Hugely popular and unique FNQ attraction builds head of steam
The boilers of a historic 1900s era steam locomotive are firing up on the Atherton Tablelands ahead of a scenic Australia Day long weekend run. Everything you need to know.
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The boilers of a historic 1900s-era steam locomotive are firing up on the Atherton Tablelands ahead of a scenic Australia Day long weekend run.
The romance of steam travel has been alive and well in Herberton since January last year when thousands of volunteer hours culminated with an inaugural scenic journey that follows the beautiful Wild River.
Since January last year more than 12,000 people have travelled on the fully restored Queenslander carriage pulled by a Peckett locomotive which spent its working years at Mount Morgan and later in Mount Isa.
Atherton-Herberton Historical Railway secretary Judy Cooper said the train leaves from Herberton Station for a 4km run before engaging the reverse gear for the return journey.
“The loco is a 1905 Peckett so this year it will be 120-years-old,” she said.
“We already have a couple of tour groups that have been coming and we have had overseas visits and emails wanting to know about it.”
The Atherton-Heberton line was started in the 1880s and arrived in Herberton on October 20, 1910. The line was built to cart tin to the coast after being mined from the hills around Herberton and Irvinebank, however ore reserves were largely depleted by the time the first train finally arrived in Herberton.
The line eventually went out to Ravenshoe a few years later and there were spur lines constructed to Millaa Millaa, Yungaburra and Malanda to service the dairy industry.
During the war the rail network was integral to transporting troops of the Second Australian Imperial Force who underwent training and took recreation leave in the area.
During World War II up to 40 trains a week would run between Cairns various Tablelands branch lines.
Ms Cooper said about 40 supporters from all over the area had put in more than 90,000 volunteer hours to get the locomotive and carriage running.
Eventually, its planned the train will link Herberton and Atherton but considerable funds need to be raised to get the track in order and repair bridges along the route and highest rail tunnel in Australia that cuts through the Herberton Range.
“We are doing things in stages, the next stage is Moomin and then it will be down the range to Wongabel,” she said.
“Its Queensland government funding to restore the bridges and we have got a small amount of funding from other sources, but it has been a little bit difficult to find the money and there has been a lot of hard work from our volunteers.
“We own all the infrastructure on the track, from Platypus Park Station in Atherton and the 22km of track to Herberton, the rail corridor is owned by TMR and we lease it from them.
“The train is unique to our area, there is the Mary Valley Rattler in Gympie and a few other (steam trains) down south but we are the only one in North Queensland.”
The train departs Herberton Railway Station, to book a ride on the historic railway visit
www.athrail.com
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