Steam into Spring Part of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 19 – 28 September 2003

Downs Steam

The Society will be running two steam train excursions to Toowoomba for the Carnival of Flowers.  Trains will run on both Saturday 20th (which is the day of the procession) and Sunday 21st.

Of necessity Saturday's train will make an early start from Brisbane's Roma Street Station so that the train should arrive in Toowoomba in time for the spectacular procession.  Sunday's train will leave a little later.  Some pick-up stops will be made en route for the convenience of passengers.

The trains will take us all the way to Toowoomba.  The route includes the crossing of the Little Liverpool Range, the fast run across the black-soil plains of the Lockyer Valley and the steep climb of the Main Range.  Mid-way up the range the train will slow as we pass through the station at Spring Bluff which is normally a delight at this time of the year.

Lunch will be available at the historic (and recently refurbished) Railway Refreshment Rooms in Toowoomba if pre-ordered with your tickets.  This will be a two-course meal consisting of roast and dessert at $16.00 a head.  There will be two sittings for lunch on Saturday - the first immediately on arrival of the train, the second at 1.00pm. Please indicate your preference on the booking form.  However it should be noted that if you select the first sitting you will miss seeing the procession but will have a longer gardens tour; if you watch the procession then dine on the second sifting your gardens tour will be slightly shorter.  There will only be one meal sitting on Sunday. (There is no procession on the Sunday.)

After lunch, coaches will take passengers on a tour of the prize-winning gardens and thence to Helidon Railway Station to re-join the train for the trip back to Brisbane.  The refreshment car will again be open for sustenance on the way hom6.

BOTH DAYS: Passengers who would prefer not to do the coach tour may travel from Toowoomba to Helidon by train on payment of an additional $10.00.

THE TRAIN: Subject to availability, BB181/. locomotive No. 1089 should work the tour assisted from Helidon to Toowoomba by a diesel engine on Saturday.  Sunday's train is planned to be hauled by BB181/4 1089.  Both trains will consist of wooden carriages from QR's heritage fleet.

FARES: (including GST)
Adults $69.00
Pensioners/Seniors $59.00
Children $49.00
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) $199.00
ARHS Qld.  Div. members may deduct 10% from these fares (maximum five tickets) if paid for by 5th September, 2003.
JUNIOR RAIL FANS'CLUB: Any JRFC member accompanied by an adult may travel free.

TIMETABLE: Approximate times are:-
SATURDAY

Forward Journey		Return Journey
Roma Street	6.45am	Helidon	4.15pm
Corinda	7.00	Rosewood	5.30
Ipswich	7.30	Ipswich	5.55
Rosewood	8.05	Corinda	6.25
Toowoomba	11.30am	Roma Street	6.45pm

SUNDAY

Forward Journey		Return Journey
Roma Street	7.10am	Helidon	4.45pm
Corinda	7.35	Rosewood	6.00
Ipswich	8.05	Ipswich	6.25
Rosewood	8.35	Corinda	7.15
Toowoomba	11.40pm	Roma Street	7.30pm

NOTE:- These times are still subject to confirmation from Queensland Rail.

SMOKING: Queensland Rail has a policy of "NO SMOKING" on board all trains and railcars and at certain railway stations.  In accordance with this policy, smoking is not permitted on tour trains and passengers are advised to observe any areas in which smoking is prohibited at stations.

REFRESHMENTS: Light refreshments (sausage rolls, pies, sandwiches etc.), hot and cool drinks, chips & sweets will be for sale on the train.

RESERVATIONS: Bookings may be made by TELEPHONE: Ring (07) 3252 1759 with your credit card details between 10.00am and 3.00pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only.

REFUNDS: Will only be made if an unmarked ticket is returned by 16th September.

TICKETS: Will be mailed out about 10 days before the tour date.

INFORMATION LINE: (07) 3252 1759 This number is normally attended between 10.00am and 3.00pm - Tuesday to Thursday.  A recorded message operates at other times.

General Information
The Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland Division is a non-profit company with liability limited by guarantee.  The objects of the Society are to promote the appreciation of railway heritage and to maintain authenticity in the recording and preservation of this heritage for the people of Queensland.  To help achieve these aims the Society operates under the following trading names:-
Iron Road Restaurant
Sunshine Express Rail Tours
Rosewood Railway Museum

IRON ROAD RESTAURANT
Tours are run using the sole remaining timber bodied dining car in which meals are served while passengers experience the ambience of a by-gone era.

SUNSHINE EXPRESS RAIL TOURS
The Society runs tours, usually on a monthly basis but sometimes more frequently, using preserved steam engines and wooden carriages from Queensland Rail's heritage fleet.  These engines and carriages are owned and maintained by QR for charter for special excursions.  Tours operate to a range of destinations bounded by Toowoomba in the west and Gympie in the north and can be of a full day or half day duration.  Once a year we normally run an extended tour lasting for a week or so when meals and accommodation are included.

ROSEWOOD RAILWAY MUSEUM
The Society operates its own preserved railway over a portion of the branch line that used to run from Rosewood to Marburg.  Here we have a re-creation of a typical Queensland Railway branch line of the post-war period.  The Museum at Freeman Road Kunkala is open for inspection every Sunday and trains consisting of historic wooden carriages hauled by a restored 1926 vintage steam engine operate on the last Sunday of each month.

CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE
Tickets are issued subject to the Society's conditions of carriage, a full copy of which is supplied with each ticket.  These conditions set out the rights and obligations of the Society and its passengers.
The conditions deal with:

• the rights of the Society and Queensland Rail to alter any aspect of the tour or train at any time;
• limitations and exclusions of the Society's liability for passengers' losses;
• obeying directions of Society officers;
• luggage and alcohol;
• behaviour of passengers;
• lost property
• tickets and fares.

Tickets are issued at pensioner/senior fares to holders of Queensland Pensioner Concession Cards and Senior Cards only and these cards must be produced with the ticket when required for inspection.
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2. By FAX-.  Fax the booking form and credit card details to: -

3. By TELEPHONE: Ring with your credit card details between 10.00am and 3.00pm, Tuesday to Thursday only.

Contact Infomation

Name: Sunshine Express Rail Tours Address: P.O. Box 11 19, TOOWONG, 4066 Phone: (07) 3252 1759 Fax: (07) 3252 1767. Web:  www.arhs-qld.org.au Email: