Page 113 - Port Douglas Magazine 44

“If you want to find out more about rail travel in the tropical far north,
there are some great experiences around town and beyond — perfect
for trainspotters or those simply looking for a nostalgic day out.”

SpEEdy ANd NElSoN
The Bally Hooley Steam Railway was a popular
tourist attraction that offered a trip through
town along the original cane train tracks. In the
1980s you could take a tour from Port Douglas to
Mossman, but the trip was soon shortened to the
4km between Crystalbrook Marina and St Crispins
Cafe. Its last day of operation was September 24,
2021. Today, the decommissioned steam engines
Speedy and Nelson are permanently preserved at
the marina, with their carriages repurposed as
dining cars at Choo Choos on the Marina.

TrAiN iN A cAgE

The England-built Fowler steam locomotive
Faugh a Ballagh (named for a Gaelic battle cry)
was one of the four engines that hauled bagged
sugar from the mill to the wharf. She pulled her
last load in 1958 and was stationed in Anzac Park,
opposite the Court House Hotel, as a reminder
of the historical importance of the tramway.
The Douglas Shire Historical Society headed
up a project to refurbish the engine and its one
remaining original carriage in 1994. It’s now
located (in a cage) on Grant Street opposite the
Marina.

KurANdA ScENic rAilwAy
Enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year, this diesel-electric engine pulls
heritage railway carriages from Freshwater station in north Cairns, 328
metres above sea level, on a two-hour trip to the market town of Kuranda.
Enjoy rounding the engineering feat that is the 180-degree Jungara bend, and
views of the spectacular Din Din (Barron Falls) on the way. You can make
a return trip by rail or take the Skyway Rainforest Cableway there or back.

THE SAvANNAHlANdEr
Looking to immerse yourself in a good old-fashioned rail journey? This 1960s
silver-bullet train departs Cairns once a week for the old goldrush town of
Forsayth. The round trip takes four days and stops at the Chillagoe-Mungana
Caves, Cobbold Gorge and the lava tubes at Undara. It’s an impressive way to
tick off some of the biggest attractions of the Port Douglas hinterland, with
hotels and meals supplied en route.

HErBErToN HiSToric rAilwAy

A two-hour drive southwest of Port, the village of Herberton was once a
busy stop on the line from Mareeba to Ravenshoe. A 22km stretch across
the Tablelands is now run and managed by a group of volunteers who offer
rides on a fully restored 1905 Peckett Steam Locomotive. Take a seat in the
wooden passenger carriage for a 20-minute round trip from Herberton
Station to the Historic Village (selected weekends).
The Historic Atherton - Herberton Railway in its heyday
PHOTO CREDIT: Atherton-Herberton Historical Railway Inc