FINAL SECTOR OF Q150 STEAM TRAIN BEGINS ON 17 AUGUST 2009
The Q150 Steam Train begins the sixth and final sector of it’s six sector, five-month journey around Queensland on 17 August 2009, when it departs Roma Street’s Platform 3 at 9.45am, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The Q150 Steam Train begins the sixth and final sector of it’s six sector, five-month journey around Queensland on 17 August 2009, when it departs Roma Street’s Platform 3 at 9.45am, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
The Q150 Steam Train is presented by Santos and The University of Queensland and will be a double header when it traverses the Great Dividing Range on the Brisbane to Toowoomba leg on 17 August and Toowoomba to Ipswich leg on 30 August.
“The Q150 Steam Train’s journey, the rock-star welcomes from communities along its path, the smiles on tiny faces, the happy memories coming back of times past for older people - has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Ms Bligh said.
“The bar has been set high by many of the towns on the Q150 Steam Train’s journey so far.
“On 17 August when it pulls out of Roma Street Station headed for Toowoomba, Quilpie, Stanthorpe and Wallangarra, the Q150 Steam Train will be on it’s final hurrah journey leaving the limelight to other sparkling Q150 celebratory events
“These are events like the Q150 Film Festival presented by Warner Brothers Movie World, a series of food and food stories events around the State with the State Library of Queensland, Q150 Arts projects, not to mention the more than 90 Q150 Legacy Infrastructure and more than 500 Q150 Community Funding projects, activities and events going on right now.
Ms Bligh said the historic locomotives and carriages had been supplied by QR.
Lance Hockridge, Chief Executive Officer at QR said the Q150 Celebrations had been a fantastic opportunity for thousands of local residents to experience a big part of Queensland’s history.
"From Mareeba to Ipswich and out west to Longreach, Queenslanders have made the Q150 steam journey an extraordinary success," he said.
Premier Bligh said the expectant excitement of communities gearing up to welcome the Q150 Steam Train this one last time was huge.
“It’s fantastic to see how Councils have really risen to the occasion and have not held back with overwhelming enthusiasm from people in the communities when this year is all about celebrating our people, our places and our stories,” she said.
Also presenting partner of the Q150 Steam Train, The University of Queensland is using parts of the final sector of the Q150 Steam Train journey to build up a perpetual asset for Queensland, a website known as Queensland Places.
Project head, Professor Peter Spearritt, said earlier legs yielded excellent results for Queensland Places, a UQ-Queensland Government partnership that will celebrate settlements that have - or once had - populations of more than 500 people.
Ms Bligh said the final sector will have leading writers on board from the Queensland Writers Centre.
“From Toowoomba to Charleville the Q150 Steam Train they are authors Nick Earls and Kim Wilkins and poet Hinemoana Baker.
“Nick of Zigzag Street and Bachelor Kisses fame shot to publishing stardom after taking a similar Queensland Writers journey aboard a train in the 1990s and gathering plenty of resources that sparked his creativity along the way.
“Kim is of Rosa and Veil of Gold fame while Hinemoana is the Arts Queensland Poet-in-Residence.
“What stories these writers will have an opportunity to spin this time aboard the Q150 Steam Train.
“Whichever way you look at it there’s lots happening in this final journey. Make sure you are part of it.”
Bookings for the Q150 Steam Train are through TravelTrain on 1800 QLD 150 ( 1800 753 150 ).
Forty mores seats have been released for sale on the Warwick to Stanthorpe leg on 28 August and the Stanthorpe to Wallangarra and Warwick leg on 29 August.
“Queensland Rail are ensuring that the community is reminded of safety aspects in each of the towns the Q150 Steam Train travels to.
“This is a time for locals and passengers to enjoy and stay safe.”
"It's important for people to remember to take care at level crossings year round; trains can be on any track at any time,” she said.
The train began the first sector of its six sector, five-month journey around Queensland on 14 April when it departed from Roma Street Station in Brisbane. The journey ends at Ipswich historic rail workshop at 3.40pm on Sunday 30 August.
The Q150 Steam Train will have travelled to more than 30 locations around the State going as far north as Cairns, as far west as Quilpie and as far south as Wallangarra.
The Q150 Steam Train is presented by Santos and The University of Queensland and supported by media partners Network 10, Macquarie Southern Cross Media, APN Newspapers, Quest Community Newspapers and Triple M.
Media inquiries: 3224 4500
Related Content
Published by:
N/A
Release Date
This story was released on 2009-08-13. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.