The very first train journey made in Queensland has been recreated to mark the railway’s 150th year in the state.
A restored A10 steam locomotive re-enacted the first ever journey from Ipswich to Bigges Camp – now Grandchester – on July 26.
On board were special guests whose ancestors were among those to make the original journey in 1865.
Queensland Rail’s acting chief operating officer, Martin Ryan, said: “The contract to build the section of track was worth £86,900 and labourers were brought in from Europe to construct the line, working a 10-hour day in a Queensland climate much harsher than their homeland’s for approximately 35 shillings a week.
“The first locomotives to run on the line were also imported from England, costing £1,260 each.”
Construction of Queensland’s original narrow-gauge rail line began in February 1864.
The first 38.5-kilometre segment was completed the following year and the day of the first ride was declared a public holiday.
“Special guests onboard included ancestors of those who made the original journey” – to appreciate the absurdity of this sentence as written I suggest that you look up the word “ancestor” in a dictionary. I suspect that you actually mean “descendant”. .