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There were two events in the 1960s and early 1970s that led to a massive change in South East Queensland’s passenger railways. The first was the replacement of steam with diesel-electric locomotives by 1969. This inevitably led to faster and cleaner trains. The next big step forward was the introduction of modern electric trains for the suburban system in Brisbane with the first services in November, 1979.
On 8 May 1979, the first section of the new system was energised, from Roma Street to permit testing and driver training. On 17 November the same year, the Darra to Ferny Grove sections were officially opened. Today, in Queensland the suburban passenger services in South East Queensland are operated by Queensland Rail electric multiple units, as well as electric tilt train services as far as Rockhampton. The Queensland network is the largest in Australia with over 2,000 kilometres under wires.
Today we look at how these electrifying times began for Queensland Rail. We also chat with Neil, he's a Maintenance Group Leader working in our electric train depot at Mayne Yard.
If you have a question about the history of our railways in Queensland, send an email to our Historian, Greg Hallam. He would love to hear from you! email: [email protected] -
Christmas time and the school holidays would bring back memories of long train journeys to far flung parts of Queensland, for many people. The link between country and regional towns, and the smaller townships, was the railmotor. For many decades in Queensland, the small red painted 45 horsepower AEC motors (based on a London bus design), ‘red rattlers’, or the later incarnations of the ‘Tin Hares’, through to the streamlined 2000 class ‘Silver Bullets’ provided an important connection for many Queenslanders to the railway townships. School children made their journey to school on the ‘RMs’, special stops in regional towns were made for intending passengers, and places such as Cooktown, and Normanton became a ‘railmotor’ dependent railway from the late 1920s. Our Queensland Rail History podcast, ‘Red Rattler’s and ‘Silver Bullets’, will look back on the distinctive petrol- and diesel-powered railmotors that were such an iconic part of the Queensland Railways throughout the 20th century.
In this episode of the podcast we talk with Glen Watson who at the time was Officer in Charge at Normanton and driving the Gulflander. He shares many stories and personal experiences to do with his time both in Queensland and around the world for Queensland Rail.
You can find images to go along with the episode here:
https://queenslandrail.intelligencebank.com/customshare/index/0MXzp?trackingId=JnpAl -
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Today, we’ll be looking at the era in the late 1880s and into the early 20th century, when many towns close to the South Coast (now known as the Gold Coast) all wanted their own railway to their own ‘slice of paradise’. When taking the train to your favourite holiday spot on the beach, or the bay was all part of the adventure.
We’ll also chat with special guest, Deni, Assistant Station Master at Varsity Lakes station and hear about how the Gold Coast line was renewed as a modern, world class railway in the 21st century.
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1953 was one of the truly revolutionary years for the Queensland Railways, with the introduction of air conditioned trains on our long distance services in Queensland. The Sunlander commenced service on the 4th June 1953. This new air conditioned train was hauled by a diesel locomotive and by eliminating steam locomotive servicing stops, the transit time from Brisbane to Cairns was reduced from 45 to 41¼ hours.
In this episode we’ll chat about how these air conditioned trains and their steel bodies coaches, with showers, hot and cold running water and special dining cars revolutionised travel for many people regionally, allowing passengers to keep their cool during Queensland’s summers. We'll discuss where the 'Lander' name for our travel trains originated from and also the marketing campaigns the Railways used to promote these luxury tourist services.We’ll also chat with special guest, Jen Cahill, and hear about how her career has progressed into becoming a regional train driver. We chat about her time at Queensland Rail, and hear what it's like driving the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Spirit of Queensland between Townsville and Cairns.
We've also pulled together a collection of images that Greg and Annette discuss, you can find these here.
If you have any questions about our rail history, please email Greg – he’d love to hear from you! - [email protected]
And, if you're enjoying what you’re hearing, please leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you, what you love about the podcast, and what you’d like us to feature on a future episode! -
1952 was one of the truly revolutionary years for the Queensland Railways. It was in that year that the first DEL (Diesel Electric Locomotives) entered service. The new motive power would forever change the railway landscape of Queensland. Almost overnight, it demonstrating the economic, and operational benefits of modern diesel locomotives.
In this episode we’ll look at how Queensland Railways progressively transitioned from steam to operate with diesel for the next three decades, on long distance, suburban, and freight trains.
We also chat with Melanie Fyfe, Manager of Regional Train Service Delivery at Queensland Rail. Mel discusses the new 2900 diesel loco upgrades, the team of regional train drivers her team oversees, and her career in the railway so far. -
A10 No. 6 is one of the oldest steam locomotives in the world, still capable of operating on a main line. The tiny locomotive has a long, and remarkable history. It was there (well, almost) to witness the beginnings of the railways in Queensland.
Today, we will talk about the story of this steam powered time traveller, how in 1965, it was the showpiece of the centenary celebrations of the railways in Queensland, and how important it still, in the third century of its existence.
We also chat with Train Operations Inspector (TOI) Matthew Bushnell and find out first-hand what it was like to drive the A10 No.6! Matt had the great opportunity to drive the A10 back in 2015 for the 150th anniversary of Queensland Rail. We also chat about how his father drove the A10 back in 1991, after the loco had been completely restored.
