Tickets on sale of three-day steam rail ride from Toowoomba to Roma

Lovers of old world travel can book tickets on this unique steam rail ride across the Darling Downs and Maranoa regions.

Tuelba Station, 1913.

Tickets are on sale for two heritage rail rides that promise a unique experience for lovers of old world travel.

As part of the Carnival of Flowers celebrations, rail enthusiasts can ride in heritage carriages hauled by two diesel locomotives from Toowoomba to Spring Bluff from September 14-22.

This ride is a regular feature of the Carnival celebrations, with tickets in high demand.

The heritage-listed Spring Bluff railway station was built in the 1860s as a stopover for trains making the steep climb up the Toowoomba range.

Queensland Rail’s Nev Conway said the station was home to local history and magnificent landscaped gardens.

Spring Bluff station, on the Toowoomba Range.

“We have run the heritage shuttle and carriages since the 1970s, and since then it has become a staple of the Carnival of Flowers each and every year,” he said.

Adding to this time-honoured tradition, Queensland Rail will run one of its steam trains from Toowoomba to Roma during the Cobb and Co festival.

History enthusiasts can enjoy a three-day package, departing from Toowoomba on Saturday, August 24 and arriving in Roma on Sunday, August 25. It includes an overnight stay in Miles and a stop at Yuleba. Customers then travel back to Toowoomba on Monday, August 26.

A shorter trip from Yuleba to Roma on Sunday, August 25 for the Cobb and Co festival’s Family Finale Day is also on offer.

“For the first time in nearly 10 years, we’re thrilled to be running one of our BB18 ¼ steam trains past Toowoomba to get to this year’s festival,” Mr Conway said.

The first Cobb and Co horse drawn coach in Queensland ran from Brisbane to Ipswich on 1 January 1866.

A Cobb & Co carriage from the 1920s.

From Ipswich, passengers and mail were transported by rail through to Grandchester which was the end of the rail line at that time.

“The Cobb and Co coach journey then continued from Grandchester to Toowoomba. By 1900 the company operated 39 routes in Queensland covering 7750 kilometres, harnessed 9000 horses and travelled over 31,000 kilometres every week,” Mr Conway said.

“The expansion of the rail network opened new areas for Cobb and Co services further west, with Service No. 177 becoming the most famous coach route, running from Yuleba through Surat and onto St George.”

The Toowoomba to Roma heritage rail ride is the result of a partnership between Australian Railway Historical Society Qld and Queensland Rail. To book tickets on the Spring Bluff service visit: queenslandrailtravel.com.au.

To book tickets on the Toowoomba to Roma service visit: arhs-qld.org.au.

Originally published as Tickets on sale of three-day steam rail ride from Toowoomba to Roma