Recent DownsSteam steam engine trials have been successful through Wyreema, likely to be followed by passenger journeys in the region as soon as 2024.
A couple of weeks ago, C16 Steam engine 106 went on its maiden trip having departed Drayton station at 10 am before a large crowd of train enthusiasts.
It travelled through Finnie, Wyreema, Southbrook and Pittsworth before turning around at Brookstead.
The crew, led by operations manager Andrew Caldwell, was pleased with how the engine went with no issues whatsoever.
This engine was the last one built at the Toowoomba Foundry in 1914 and has found its home back at DownSteam.
DownsSteam chair Ros Scotney said 106 has been lovingly restored by volunteers in “a truly amazing achievement.”
“Thanks to Clive Berghofer AM over the past four years, his generous donation has enabled DownsSteam to bring 106 back to her former glory,” Ms Scotney said.
“There are still some processes to go through to get full accreditation to take passengers but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.”
She said passenger trips with carriages could begin as soon as early 2024 which would be a significant tourism boost for towns and regions of the Darling Downs.
This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 31 August 2023.
