is now unique to Queensland.
Besides the Gulf, Normy an Karumba are great spots.

Well 55 replied:

There is another great train ride up that way, starts at Mt Surprise and goes to Forsayth via Einesleigh, its a return trip with a stop over in the Forsayth pub.

If you don't take the trip stop and have a look at the train and sideing.

old-plodder replied:

First time we were up that way we wanted to go on the train but found it only ran a couple of days a week, and had to miss it. It ran the day before :-). Our usual luck.

If you want to catch the train, and it is a good trip, check to see when it is running and time your trip to suit.

locallaw replied:

Gidday,Did I hear someone say KALUMBURU.The biggest oysters I have ever eaten came from there.We sat on rocks at low tide and had a feast.The only problem was that you had to have eyes in the back of your head to keep lookout for crocs.
We had a fabulous time in that area in fact we had good in the whole of the Kimberley area.Been there twice and still have not seen all we wanted to.So we will go back again.
Seeya Locallaw

Rick Blaine replied:

So what do you want to know about the Gulflander? I have the station masters phone number somewhere...The full trip means you either have to overnight at one end of the line or the other...Truly the Railway from Nowhere to Nowhere, wasn't always the case though.

For those who don’t have time to do the full trip, there are two shorter trips which are both popular. On Saturday morning, the Morning Tea and Damper Trip departs at 9.00am.

On Thursday afternoon, the Sunset Sizzle Trip leaves the Normanton Railway Station at 4.00pm and returns about 6.30pm. The barbecue is free, soft drinks are available for sale and if people want a beer or a glass of wine, they can take their own alcohol

Will be doing the Tea & Damper on 20th August....I could introduce you to the driver...

Another really good nostalgic train trip is the Valley Rattler from Gympie to Imbil on Wednesdays, Saturdays & sundays....

Then of course if you are in Mt Morgan the train ride there on weekends is just so much fun... Of course on Sundays in Rocky they run what is the most unique steam tram in the world... thousands made & Rocky has the only one left in the world...

If you are lucky enough to be near Quorn or pt augusta then the Pich Richi railway is amazing... the Coffee Pot celebrates its centenary in October... 2nd I think special trips.. tellegram from EIIR....mind boggling that we have so much unique railwayiana...

Then the Cockle train from Goolwa to Victor Harbour is a great trip... and then get truly nostagic with the worlds only operating horse tramway out to Granite Island...

A guy near Melbourne is apparently building a full size copy of Stephenson's Rocket....to much money and time I suspect!

I suspect all this is frightfully boring but a question on the Gulflander was asked. Rumours are circulating amongst railway afficianados that Mr Beatty has plans to make the Gulfy redundant & replace it with a bus, strange one already runs but most debus at either end & take the train....

Rick Blaine replied:

Did I mention that as a Nasho on R&R in Hong Kong in 1971 I was given a lifetime pass for Hong Kong Tramways?... wonder if the new regime would honour it?