The Valley rattler

The Old Gympie Railway Station

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday and the Mary Valley historical Railway was finally on its way again as the water had submerged enough for it to go ahead.  We left here at 6am for the 2 hour 190klm journey North of Brisbane to Gympie to catch the train.

The Valley Rattler built in 1950 at Maryborough Qld. 

We chose to drive in the Club Car

The trip commenced from the Old Gympie Station building which replaced the original in 1913.  The original station served Gympie from the 1870s. The Rattler is a steam train which travels from Gympie downgrade and crosses Deep Creek Bridge.  This structure is 30 metres above the creek bed and has not flooded during many of the Gympie Floods.  I think the recent floods were 14 metres high.

brown on the trees shows the height of the flood water

  From here the train passes through Monkland Railway Station and once the Rattler passes the Main North Coast Line, the descent is made to the Mary River.  The Rattler then negotiates its way through prime dairy country with beautiful views of the Mary Valley.Dagun Railway Station is 20klms from Gympie and on the return journey we were treated to a wine and cheese tasting and some very delicious frozen fruit slushies.  I had a Dagun Delight which was macadamia, Mango and Icecream frozen- yummee. Anamoor was the next station and this is where the Gympie Country Music Muster is held every August.

The train going around the bend in the tracks

  A long uphill grade was then endured and on the descent we arrived at Kandanga Railway Station.  Kandanga was originally a timber town and we enjoyed the local markets where fresh produce was for sale.

The Kandanga Railway Station & Markets

After Kandanga the Rattler encounters an uphill battle and rattles through Melawondi, then climbs through the to the only tunnel on the line an travels downgrade to Imbil (40klms).  We spent an Hour and half here in this lovely country town and enjoyed a lovely buffet meal on the balcony of the Railway Hotel.

The Railway Hotel in Imbil 

The buffet was very nice and cost us $12.50 each.  We then enjoyed the return journey.  The only problem is we both wore white and after the cinders from the steam landed they ended up a slight grey in colour.  We arrived home from Gympie at about 7pm.

view from a bridge just out of Imbil

 Apparently tomorrow we have to take the grandies to school.  Would you believe it is walk to school day.  We will have to get our walking boots on.

 Just a short word in rememberance for a dear pet and companion for my dear granddaughter and DIL.  Their horse, Kal passed away Friday after a short illness and they are both devastated.   He was starting to show much promise in his field a token of the work DGD has spent tireless on him.  He's been her constant companion for 7 years.  Take each day as it comes. Our love goes out to them.

 R.I.P Kal

forever united with Troy boy

Talk again soon