Fire ban derails steam train trip

THE Southern Downs Steam Railway has been forced to cancel yet another train trip due to the extreme fire conditions.

The not-for-profit organisation has not run a train, its main source of income, since September.

However, treasurer and operations manager Adam Cole said the Christmas party would still go ahead in at the Warwick Railway precinct tomorrow as planned.

“We really do want to run train services with the carriages but while the weather is like this it’s just not feasible,” Mr Cole said.

“As soon as there is a fire ban you’ve got to cancel all activities – the risk is just too great.”

Mr Cole is hopeful there will be some rain before the next planned trip to Wallangarra on January 17.

“Well it all depends on rain at the moment, I’m hopeful that the situation will change by January 17, if it doesn’t we’ll just keep treading water,” he said.

“You can’t forecast what the weather is going to do.”

The Christmas party will run from 10am until about 1.30pm tomorrow and all are welcome to attend.

While it will not leave the precinct, the steam locomotive will still be operational and for a small fee members of the public can ride on the footplate with the driver.

Santa will pop in for a visit about 11.15am and there will be a barbecue.

“The steam locomotive will be running and people will have an opportunity to ride up on the foot plate with the driver – this is something that people can’t do very often,” Mr Cole said.

The day is free to attend and there will also be free guided tours of the precinct.


Source: warwickdailynews.com.au