MORE than 300 passengers were on board the Queensland Rail Heritage Steam Locomotive AC16 221A when it pulled into Grandchester station during the Sunshine Express rail tour, earlier this month.
Among the passengers was Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden. He was joined by families who were excited about travelling on a steam train from North Ipswich Railway Workshops to Grandchester.
Mr Madden said the tour was made possible through a landmark agreement between Queensland Rail and the Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland Division.
“I was pleased to be on the journey with some passengers who travelled from as far as New South Wales and Mackay to be part of the tour.
“The experience of travelling in the heritage wooden carriages pulled by the historic Queensland Rail Heritage Steam Locomotive AC16 221A was very enjoyable.”
It was a notable day too, for the locomotive.
“We celebrated the 80th anniversary of the AC16, which was manufactured in the United States and arrived in Australia during World War II for service on the Queensland Rail network,” Mr Madden said.
“In 1966, AC16 was retired and stood in the Redbank Open Air Rail Museum for over 30 years before it was brought back to the North Ipswich Heritage Rail Maintenance facility where it was restored to its former glory.
“I hope that with the assistance of Queensland Rail, the Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland Division and the Sunshine Express Rail Tours that there can be periodic steam train services between the North Ipswich Railway Workshops and the Grandchester station so people can enjoy steam train travel”.
