I have a special liking for steam trains. They’ve always fascinated me. Doesn’t matter where I see them or in what form – real or imaginary – there’s something about them that always puts a little smile on my face, a feeling of excitement. I suppose it’s sort of in the genes – my paternal grandfather was on the railways in Ireland (most of the males in his family were as well) Like his brother he ‘rose up through the ranks’ to become an engine driver but others were engine firemen, station masters, porters and a generation before ‘gangers’
The engines always look like big monsters needing all that coal and water to make the steam to ‘turn the wheels’. I’m not that cluey to understand how it works but THIS might help if you really would like to know
This mural is in George Street Bowen depicting locomotives used in Queensland.
B1079 – – – C17
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We have an organisation here in Victoria called Steamrail – https://www.steamrail.com.au
Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the railways in Victoria, Australia.
Source – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamrail_Victoria
8am Saturday 24 March 2012
I’ve no idea aka I can’t remember why we were at Spencer Street Station so early but this was a a real surprise. Steamrail were obviously having a day trip / tour somewhere. Hissing and steaming, providing photo opportunities, putting smiles on peoples faces, promising a good time for all.
A bit of history on locomotive K153 – https://www.steamrail.com.au/k153
Min is now hosting a Wednesday link up – Wednesday Words & Whimsy.
Why not drop in HERE and see who her visitors are – perhaps you’d like to join in as well
Still Waters 
Were any of your grandfather’s family employed on the West Clare Railway of ‘Are ye right there Michael, are ye right?’ fame?
I too love steam engines, from the mighty Royal Scot which took me on holiday to the family in Scotland, to the steamrollers still in use when I was a child, and the steam ploughs only seen at steam fairs. When we lived in France we found a tourist steam train locally…well, fairly locally….a treat, bringing back good memories.
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Sorry Helen- they lived in Co Armagh, Co Monaghan then Belfast. Some I know were with the Great Northern Railway but others possibly with earlier companies.
Those little tourist trains are a delight aren’t they. . . all run by volunteers who work hard at restoring then willingly give their time ‘to have fun’
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I love trains, always have and started riding them when I was just a few months old. 1944 all the way through 1969 mother traveled from Savannah GA here to Palmetto FL where I now live to visit her mother. I can still hear and feel the rocking of the train. it was a 10 hour trip, 8 by car. now is is 8 hour by train and 6 by car. I have ridden twice behind a coal driven train, with the coal dust and cinders falling on us as we were right behind the engine watching them toss in the coal. hope this link will show you my blog posts
https://snapperone.blogspot.com/search?q=steam+engine
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You’ve certainly have some stories to tell there Sandra. I’ll have a proper look when I’ve a bit more time to spare.
And yes, that swaying rocking movement is something that once experienced never forgotten.
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I love trains. I think it’s an excellent way to travel. Nancy and I rode trains from London to York and from York to Glasgow.
Although not as fabulous as steam trains, they still had the bumpty bump that lulls you, relaxing you and keeping you calm.
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It’s a much gentler way to travel isn’t it Angela. Much more civilised than flying
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LOVED the times of the steam engine trains and can still smell the odour. When I was a kid we’d see the trains and go on them from time to time, living on the south coast. When we moved to Sydney, I would travel independently by train (steam) back to Wollongong as a pre teen early teen to see grandparents.
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Hello Denyse. Lovely to see you!
So many of us remember those steam driven trains with a sense of fondness. I wonder if youngsters (who use them) these days will think fondly of the electric driven ones
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There is just something magical about stream travel – noise, smell, that sort of chug chug movement as you get underway – it has a passion about it. We went to the UK National Railway museum earlier this year and loved it all.
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I’m with you on the magic of steam train travel. It has a different feel about it- maybe the old carriages have something to do with it but whatever it is certainly isn’t present in modern stock
We went to a railway museum in York on one of our visits ‘back home’ many years ago – lots of good things there to see.
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I’m not really what you’d call a fan of steam trains but the old 3801 travels our local line quite often and I love to hear the whistle. Maybe one day I’ll take a trip on it.
The dedication of the guys who run these things is amazing, the Zig Zag has just re-opened after years closed and all through volunteer efforts
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Puffing Billy is well known out here in the Dandenongs however there’s another equally hardworking group close by in Healesville hoping to restore the Healesville- Yarra Glen line. As you say hard working and dedicated is the way to go
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They are fabulous murals. A Station Master here at least, was such a respected position, perhaps ranked above an engine driver.
What a great show at So Cross Station. I have a Steamrail train post up my sleeve.
The steam train explanation is the simplest and most easily understood information I have come across. Can you find a similar one about how air con extracts heat from outside cold air and pumps it inside a home? I can only understand how air con cools, like a ‘fridge.
Btw, I heard on the radio about a black pig who is/was a daily visitor to a Bowen beach for a swim and a romp around with dogs. Have you seen the Bowen pig?
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I agree on the ‘job ranking’ yet wonder at the skill needed to work on a steam locomotive. Those at the station were seen keeping an eye on things making sure the trains got off on time whereas those driving the trains were ‘just there working away at a dirty job’ Some say it’s just keeping an eye on gauges but then isn’t it the same flying an aircraft
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There is something a little nostalgic and romantic about steam engines and train travel. They played a part in the white settlement of the United States. You are so right – they are much more civilized than flying.
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Life in so many places changed when the railways arrived. Here in Australia transport of goods and people on the rivers slowed down to non existent in favour of the faster travel times. Similarly in the UK transport on the canal waterways became a thing of the past
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There’s something romantic about steam trains isn’t there Cathy? The Bowen murals look fabulous. I remember when my children were preschoolers and we lived in Kiama. We took a steamtrain ride to Robertson to see a Play School concert. It was magical. x
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Hi Cathy, steam trains conjure up a feeling of ‘romance’ for me. Maybe it’s all the old movies where you hear the toot of the horn and the steam is coming out and she or he is hanging out the window in tears because they’re being separated, for example! My son was obsessed with trains when he was very little. We would drive all over the countryside just so he could see trains. A few years ago I enjoyed a trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway’s steam train up in Far North Queensland. It was a gorgeous train and we were served food and had a wonderful time! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy xo
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Hi Cathy, I’ve been on one of those Steamrail trips and it was fantastic fun, a real trip back in time. Great photos of those great old machines.
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I find them fascinating too and we’ve ridden on a few of the steam powered ones for scenic tours and things. I find the clacking of the tracks and the motion of the trains to be quite relaxing.
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There is something magical about trains, isn’t there, Cathy? Thanks for sharing these photos with us.
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