The ''Gulflander'' is a passenger train operated by

Queensland Rail Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and relate ...

on the isolated Normanton to Croydon line in the

Gulf Country The Gulf Country is the region of woodland and savanna grassland surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory on the north coast of Australia. The region is also called the Gulf Savannah. It ...

of northern

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia.

History

Steam locomotives were used until 1929. By that stage railmotors had been introduced since 1922. By 1974 the line was under the threat of closure, earning just $3,000 in revenue but costing $64,000 to maintain. 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".

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.

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. They are as follows: * A10 class steam locomotive 202, undergoing restoration to operational condition by

Croydon Shire Council The Shire of Croydon is a local government area in western Queensland, Australia. The shire, administered from the town of Croydon, covers an area of . The council consists of a mayor plus four councillors, each of whom represents the entire Sh ...

*A10 class steam locomotive 203, used as parts for the restoration of 202 *A10 class steam locomotive 204, on display at

Croydon station Croydon Station, often spelt as Croyden Station, is a pastoral lease and sheep station. Description It is located approximately south west of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The property occupies an area of approxima ...

* 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 Panhard was a French motor vehicle manufacturer that began as one of the first makers of automobiles. It was a manufacturer of light tactical and military vehicles. Its final incarnation, now owned by Renault Trucks Defense, was formed ...

petrol

railmotor Railmotor is a term used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for a railway lightweight railcar, usually consisting of a railway carriage with a steam traction unit, or a diesel or petrol engine, integrated into it. Steam railcars Overview In th ...

, operated ''Gulflander'' 1923-1929, returned to Normanton for 120th anniversary in 2011, on display at

Workshops Rail Museum The Workshops Rail Museum is a railway museum in Ipswich, Queensland, located within the former North Ipswich Railway Workshops. The museum Opening in September 2002 as part of the Queensland Museum Network, The Workshops Rail Museum tells the ...

*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 The Redland Museum is the Local museum, local history museum of South East Queensland's Redland City, Redlands region, situated in the suburb of Cleveland, Queensland, Cleveland. It collects and preserves Redlands' social history to the present ...

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

*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''The 1800 Class "Blue Lagoons"
Queensland's Great Trains * 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''

References

External links

* * {{Railway lines in Queensland , state=expanded Named passenger trains of Queensland North West Queensland Tourist railways in Queensland