There were trains run Toowoomba to Spring Bluff on 2 weekends during the Carnival of Flowers. I saw the return run on the morning of the second weekend. Locos 2415 & 2410 coupled long end to long end hauled heritage timber cars.


http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/50993192

Climbing through Ballard.

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/50993194

Cresting the range at Harlaxton.

Thanks Graham. A RP bug has broken the first link, but I can work it out!

Thanks Graham. A RP bug has broken the first link, but I can work it out!

Link deleted and recreated. Working now.

I haven't been to the Carnival of Flowers since about 1980, which was a big production even then. Wondering if over the years these specials were ever steam hauled.

Mike.

Carnival of Flowers steam specials have operated almost every year since the end of regular steam operations in 1969. Typically these have been the most heavily patronized ARHS specials of the year, with trains operating on the Saturday and sometimes Sunday as well.

The only time steam hasn't been used until now has been due to extreme fire or drought conditions.

However, since 2020 most of QR's Heritage steam fleet has been stored (with the exception of C17 974 leased to the MVR) due to apparent funding shortfalls and there appears to be no urgency to change the situation.

I haven't been to the Carnival of Flowers since about 1980, which was a big production even then. Wondering if over the years these specials were ever steam hauled.

Mike.

The pattern for decades was two steam hauled specials, Brisbane to Toowoomba, run on the one of the weekends of the C of F. The Saturday one being longer that the Sunday one and being diesel assisted up the range.

None were run 2020 &2021.

2019 both diesel hauled due to fire weather warnings.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/49235516

2018 ran to longer term pattern.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/47372708

As did 2017 http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/45538428

There was also railmotor tour from Brisbane on the Wednesdays of the CoF.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/47391392

Some years the Warwick group has run a train to Toowoomba also.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/44714498

There were daily trips, diesel hauled, from Toowoomba to Spring Bluff for Toowoomba residents.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/35149053
The SS cars have been replaced by timber heritage cars. This year's train only ran on two weekends.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/grahamh/50993190


Enjoy.