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969:. This new air conditioned train was hauled by a diesel locomotive and by eliminating steam locomotive servicing stops, the transit time to Cairns was reduced from 45 to 41¼ hours. By the time it ceased in December 2014, the time had been cut to 31 hours with many infrastructure upgrades having taken place.
958:
built a train. The carriages were designed to travel to all parts of the system with a maximum axle load of nine tons, which was a challenge for the dining cars. New features included showers in the sleeping cars, roomettes in first class and head end power cars, especially necessary where trains may
938:
was introduced. This train of wooden carriages featured varnished timber internal panelling made from natural
Queensland timbers. Comforts for that period included electric fans, electric lighting, and leather upholstered seating. Accommodation included sleeping berths for first and second class
972:
As further rolling stock was delivered, a second weekly service commenced on 30 November 1953 building up to five on 9 December 1955. The much delayed
Ipswich built set was commissioned on 10 May 1961, allowing the service to build up to six services per week, this was reduced back to five on 8
1142:
Queenslander Class featured a premium First Class experience, with premium toiletries packs, bath robes, premium bedding and meals included, made up with carriage stock formerly used on the
Queenslander service. Facilities and accommodation of Queenslander Class were as follows:
1112:
Facilities and accommodation onboard remained generally consistent throughout the history of the train, although some changes were made over time with the addition and removal of carriages. Facilities and accommodation after the refurbishment of carriages in the 1990s featured:
983:
1393:
1347:
1210:
Four of the M-class cars (including two of those listed above) have now undergone work to return them to traffic as the
Queensland Pioneer Dinner train over the seven kilometres scenic railway outside
1390:
1139:
From 2003 through to the last service, the
Sunlander service was merged with the Queenslander train and provided two levels of "First Class" accommodation on selected trains.
1374:
1214:, and are sporting the blue and white livery they first wore in 1953. These cars had their first trip as the Queensland Pioneer Dinner Train on 22 July 2017.
1547:
1006:
service was introduced. The
Queenslander was later merged in with the Sunlander to offer "Queenslander Class" accommodation on selected services.
1019:. From 13 October 2014, the number of weekly services was reduced from three to one, with the last service departing Cairns on 31 December 2014.
1532:
1409:
1078:
1522:
1071:
1067:
951:
164:
160:
1542:
1527:
1225:. They acquired a large number of Sunlander coaches and renovated them to become Australia's only dedicated fine-dining rail experience.
1537:
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carriage sets totalling 99 carriages to introduce air-conditioned rolling stock to its long distance services. In addition QR's own
892:
473:
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407:
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With the widespread retirement of the M Series carriages, several carriages allocated to the
Sunlander have been preserved.
1028:
928:
863:
143:
1552:
693:
1371:
1410:
Sunlander
Farewell: Brisbane to Cairns service makes final journey after 61 years and 3.5 million passenger journeys
1189:
341:
1196:
were gifted six M-class cars following their retirement. Of those, three had been formerly used on The
Sunlander:
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627:
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429:
319:
204:
1097:
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867:
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385:
231:
111:
1039:
through to the tropical north region. The train travelled the coastal strip between the beaches and the
1449:
803:
671:
561:
253:
1157:
Facilities and accommodation on the
Sunlander portion of the train from 2003 onwards were as follows:
759:
605:
363:
947:
715:
176:
1434:
1429:
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275:
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Motive power was provided by diesel locomotives throughout until the North Coast line was
8:
1211:
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Following the reorganisation of Queensland Rail's freight operations in preparation for
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1359:
1089:. Following the cessation of electric locomotive working on the North Coast line,
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was completed, a steam hauled non air-conditioned train provided the service.
1516:
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155:
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commenced operating on the Brisbane to Cairns route. On 29 February 1992, a
1306:
975:
1275:. South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: Queensland Museum. p. 154.
171:
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1052:
875:
1272:
Chasing the sunshine : the story of Queensland's sunshine express
1217:
The Q Train is a fine dining restaurant on the Bellarine Peninsula in
25:
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1104:. On 1 July 2014, this function was taken over by Queensland Rail.
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World class trains for Queensland supporting 800 Maryborough jobs
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between June 1953 and December 2014. It has been replaced by the
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carriage stock. From the early 1980s this was supplemented by
959:
be delayed by floods or other events, as was often the case.
1450:"Queensland Rail's heritage carriage gift to lift spirits"
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was a long distance passenger rail service operated by
1325:
Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering 1921-1955
986:
Promotional image of the Sunlander in North Queensland
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1009:In 2014, the service was gradually replaced by the
1289:
1206:Tropics club car 1502 (in its 1990s configuration)
30:Depiction of the "Sunlander" locomotive headboard
1514:
965:commenced service on 4 June 1953, replacing the
190:
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1240:
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1548:Discontinued railway services in Australia
1327:. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 182–198.
24:
998:This was further reduced when the luxury
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1318:
1316:
1200:Sleeping car MAS 1540 (the final M car)
1107:
973:November 1970 to release stock for the
939:passengers and seating only carriages.
