How to catch a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine steam train in Brisbane
Chris Halliday has the expertise through his almost 40 years at Queensland Rail to drive diesel, electric and steam trains, but his favourite?
It would not be out of place on Thomas the Tank Engine.
As Queensland Rail marks 160 years, people can catch a steam train to the Ekka on the People’s Day public holiday for the first time in six years – and it will cost the usual 50¢ public transport fare.
Driver Chris Halliday with a BB18 ¼ steam engine train used by Queensland Rail for special events.Credit: Queensland Rail
“That’s my favourite,” Halliday says, gesturing to a historic BB18 ¼ steam train that first entered service in Queensland in the 1950s.
“It’s a challenge [driving a steam train], every day is different, it’s a great privilege to be able to do it.
“I just love the smell of it, the sound of it.”
If you hop on board a train in Brisbane today, you might get one of the newest trains, an NGR or maybe an IMU or SMU – the EMUs were Queensland’s first electric trains and that fleet was retired last month.
But before electric, Queensland had steam and the final 20 BB18 ¼ class steam locomotives, known by their telegraphic code Bety, were constructed by Walkers in Maryborough from 1955 to 1958.
They were retired when the state’s steam era ended in 1969, but Queensland Rail kept two, the 1079 and 1089, which are maintained at the Rail Workshops at Ipswich and rolled out for special events.
The Exhibition Station in the 1950s.Credit: Queensland Rail
The 1089 entered service in March 1958, and was the last main line steam train to enter service in Australia.
But despite being 67 years old – retirement age for an Australian worker – this beauty has been polished up, and the coal loaded for QR celebrations, including to the general public to the Ekka on Wednesday.
Steam trains have been described as like a “living breathing” creature, with personalities all of their own.
There’s a nostalgic “chugga chugga choo choo” noise as steam hisses, the wheels rumble, and the whistle shrieks.
Tutor driver Peter Cohen said it took many hours to prepare a steam train for a special service.Credit: Queensland Rail
Tutor driver Peter Cohen said there was a lot of preparation involved in getting the steam train running, including a day or two of polishing.
“To line it up takes three, four hours, get it all oiled and greased, and ready to go, it’s a lot of hard work, a lot of shovelling coal and keeping the water up, it’s a big day,” he said.
The Exhibition Station at the RNA Showgrounds was reopened this year after a renovation, and it will only operate for major events until Cross River Rail opens in 2029.
People can board the steam train at Roma Street to the Ekka at 9.05am, 9.55am, 10.35am, 11.25am, 12.05pm, 12.55pm, 2.05pm, 2.55pm.
The BB18 ¼ steam engine 1089 also came out for Queensland Rail’s 160th birthday celebrations last month.Credit: Queensland Rail
People can either exit at Exhibition Station, or stay on for the loop back to Roma Street, and there will be no boarding onto the steam train from the Ekka.
The heritage carriages are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or using a mobility device, and boarding is via ladder style steps and a grab rail.
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