The Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland was given a $20,000 grant to buy a heritage themed food truck that caters for tourists visiting the historic Grandchester station.
The heritage grant program is part of Queensland Rail’s 160th birthday celebrations and the grants were given to help heritage rail operations to remain or become viable.
“We were given the money under the Queensland Rail Q160 grant program where $160,000 was made available to heritage railway organisations in Queensland,” society president Steve Lamprecht said.
“We bought a food truck because when visitors are able to have a bite to eat they stay longer.
“When people don’t have that option we become a pit stop and not a destination.
“A heritage themed food truck will turn a short visit into a day out.”
The food truck also opens an alternative revenue pathway and will continue making money into the future.
Steve said the society had a 10 year license agreement with Queensland Rail for Grandchester station.
Part of that commitment meant opening the station a minimum of one day a month.
“The station is relatively small and we came up with the idea of having a food truck we can reposition,” he said.
“The truck we chose is a tandem axle trailer with a window.
“The idea behind its mobility is we can reposition the van between our two sites and if something is happening at Kunkala for the Rosewood railway, we can move it there.
“Then when it is needed at Grandchester we can run it out there.”
Volunteers are already hard at work compiling a display that will be inside the old station master’s office.
Inside it will be railway memorabilia and items from the very early days of Queensland rail.
“We are in the process of returning some of what is called railway safe working items back to the station as well as a staff machine and a few other bits and pieces.,” he said.
“The society will contribute another $5000 in terms of fit out and buying things like a coffee machine and a few other bits and pieces.
“We are hopeful it will be up and running early next year.”
