The Sunlander
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Posts posted by The Sunlander
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20 hours ago, AlexB said:
I thought the whole purpose of them moving to diesel was so any old ride operator could drive it, thereby eliminating the need to pay a very expensive qualified engineer...?
Over the years there were many qualified steam drivers at Dreamworld, but now only one remains. He drives the diesel full-time, while other trained operators drive it on his days off and during his lunch breaks.
Contrary to some opinion, the steam driver does not earn more than the other park operators - so he is not "expensive".
It would be that the steam-qualified driver was driving the diesel the day it broke down so was available immediately to light the Baldwin at a moment's notice. His roster has him the driver 5 days a week. No need to worry about telephone calls. It would take two hours to prep the engine and raise steam, so there would be no great delay to the operating schedule. No big deal. At least it gives the driver something to do instead of sitting around doing nothing for the duration.
How long will the steam operation last while the diesel is being repaired? Not known.
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11 hours ago, pin142 said:
If you are wanting to take a steam train ride outside the first Saturday of month word is tomorrow will be a good day to do it.
It is reported that the diesel has failed with starter motor problems and the Baldwin will be operating in its place. Duration is unknown - maybe a couple of days. But you just never know the outcome - if management gets positive feedback, the Baldwin may operate more frequently. The change of heart in management is quite noticeable in making the effort not to cancel the train service, compared with 2011/2012 when the train ride was cut back.
Yes, the train ride is a most important feature on Dreamworld.
Although a century old, the Baldwin is not a delicate thing and does not need molly-coddling, and will continue to give good service for another century. Much to the delight of park patrons and steam afficionados.
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Thankyou T-Bone for this advice. It is great to see that Dreamworld has now made a commitment to continue the steam operation. Once a month is a good start. If popularity is shown, hopefully this schedule may increase.
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Did the steam engine actually run on Saturday? I have found no info re this - I hope it did run. Or. perhaps the engine will commence first Saturday in March.
For continuous running, yes, another qualified driver would be needed. However, it would not increase maintenance needs. Steam engines are lubricated every morning when running (unlike a motor car), but otherwise are quite maintenance-free. Just because it is 100 years old does not make it delicate. It will run forever with minor occasional maintenance. The boiler is the main concern. It must be examined periodically by a qualified inspector, and minor issues can be made good by welding etc, but there comes a time when a new one will be required - and that is expensive as a one-off. Keep fingers crossed.
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13 hours ago, reanimated35 said:
^
>Has a "real passion" for steam locos
>Has a username of a service that's only ever run on diesel locomotivesCouldn't you have chosen "Puffing Billy" or something?
The Sunlander train was in fact worked by steam locomotives between Innisfail and Cairns in the early days. The other "Lander trains, Inlander, Midlander, Westlander were all worked by steam until quite late in the piece. In mid-1960s the Midlander was worked by diesel to Emerald then a succession of Beyer Garratt, C17 and AC16 engines to its terminus at Winton.
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I have a real passion for steam locomotives and for me, as well as most people, the removal of the steamers from Dreamworld was a real blow. The replacement diesel is a grotesque caricature of a steam engine, totally devoid of charm - a first cousin of the little rubber-tyred trains you sometimes see pottering around a shopping centre or at some event.. Yes, little kiddies may like it, but they do not know of better things.
It is my opinion that the diesel has not lived up to expectations and is causing a deal of concern.
We are lucky however that management did not dispose of both engines, and now the Baldwin will see the light of day again. It will be 100 years old next year - and long may it continue. With the change of heart by management now, perhaps they regret giving the Perry away. If both engines were available the train ride could be re-established as the major attraction as it was in the early 1980s.
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Operating times for the steam engines for many years was 10-5, every 25 minutes - 18 circuits a day. Even on the rare occasions when park opening hours were extended, the train still did its last circuit at 5pm. With the diesel it was operating 10-5 with a 30 minute service - reduced to 15 circuits a day - (and a much reduced speed.)
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As far as drivers go, Legislation requires a Boiler Licence for the driver. When the decision was made to do away with the steam locos there were 4 licenced drivers at Dreamworld - the only full-time steam drivers in the state. Two were rostered each day - the conductor being one of the drivers, who could drive the train for 2 circuits when the driver had his 50 minute lunch break. He then went on his break when the driver returned. Currently there is only one licenced driver, so that when he has a lunch break the steam engine and train must be stopped for that duration.
There is no licensing requirement to drive the replacement diesel and any operator who has received instruction, is able to drive it.
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I am new to this forum. I note the comments from many who have been here before, many of which are suppositions with no basis in fact, so I will try to assist with some facts.
Firstly, the Dreamworld track is just 1.5 km long, NOT 3 km as claimed by Dreamworld. I know this as I was in a position to measure the length, which I did. If Dreamworl's archival records state that 3 km of RAILwas purchased, that may be where their claim originates. 3 km of rail produces only 1.5 km of track though. Check for yourself with a GPS unit.
The Baldwin locomotive's origins lie in World War 1, when the British War Department contracted the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia USA to construct 495 locomotives of 2 feet gauge, to operate in the war zones transporting personnel, provisions, ammunition etc. Narrow gauge railways were used extensively by both sides in the conflict as an efficient method of transport. It has always been said that our Baldwin worked in France, but a reference in Wikipedia notes that it (Construction Number 45215) was in a batch of 60 sent to Egypt where it was involved on the Eastern Front, against the Turk offensive.
After the war the little engine was purchased by the Racecourse Sugar Mill at Mackay and spent a lifetime until the 1960s hauling cane to the mill. After being laid aside, luckily it was not cut-up for scrap metal, the fate of most steam locomotives, and eventually was "done-up" and became the star on Dreamworld's railway. It was made to look like a "wild west" engine of the 1860s, and looks nothing like it did when new. It was initially a tank engine, and the cute tender it now has, sets it off nicely.
It is a pity that Dreamworld never capitalized on the engine's claim to fame.
More later...
Dreamworld Steam Train
in Theme Park Discussion
Posted
For anyone interested in a photo of the engine before it was rebuilt for Dreamworld service have a look at this site. There is also a very nice scale drawing of it and a short history.