MODEL steam trains are built by adults and loved by almost everyone.
The pint sized engines can be found puffing along the track at Grandchester Model Live Steam Association’s club ground the first Sunday of every month.
The track is a little over 800 metres long and takes six to eight minutes to complete depending how many trains are on the track.
Peter McGovern, Jake Gillam and Ron Dixon, are founding members of the association.
Peter and Jake are cousins who ‘grew up’ with steam engines.
“We want to promote the history of Grandchester and its connection to the history of rail in Queensland,” Peter said.
“Grandchester played a really important role and was the first ‘end of the line’.”
The association’s public train runs are made even more special when engine owners dress the part.
“We have a standard club expectation of what people will look like on the day,” Peter explained.
“Some people will wear older style railway vests, hats, caps and ties but as the weather gets hotter people tend to go for something that is as cool as possible.”
The grounds also play host to birthday parties and train lovers of all ages can spend their special day riding on the little carriages.
“We’ve found that by the time the younger kids have sat on [the train] for the eight or ten minutes, they want to get off and because they’ve had a ride on the green train and want to go on the blue one next,” Peter said.
“They often jump right off and run straight back into the queue for another ride.”
Food and drink are sold on site and people often bring their own picnic lunch to enjoy track side.
The club’s been running for around 30 years but because it celebrates from the date public runs started, they’re calling it 26 years.
Since its inception, it’s continued to grow with the track length tripling and the addition of buildings for workshops and steaming bays.
There are historical items in use too, making the experience an authentic one.
