Queensland Rail - A Forsayth Adventure - Cairns to Forsayth on the weekly mixed train 1991, VHS edit
Ойын-сауық
A run on what was the weekly mixed from Cairns to Forsayth, including staying at Forsayth before returning to Cairns was indeed an adventure to be fondly remembered. It was something like a 22 hour journey with plenty of stops along the way to drop off or pick up wagons as well as small freight and mail, with the opportunity for remote pub visits at Einasleigh and Mount Surprise.
At the time the railway was also running from Almaden to Chillagoe with Mareeba being the centre of operations. At the time it was English Electric territory (except the Forsayth train) with EE's shunting at Mareeba on the night we were there. All gone now of course.
This is a great wikipedia article on the area if you are interested:
en.wikipedia.o...
This is a VHS to VHS edit done years ago, so quality can be improved a little via a digital edit when time permits.
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This train was truly the last great train journey in Queensland. My uncle got to go on this train and he had a wonderful. No a ball of a time in 1993 not long before they stopped it. Many people have told me stories about this journey.
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
It has been one of the best things Ive ever done. Aside from the rail experience, it was a fantastic group of people that made it enjoyable as well.
I did the trip in 1992, I rate it as the last great rail trip in Australia I've done, thanks for the memory! Passenger accommodation on my trip was a bit different, there were 2 pass cars and a separate guards van. Single male travelers, such as myself, were put in a carriage with our own individual sitting compartments and single females & couples had their own carriage.
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
ThxDave. Passenger accommodation and arrangements were indeed quite different. That Forsayth trip was one of the more memorable things ive done.
"Don't be shy with the throttle there love, just throw it into eight notch and the train will take care of itself..." Great video Ted, really interesting, the way we were. The Mixed Goods are sadly gone, consigned to the annals of history, coaches and Road Trains now. Outback Railway at its best, appreciate your sharing, and nice music Ted.
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
Thx Dave, appreciate your comments. I wasnt sure whether or not many would be interested in old VHS material and my style of editing and use of music. I always like to get people in my videos and stills, what ever the subject, where possible and one of my fave shots in this video is of the folk dispatching the cattle, esp the little kid all decked out as a young cowboy. They are so representative of outback life.
@dieseldavetrains8988
2 жыл бұрын
@@tedbear4243 Stick to your current style, it's great and shows there is more to the railways.
@jmo4776
2 жыл бұрын
@@tedbear4243 OMG thank you SO MUCH for this. A friend of mine just sent this to me - my (late) father is the guard in this video!
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
Hi there JMO. Just spotted your comment. I'm absolutely thrilled that this has found its way to you. I recall the good fella so clearly, all these years later. He was a fabulous soul that contributed significantly to making the trip what it was, and if my memory serves me correctly, his name was Bruce. Can I asked, how long ago did he pass away, and at what age?
@jmo4776
2 жыл бұрын
@@tedbear4243 G'Day! Thank you for your kind comments. Yes! His name was Bruce. He did certainly love to try to ensure people enjoyed their trip as much as possible, no matter which train he was on. (We were from Mareeba, so he also worked on what became the Kuranda Tourist Train). :) Sadly he passed away in 2008 from an illness. He was a few months short of turning 67 at the time, I believe.
My tutor Kevin Hawke worked on this line along with many of the older drivers in Townsville I knew. I was so wrapped to finally see someone swinging a screw coupling. I think if I'm allowed, I will eventually go for a run on the Savannahlander which runs out that way. Cheers Adrian.
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
As I've mentioned to a couple of others on here, it was a totally fantastic trip. And I can still hear the EE loco shunting at Mareeba when we were stopped there in the early night. Looking back at the video all these years later, I'm so pleased I incorporated so many shots of the people along the way. The QR employees encountered on that trip to Forsayth were just absolutely terrific people. The chap handling the shunting was the guard by the name of Bruce, I think, from memory. A terrific soul. I only wish I could have had some broadcast quality (Betacam SP) gear out there with me foursome good quality images. Oh well, horrible vhs is better than nothing spose.
@adriannettlefold9084
2 жыл бұрын
@@tedbear4243 mate, the fact you went out of your way to video it and captured history is awesome. I wish that I had done more when I was younger, I have nothing to show for all the different places I worked and lived early on. The people are the most important, the characters you meet that leave you with a lasting impression. North Qld was full of them, especially in Cloncurry. Many of my railway mates have been looking for footage of shunting with screw couplings. It was a real art, and quite dangerous if not done properly. I'm sure Kev would know who Bruce was. He was a guard as well back then and later became a driver when guards were brought up the front as DA's. I was told lots of stories about Mareeba, Almaden, Forsaith etc... So out of curiosity, what is your story? Were just an enthusiast with a camera, or were you in the railway?
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
@@adriannettlefold9084 both of those and actually still in the rail scene and will be for quite a while yet
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
But done a bit of semi pro video work in years past, in between my 2 part railway career
@jmo4776
2 жыл бұрын
@@adriannettlefold9084 G'Day Adrian. Bruce's daughter here. Yes, we knew/know the Hawke family! :)
What I love is how the employees were interacting with the public. Sad times that “safety” is used as litigation tool that has dumbed down everything to the lowest common denominator, so that we are all treated the same, just in case a twit does the wrong thing. Instead trust in people doing their daily work, could mean some risk could be allowed. So today we are all corporate, need to have permits to photograph and be treated as a number. Glad you could do the trip and capture these moments of real human interaction. Sorry rant over. Short version, thanks!!!!!!!
@tedbear4243
Жыл бұрын
I agree 10000% Jason, everything is just crazy these days. As Ive mentioned elsewhere in comments, it was one of the most memorable trips Ive managed to do as it combined 'old style' rail, remote country which I love and plenty of great people interactions. The guard for most of the trip really made it, a wonderful chap whose family saw this and left some messages. Sadly he passed away a while back. This is one of maybe 6 or so videos I will eventually do a digital edit of which will improve the quality a little bit. (instead of the VHS to VHS edit as presented)
@jmo4776
Жыл бұрын
@@tedbear4243 Thanks for the kind comments about my father, Ted. :) I was literally just telling someone about this trip the other day, and how I wish we could take our own kids out there via train these days. So sad that we cannot. :(
Cool vid cheers for the upload mate.
@tedbear4243
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks. some of these will be re edited once the original VHS tapes are all digitised. I expect the shots will be mostly the same and likely the music, but the images will be slightly clearer. Pleased that people are enjoying them despite the poor technical quality. Thx for taking the time to comment 🙂
Did I see Pauline Hanson at 7.00min??
@tedbear4243
Жыл бұрын
Geez, I hope not...
@tedbear4243
Жыл бұрын
Just had a look. Nope, not maddam Pauline, but I can see a likeness. She was a lovely person and I just cant recall her name :-(