Back to Australia and North Queensland for this post, and a few shots of the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Wikipedia tells you that:
The Kuranda Scenic Railway runs from Cairns, Queensland, Australia, to the nearby town of Kuranda. The tourist railway snakes its way up the Macalister Range and is no longer used for regular commuter services. It passes through the suburbs of Stratford, Freshwater (stopping at Freshwater Station) and Redlynch before reaching Kuranda. The line is used for some freight services and other passenger services.
The railway is 37 km (23 mi) in length. It takes about one and three quarters of an hour to climb one way. The tropical gardens around Kuranda rail station are a well-known attraction in the area. Downhill the line cuts through the Barron Gorge National Park. The tourist train stops at a lookout, with a sweeping view of Barron Falls. A number of smaller waterfalls are passed, including Stoney Creek Falls, just metres from the train.
Construction of the railway began in 1882. The railway was completed as far as Kuranda in 1891. Passenger services began operations on 25 June 1891. Many lives were lost as 15 hand-made tunnels and 37 bridges were built to climb from sea level to 328 metres up the Macalister Range. Three million cubic metres of earth had to be excavated during construction.
Maxine and I had a great day out travelling on the line and exploring Kuranda. It’s a fantastic piece of railway, and the rain forest is both spectacular and beautiful. The modelling challenge would be the liveries of the diesel locos, decorated with aboriginal designs. Definitely a superior form of graffiti!!
