Gulflander Train
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Photographs of the Croydon Railway Station, Gulflander Train & Historic Machinery supplied courtesy of Golden Quill.
One of the great railway journeys in Australia is from Normanton to Croydon aboard the Gulflander. The Gulflander train or more affectionately known as “The Tin Hare,” is unique, as it’s one of only two trains in Australia on heritage listing. The train has also been running continuously since 1888 and runs on original tracks and sleepers. The unique sleepers are known as the 'George Philips steel sleeper'. They are designed to be laid on top of the ground without ballast, this was to minimise cost. They are made of steel to prevent termite damage and are also designed with a low profile to allow floodwaters to wash over the top.
The current RM60 engine has been around since 1931 and journeys to Croydon at 8.30am every Wednesday morning and arrives at about 1.30pm. There are 152km between Normanton and Croydon, and it takes four to five hours to travel the old-fashioned way. There are mail and freight stops to the properties along the way, plus also a morning tea stop at Black Bull. The Black Bull siding was established in 1890 and offers all travellers a welcome stop.
Visitors can spend overnight in Croydon and experience the many historical sights and return to Normanton the following day. Or if you’re pushed for time, you may also travel one way on the Gulflander and return the same day by bus transfer (bookings are essential).
See the Gulf landscape from a new perspective when you travel. It’s not just a train ride – it’s a total outback experience.
For train bookings or more info Phone: (07) 4745 1391 or (07) 4745 1307
