Savannahlander

Image:Stoney_creek_falls.jpg

The service was introduced by Queensland Rail on 3 April 1995 to replace the Forsayth Mixed (marketed as the "Last Great Train Ride"). At the same time, the line from Mareeba to Mount Surprise was closed. The Savannahlander service was initially run with a 2000 class railmotor set that had been refurbished at the Townsville Workshops. It originally ran on the Mount Surprise to Forsayth section of the Etheridge line. However, in September 1998, after an upgrade of the line for sugar syrup trains from Cairns to Arriga, and limited restoration of the rest of the line, the service began travelling from Cairns to Forsayth.

In 2004, it was decided to contract the service out to a private operator, Cairns Kuranda Steam Pty Ltd."Savannahlander Launched", Railway Digest, May 1995, p. 15Queensland Transport - Long distance passenger transport service contracts While primarily a passenger service between Cairns and Forsayth, the train can be chartered by large groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/the-savannahlander/index.cfm|title=The Savannahlander|author=|date=|work=Queensland Holidays|publisher=Tourism Queensland|accessdate=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103204906/http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/the-savannahlander/index.cfm|archive-date=3 November 2011|url-status=live}}

On 27 March 2019, a car collided with the Savannahlander at a level crossing in the city of Cairns. The driver of the car failed to give way at the crossing and was injured in the crash.{{cite web |url=https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/crime-court/train-driver-urges-motorist-safety-at-level-crossings-after-cairns-collision/news-story/783e717722f76ad59681a839f8acbd46 |last=Mason |first=Grace |title=Train Driver's Shock at Crash |date=27 March 2019 |work=The Cairns Post |accessdate=27 March 2019 |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |url-access=subscription}}

Image:Savannahlander.jpg, April 2006|alt=|left]]

Running for 39 weeks in the year, The Savannahlander departs Cairns railway station ({{Coord|-16.9257|145.7712|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Cairns railway station}}) at 06:30 Wednesday mornings and travels up the scenic Kuranda Range past the Barron Falls ({{Coord|-16.8364|145.6429|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Barron Falls railway station}}) to Kuranda ({{Coord|-16.8191|145.6391|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Kuranda railway station}}). It then travels to the south-west on the Chillagoe-Mungana branch line. The train travels through the towns of Mareeba ({{Coord|-16.9938|145.4213|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Mareeba railway station}}) and Dimbulah ({{Coord|-17.1500|145.1106|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Dimbulah railway station}}) before passing through Lappa Junction ({{Coord|-17.3591|144.8861|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Lappa railway station}}) and arriving in Almaden ({{Coord|-17.3384|144.6780|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD||display=|name=Almaden railway station}}) where it stays for the night.

On Thursday mornings, the Savannahlander continues south-west on the Etheridge Railway. It passes through Mount Surprise ({{Coord|-18.1468|144.3179|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Mount Surprise railway station}}) and Einasleigh ({{Coord|-18.5140|144.0917|type:railwaystion_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Einasleigh railway station}}) before terminating at Forsayth railway station ({{Coord|-18.5869|143.6028|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|display=|name=Forsayth railway station}}). On Fridays, the train departs Forsayth for Mount Surprise. The train then departs for Cairns on Saturday mornings.[http://www.savannahlander.com.au/general-information/savannahlander-itinerary/ Savannahlander Itinerary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728221640/http://www.savannahlander.com.au/general-information/savannahlander-itinerary/ |date=28 July 2013 }} Savannahlander

File:Savannahlander crossing an old bridge - panoramio (3).jpg

The Savannahlander comprises three former two-car Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motors. Two (2026 and 2028) are "PD" (Passenger / Driving) cars. They were built for Queensland Rail in 1963, and have the classic 1960s-era streamlined front ends. Originally, they were fitted with {{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rolls-Royce diesel engines.

The third (2053) is a 2051-class rail motor, built in 1971, known as a "PLDT" (Passenger & Luggage / Driving / Trailing) car. It has access doors at each end, rather than a streamlined front, which allowed it to be placed in the middle of other sets, so that sets of three or four cars could be formed. Only four of that style of car were built, and they were originally fitted with an AEC engine. It was re-engined in 2005, along with the other Savannahlander units.[http://www.savannahlander.com.au/general-information/rollingstock/ Rollingstock] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124181926/http://www.savannahlander.com.au/general-information/rollingstock/ |date=24 January 2014}} Savannahlander

All units were re-engined with {{convert|250|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Cummins diesel engines. As well as the new engines, the units were fitted with new Allison gearboxes.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://savannahlander.com.au/history/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Savannahlander |language=en-US |archive-date=25 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241025064420/https://savannahlander.com.au/history |url-status=live}}

{{Portal|Queensland}}

• List of named passenger trains of Australia
• Gulflander
• Kuranda Scenic Railway

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Savannahlander}}

• {{official website|http://www.savannahlander.com.au}}

{{Railway lines in Queensland |state=expanded}}

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Category:Named passenger trains of Queensland

Category:Far North Queensland

Category:Railway services introduced in 1995

Category:1995 establishments in Australia

Category:Tourist railways in Queensland