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.
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
Is that a Great Northern Brewing Co. can on the image of the snacks? If so fbb, I presume that it is a name coincidence as Great Northern Rail (UK) operate trains in the London Area and its Surroundings (soon to be operated by TfL Overground), as well as the Great Northern Rail (USA).
ReplyDeleteIsn’t that a coincidence?
No.
Delete