1515:
1362:Minister for Transport 27 October 2010
1043:passing diverse country including the
1533:Railway services discontinued in 2014
1268:
1523:Named passenger trains of Queensland
1322:
1313:
1093:was again diesel hauled throughout.
1543:2014 disestablishments in Australia
1528:Railway services introduced in 1953
1447:
1433:. Vol. 42 (#2), no. 271.
1304:"A Brief History of the Sunlander"
1250:. Queensland Historical Atlas. 2010
1123:Economy Class Triple Berth Sleepers
1100:, the locomotives were provided by
13:
1310:issue 96 November 2014 pages 33-41
14:
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1538:1953 establishments in Australia
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1350:Queensland Rail 16 December 2014
1190:Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
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1085:operating the service south of
956:North Ipswich Railway Workshops
934:In 1935, a new train named the
1403:
1391:Spirit of Queensland factsheet
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1353:
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1035:in the sub tropical region of
1:
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1167:Economy Class Triple Sleepers
1164:First Class Twinette Sleepers
1161:First Class Roomette Sleepers
1147:First Class Twinette Sleepers
1120:First Class Twinette Sleepers
1117:First Class Roomette Sleepers
927:From December 1924, when the
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994:Queenslander Class branding
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1248:"Travelling Times by Rail"
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1553:Night trains of Australia
1427:"Australia's Sunlander".
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1126:Waterways Restaurant Car
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948:Commonwealth Engineering
183:3 ft 6 in
1437:. 2017. pp. 36–41.
1435:White River Productions
1430:Passenger Train Journal
1396:4 December 2013 at the
1051:and the tropics beyond
1027:The route followed the
1377:18 August 2013 at the
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1510:at Wikimedia Commons
1269:Burke, David (2009).
1221:. It operates on the
1037:South East Queensland
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946:placed an order with
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1372:Spirit of Queensland
1129:Macrossan Lounge Car
1108:Passenger facilities
1045:Glasshouse Mountains
1041:Great Dividing Range
1012:Spirit of Queensland
903:haul the northbound
881:Spirit of Queensland
130:Average journey time
85:Spirit of Queensland
1323:Dunn, John (2006).
1203:Dining car MDC 1461
944:Queensland Railways
133:45 hours (Original)
20:
1017:Diesel Tilt Trains
996:
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942:In December 1949,
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913:
122:Distance travelled
92:Former operator(s)
18:
1506:Media related to
1282:978-0-9805692-3-0
1223:Bellarine Railway
1081:in 1989 with the
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864:North Coast line
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135:31 hours (Final)
125:1,681 kilometres
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76:31 December 2014
60:Sunshine Express
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1482:. Retrieved
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1457:. Retrieved
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1307:Motive Power
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1252:. Retrieved
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1181:Preservation
1176:Sitting Cars
1170:Food Bar Car
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1135:Sitting Cars
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430:Mount Larcom
140:Line(s) used
73:Last service
41:Service type
15:
1479:The Q Train
1475:"Our story"
1254:16 February
1102:QR National
1087:Rockhampton
1079:electrified
474:St Lawrence
452:Rockhampton
386:Miriam Vale
172:Track gauge
144:North Coast
68:4 June 1953
57:Predecessor
1517:Categories
1459:26 January
1381:Queensland
1334:1877058424
1229:References
1153:Lounge Car
1083:3900 class
1053:Townsville
950:for eight
901:1720 class
876:Queensland
804:Gordonvale
672:Townsville
562:Proserpine
254:Caboolture
1348:Timetable
905:Sunlander
760:Innisfail
606:Home Hill
408:Gladstone
364:Bundaberg
150:Technical
81:Successor
1558:Motorail
1414:ABC News
1394:Archived
1375:Archived
1219:Victoria
1194:Swanbank
1072:L series
1068:M series
1033:Brisbane
1004:motorail
952:M series
907:through
868:Brisbane
866:between
716:Cardwell
232:Brisbane
165:L series
161:M series
112:Brisbane
36:Overview
1212:Ipswich
1074:stock.
923:in 1978
911:in 1991
888:History
862:on the
782:Babinda
496:Carmila
276:Nambour
108:Termini
52:Retired
1484:9 July
1331:
1279:
909:Yabulu
899:and a
872:Cairns
826:Cairns
694:Ingham
540:Mackay
518:Sarina
320:Gympie
298:Cooroy
205:Legend
116:Cairns
49:Status
1031:from
1023:Route
738:Tully
584:Bowen
103:Route
1486:2019
1461:2017
1329:ISBN
1277:ISBN
1256:2011
1188:The
897:1556
870:and
650:Giru
1192:at
874:in
628:Ayr
1519::
1477:.
1452:.
1315:^
1291:^
1237:^
1055:.
979:.
884:.
1488:.
1463:.
1337:.
1285:.
1258:.
185:)
181:(
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