A Tale Of Two Networks (4)

 Kuranda Kaleidoscope

The Skyrail (with not a sliver of a rail anywhere in sight) is a cable car (Skycable???) that starts from Kuranda. To find it is very easy. You leave the station using the steps and footway ...

... walk up a short slope opposite that sign ...

... and there is the terminal ...

... such are the joys of integrated tourist transport.

The cable cars are small by Switzerland's standards ...

... seating just six persons. The ride is a little over 5 miles in length with a terminus at Smithfield, a location we met top left on the Cairns road map.

Here we see a car ascending from Smithfield ...

.. and crossing the River Burrow at Kuranda.

Spot the Kuranda terminal at the far end of the grassy avenue in the trees on the left.

Between the two s rail forest all the way.

You see the falls

... and, simply, enjoy the ride.

Many visitors travel one way by train and back to the start by Skyrail.

The above package also includes a tour by an army duck.

Duck??

Actually an ex US army DUKW! The letters are translated as follows.

D - built in 1946

U - Utility

K - all wheels driven

W - double rear axle

Because the acronym was unpronounceable (Duck-wuh?), it was shortened to 'Duck'.

The rain forest experience is well created ...

The duck's amphibiosity is also demonstrated.

Train, cableway and duck; such are the joys of fully integrated tourist transport.

Although not part of the particular package as above, another transport mode available at Kuranda.

A river trip.

All Expensive but All Exciting, All Exhilarating!

A Tough Travel Trudge!

Queensland Rail has another "heritage" railway ...

... but it is disconnected from any other railway with only a three-days-a-week bus link from Cairns.

Because it doesn't quite reach the sea at Normanton ...

... the train is called the ...

Gulflander runs across low lying land between Croydon and ...

... Normanton, neither if which locations have any obvious link with their UK namesakes.

The country is beautiful, brown and flat.

The ride s long at XXX miles and there us no day return option.

You start at Normanton at 0830 on Wednesdays arriving Croydon at 1330.

The return train leaves Crotdon at 0830 on Thursdays!

Not surprisingly the only realistic way to access this line is by car

Croydon us 350 miles by car from Cairns

The powered railcar ...

... hauls two coaches, not too much of a challenge as the route us flat.

fbb will aim to look more closely at this intriguing railway in a future blog.

For Bus Spotters!

Skyrail branded vehicles used for transfers to and from Cairns, for example, are seen at the Smithfield terminal.

I'llBut a hearty Ozzy boo to Skyrail for obscuring the windows on this vehicle. Tourists do not need contravision dots before the eyes; the cableway is scary enough!

Tomorrow, we explore Queensland's real networks, used by locals to get to places where they need to go.

  Next "Other Networks" blog : Friday 6th Mar 

A Tale Of Two Networks (3)

A Heritage Line - But Different

Continue northwest (ish) by car from Cairns and you pass the airport before reaching Smithfield. From here, a road wiggles inland with the wiggles implying that you are in hilly territory.

You enter an area of near-tropical lush forest and arrive at Kuranda.

But the likes of fbb would seek to go by train!

And there it stands in Cairns station at a platform alongside that used by 'The Spirit of Queensland' as per yesterday's blog.

Here is a map of the line from Cairns to Freshwater ...

... and onwards, more wiggly even than the road, to its terminus ...

... at Kuranda. Two intermediate stops are shown. Firstly at Freshwater (with no connection with the Isle of Wight!), then at Din Din (but nor for din-dins).

Here is Freshwater station with pleasant caff ...

... which even looks like there is a train at the platform. But there isn't.

The trains are round the back!

But, of course, we don't go because of the stations or the caff, we go for the scenery and the trains! And there is lots of scenery!!

Barron Falls is a highlight of the ride ...

... and the train stops at Din Din so you can enjoy views of the gorge.

Herewith a few screenshots of a typical journey c/o various YouTube contributors.

Pre-booked and on-the-day tickets are collected from the Kuranda office at Cairns.

All passengers have a pre-allocated seat and they are politely warned to keep to their own place. The train is not busy as it trundles happily along the coastal plain and via the suburbs of Cairns.

The 0830 departure is the more lightly loaded train with all seats being standard class benches for four. 

The only "facilities" are toilets, pre departure snacks and free chilled water.

The 'corridor' between carriages is a tad on the primitive side!

Most passengers join at Freshwater ... 

... with the majority being on coach tours.

But it is not long before the train climbs up into a chunk of Queensland's rail forest!

Occasional remnants of the line's original purpose of serving gold mines and their workers can be spotted as here at Stoney Creek ...

... which once had more lavish facilities!

The stop at Din Din has already featured above ...

... where the falls ...

... and train ...

... feature in many cameras!

And so to Kuranda itself. You can have no doubt that you are in rain forest territory.

You might expect some simian representatives to emerge from the 'jungle' on the terminus platform.

Whilst on the 0830 departure 'basic' snacks can be obtained ...

... but the 0930 departure from Cairns offers three "Gold" class coaches. These have posh seats ...

... and 'Tea', included in the ticket price, is served at-seat!

Adequate liquid refreshments us also available.

The locos run round the first arrival at Kuranda ...

... as the second and last train of the day arrives.

Here is the full schedule ...

Some may wonder how you might occupy yourself whilst waiting for your return journey! Fear not, potential visitor, there is plenty.

But here us the fares for 'Heritage' (i.e, Standard) class ...

... that's just over £40 return. And for 'Gold':

That's £100 return in real money!

More options at Kuranda tomorrow.

  Next 'Two Networks' blog : Thurs 5th May