Greg refers to numerous photographs of the A10 No.6 throughout the episode, we've pulled together a gallery of images to view here.
If you’d like to see the A10 No.6 in person, head to the Workshops Rail Museum website – www.museum.qld.gov.au and book yourself a ticket!
If you have any questions about our rail history, please message us on the Queensland Rail Instagram or Facebook accounts or just email Greg himself: [email protected]
And, if you're enjoying what you’re hearing, please leave us a review. We’d love to hear from you, what you love about the podcast, and what you’d like us to feature on a future episode. -
Once upon a time, three little letters, ‘’R R R’’ would bring a smile to any weary traveller’s face. Those three letters stood for the Railway Refreshment Rooms, and for 140 years it also meant passengers could hopefully enjoy a hot cup of tea, coffee scones, or even a full three course meal in all of 20 minutes!
It was a full dining experience at big stations with trains arriving at strange and possibly odd hours for many places throughout Queensland. It really was a case of miles and meals to go!
In today’s episode we’ll talk about how these Refreshment Rooms satisfied the hunger of the long-distance traveller, how a veritable army of women performed miracles in dispensing iron rations during World Wars and we’ll find out why these catering facilities slowly disappeared.
We’ll also chat with a chef who worked at the last of Queensland’s Railway Refreshment Rooms and find out how he’s continuing to satisfy customer’s hunger today.
Footnotes:
Bowen Refreshment Room photo:
https://www.qhatlas.com.au/photograph/refreshment-room-bowen-proserpine-railway-1922
Gympie Railway Refreshment Room photo:
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/348395721144751138/ -
Today we are discussing a place many of our listeners will be familiar with – Roma Street station. We will cover its grand beginning as a major terminus, to the many face changes over the years. We also chat with Operations Performance Manager for SEQ Operations, Ian Heidke, who shares the importance and challenges of Roma Street.
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An encounter with the South Brisbane railway system during the 1960’s was truly a step back in time to the early 20th century. On our latest episode, we’ll talk about how the Gabba depot came to be, why it disappeared, and how a ‘flag and bell man’ was such an iconic part of the old streetscape and railwayscape of inner-city Brisbane for many decades.
We’ll also talk with Greg Rooney, General Manager of the Rail Management Centre (or ‘RMC’) and South East Queensland Operations for Queensland Rail. Greg shares his story of his father working various trains over to Wooloongabba depot and why he’s excited about the new underground tunnel that will again change public transport on the south side of Brisbane.
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Annette and Queensland Rail Historian, Greg Hallam, talk about a time of trains bringing families together to celebrate the holidays, delivering presents and good wishes.
From everyone at Queensland Rail, we would like to wish our listeners a happy Christmas, and we're looking forward to connecting with you again in 2023 with new stories of the railways in Queensland. -
In this episode, we talk about how over a century ago, Queensland and the Queensland Railways found themselves thrust into a great conflict. When it began in 1914, it seemed literally half a world away yet within four short years would have a devastating effect on the lives of many people in Queensland.
Few people today understand the great contribution that was made by Queensland Railways during the two major conflicts of the twentieth century. Whilst our involvement is relatively well known during the Second World War, the activity of the Great War is lesser known. The role of the Queensland Railways at this time was to provide volunteer enlistment, patriotic support, and a vehicle to transport, and recruit for the Australian war effort. Throughout Queensland, recruitment trains travelled to places such as Wallumbilla, Warwick, Barcaldine, and many other distant towns and stations, encouraging men to sign up and serve their country. News of the war was conveyed by train. Wounded soldiers, and returning troops made many of their journeys home by train.
Our Hosts, Annette and Queensland Rail Historian, Greg Hallam, talk about how the Queensland Railways commemorated the great conflict in quiet places, and in noisy ones along the Queensland lines, with beautiful ‘Honour Boards’ that recognised the loss and impact on so many families in Queensland.
We also hear from Dale McDonald, Assets Manager, Central West who has overseen the refurbishment and conservation work on a remarkable survivor of Queensland Railways from the First World, the Rockhampton station Honour Board.
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In this episode, we talk about how 80 years ago, Queensland and the Queensland Railways found themselves thrust into a crucial role during the Defence of Australia.
When Japan entered World War II, Australia was under threat of invasion. Darwin suffered the worst bombing and heavy casualties. Fortunately, the bombs that fell on Townsville and near Mossman brought no loss of life. Until the tide turned in the Battle of the Coral Sea, invasion seemed to Queenslanders in 1942, a very real likelihood.
Our Hosts, Annette and Queensland Rail Historian, Greg Hallam, talk about how the Queensland Railways rose to the occasion and assisted in defending Australia during those dark days of the Second World War.
We also hear from Paul Slater, Manager of Heritage Assets who works on a remarkable survivor of Queensland Railways from the Second World, that is housed in the magnificent Ipswich Workshops.
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In 1914, Queensland Railways launched a garden competition to encourage railway staff to beautify the stations with colourful flowers and plants, and to grow fruits and vegetables.
The Commissioner for Queensland Railways at the time, Colonel Charles Evans, introduced the prize to also allow for employees to demonstrate their pride in their workplaces – not only railway stations but also locomotive depots, railway workshops, and workplaces in general.
In today’s episode, we chat with Station Master, Glen Currie who is based at Kuranda station in Cairns – one of the last great survivors of this garden competition. Glen shares with us some of the interesting plants on display at Kuranda and the tale of a unique guest who feasted on the station’s garden.
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Today we're talking about the crossing of the Main Range from the present day township of Murphy's Creek to Toowoomba, and what truly was a marvellous feat of Victorian era engineering. We also speak with Gavin Anderson, Asset Manager West Moreton for Network Operations South at Queensland Rail. He commenced his career as a ‘Nipper’ in a Bridging gang at Miles on the western line, and has been with Queensland Railways etc for 36 years.
As Asset Manager, Gavin looks after the Main Range railway, and follows on a tradition stretching back nearly 155 years of maintaining this important piece of railway infrastructure. He commenced in the Asset Manager role in 2013.
If you have any questions about our rail history, please message us on the Queensland Rail Instagram or Facebook accounts. You can also email the team at: [email protected]We’d love to hear from you, what you love about the podcast, and what you’d like us to feature on a future episode.
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Today we are looking into design and standardisation of the railway. Be it early prefabricated buildings brought over on ships, the choice for narrow gauge or the adapting and tweaking of designs, to give a local solution to problems faced when building a railway in Queensland’s climate and landscape. We’ll also hear from Andrea Kriss, a Senior Design Manager here at Queensland Rail and hear how the process for building train stations has changed over time.
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The Christmas period was always one of the busiest times for travellers in Queensland, who went to visit family, or go on holidays, on the Queensland Railways.
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What are some of the great Queensland Railway lines that never were? What we might today think of as a big, connected network across the state, actually began as a number of scattered railway lines that stretched inland from the coast. They were very much their own identity.
In this episode, we chat with Ken Fairbairn, Driver of the Gulflander and Officer in Charge of the Normanton Railway, an isolated section of track in North Queensland that very much reflects that 'patchwork' approach started in the 1860's. -
In the 2nd half of our two-part special, we’re going to cover the completion of the Kuranda Scenic Railway (KSR). If you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, please make sure you start there first. We’ll explore some of its famous landmarks that can be seen along the journey. We’ll discover what happened to the line when war broke out and why it’s still such a popular tourist destination in Far North Queensland today.
We’ll chat with our Driver in Charge of the Cairns region, with over 25 years of experience driving on the Kuranda range and a Business Associate from our Travel & Tourism team, who began her career at Queensland Rail working as a service attendant onboard the KSR.
Construction of the Cairns to Kuranda Railway was an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude. This enthralling chapter in the history of North Queensland stands as testimony to the splendid ambitions, fortitude and suffering of the hundreds of men engaged in its construction. It also stands as a monument to the many men who lost their lives on this amazing project.
Rising from sea level to 327m, the journey to Kuranda passes through flat farm fields outside of Cairns, heading up through a dense world heritage listed rainforest, winding through man-made tunnels, over the Barron Gorge, and over towering bridges, passing spectacular waterfalls along the way.This year also marks the 130th anniversary since the Kuranda Scenic Railway was opened.
To book a ticket onboard the KSR, please visit: www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au
If you have any questions about our rail history, please message us on the Queensland Rail Instagram or Facebook accounts.
We’d love to hear from you, what you love about the podcast, and what you’d like us to feature on future episodes. -
In this two-part episode, we’re going to dive into one of the most iconic pieces of railway in Australia, arguably in the world: The Kuranda Scenic Railway – the KSR - located in Far North Queensland. It has become such a popular tourist attraction in Cairns, truly a must-see experience.
We’ll chat with our historian, Greg and deep dive into how this railway came to exist and we’ll also chat with a Train Driver with over 25 years of experience driving on the Kuranda range.
Rising from sea level to 327m, the journey to Kuranda passes through flat farm fields outside of Cairns, heading up through a dense world heritage listed rainforest, winding through man-made tunnels, over the Barron Gorge, and over towering bridges, passing spectacular waterfalls along the way.
This year also marks the 130th anniversary since the Kuranda Scenic Railway was opened. But how did this railway get built...? and why did they build it...?
Construction of the Cairns to Kuranda Railway was an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude. This enthralling chapter in the history of North Queensland stands as testimony to the splendid ambitions, fortitude and suffering of the hundreds of men engaged in its construction. It also stands as a monument to the many men who lost their lives on this amazing project.
If you have any questions about our rail history, please message us on the Queensland Rail Instagram or Facebook accounts. We’d love to hear from you, what you love about the podcast, and what you’d like us to feature on a future episode.FOOTNOTE:
Journal by the Royal Historical Society
Adoption of the 3ft. 6ins. gauge for Queensland Railways -
In the last weeks of July 1865, the population of Southern Queensland watched with increasing interest and confidence, the anticipated completion of the first section of the Southern and Western Railway. Looking back at that era, it is still easy to discern the excitement and pride that had manifested in the colonists of Queensland as they read reports in the local papers of the approaching opening.
