Driver's Eye View (Australia) - Gulflander - Part 2 - Blackbull to Croydon

The Gulflander is a passenger train operated by Queensland Rail on the isolated Normanton to Croydon line in the Gulf Country of Northern Queensland, Australia.
Steam locomotives were used until 1929 by which time railmotors had been introduced, the first entring service in 1922. By 1974 the line was under threat of closure, earning just $3,000 in revenue but costing $64,000 to maintain.
Today the line exists as a tourist attraction and is said to be more of an adventure than a train ride. The crews are qualified guides and will stop the train and talk about points of interest. The present three-car railmotor set No.RM93 is made up of a Gardner diesel railmotor and two carriages TP1809 and TP1811.
This is Queensland Rail's own description of the Gulflander -
​​​​​​​"Take a journey through frontier country from Normanton to Croydon as you step aboard the iconic Gulflander. Also known as the ‘Tin Hare’, this legendary rail motor is one of the last great characters of the railway world.
Affectionately said to go from ‘nowhere to nowhere’, the Heritage Listed Normanton to Croydon line was never connected to the state rail network and remains the only line in Queensland still measured in miles. From wetlands and grasslands to arid Savannah territory, the Gulflander travels through countryside that most people will never see. This nostalgic rail journey is the perfect way to discover an area steeped in pioneering history and heritage.
As a working tribute to the Gulf of Carpentaria’s early pioneers, the Gulflander is a once in a lifetime experience".
Please join me for the second part of this trip aboard the weekly Normanton to Croydon train, consisting of RM93 and two carriages taking around 5 hours to complete the trip at a maximum operating speed of 40 km/h.
Trip date - 17th October 2023
Track Gauge - 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Music - Track - Composer - Source
00:00 & 01:46:12 - ES_The Red Soil - Saira Ridley - epidemicsound.com
To learn more about the railway, please click on this link - en.wikipedia.o...
To book your own Gulflander experience, please click on this link - www.queensland...

[@scottleidenberger4401]

Nice video. Australia is such a vast country. This was truly a trip " Out beyond the back of beyond" !

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride, Australia is a surprising country.

[@ChuckKirchner-se6ib]

One good thing about this ride. You'll be able to see what's going to bore you to death from a Looooooong way off. Western Aus, North of Perth is the same way. In the early 80ies, I flew around Learmonth, and it was almost the same, and yet stunningly beautiful at the same time. Cheers, Tim.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

The Outback fascinates me, at times it does feel as though it goes on forever. Sometimes it's nice to just sit in the middle of nowhere and enjoy the solitude, it's not long before you notice all the wild life especially the birds and insects. I don't think a video can ever really convey how it feels to be in the outback, in its own way it is beautiful. You've been there so you know better than most what its like to be there.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Another quality video today. Part 1 was very similar. Going to, and this coming back. Thank you for the video. ❤😊

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, it's nice to know you enjoyed both videos covering this unusual train and the terrain it traverses 😊.

[@johnhilliger1132]

Lovely videos enjoyed watching both very much.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, it's nice to know you enjoyed them 😊.

[@martythemartian99]

I'm surprised by the comments some are writing about the land being boring. Look I love winding mountains as much as the next train obsessed person, but a trip though this kind of country is still relaxing and fascinating. It has been said, and I agree, the world is an amazing place.🤩 Thanks again Tim.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I think you have to ride this train to really appreciate it, there are lakes and rivers either side of the line that don't show up in the video. The landscape is anything but boring if you take closer look, although at first glance the line is straight and the landscape is flat. The world would be boring if everywhere looked the same. I enjoyed reading your comment. Cheers. Tim.

[@jimprescott8423]

I watched the complete journey,that driver has to be commended for the ability to keep focus and not lose attention to the track,well done mate!!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

The first driver was in training and loving every minute, the second driver, the one doing the training took over for a while after the first picnic stop, both guys were loving their job.

[@stopekandrzejewski4924]

Nic z tego filmu nie zrozumiałeś. Nic.

[@jimprescott8423]

@@stopekandrzejewski4924 ???,

[@metroplex3k]

Congratulations! As warped as the tracks were - we didn’t think you were going to make it…. Well done son.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I put my faith in the driver, after all he wasn't about to put himself in harm’s way, hmmm it was his first day on the job, wonder what happened to the last one? 😉.

[@annawitter5161]

I actually do enjoy this. Reminds me of going through many stretches of Karoo in my country. Very relaxing and destressing. Thank you.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Anna, I wasn't sure how people would react to these videos, but I have been pleasantly surprised because I half expected a lot of " Oh what a boring ride" type comments, but that hasn't been the case, people see different things such as he train itself, the terrain, the plant life and even the occasional kangaroo. I did book on a tour to the Karoo, unfortunately it was cancelled, I will get there one day. We are lucky to live on such an awesome planet. Take care. Tim.

[@veganvp4433]

Enjoyed the great Australian sceneries ...😉😀🙏

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, that's nice to know 😊

[@johannperaus6890]

Hi Tim! Hopefully you brought a case of cold beer with you🍻👍. Best regards from the cold Mühlviertel 🍻🇦🇹.

[@rdembow]

Wow, what an expanse ! Basically unspoiled and flat terrain . Visions of the Wild West in America.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Coming from an overcrowded Island (UK) I find it amazing to look in all directions and see almost nothing other than nature.

[@Digitalchirppy]

Watching the center of the perspective for some time Mesmerise / Hypnotise me

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I agree, this video can be quite mesmerising to watch 😵‍💫😊.

[@neilforbes416]

Again I must comment on the stabiliser in your camera, Tim. The shot taken through the front window shows a nice smooth ride, but when you show the view from inside the cabin, that old rail motor's a-bobbin' and a-swayin' as it goes merrily along the track!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Neil, the ride was pretty lively and "yes" the camera’s inbuilt digital stabiliser is very good giving a somewhat false impression of the quality of the ride.

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Excellent video, thanks for presentation, from Germany

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@KOLEJ22DrogaPrzygody]

Hello good video

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊.

[@Langevloei-NL]

0:50 Looks like this is the water tank at Blackbull station, not the reverse track at Critters Camp where the part one ends. No matter, it's an awesome video of a unique train.🥰

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, glad you enjoyed it, I'm pretty sure that there are very similar tanks in both locations.

[@Langevloei-NL]

@@Timsvideochannel1 The Gulf Developmental road is on the right side of Critters camp, whilst the footage clearly shows it on the left at Blackbull station. Just after leaving the station at BB, there are two switches to reverse the engine on the right side. These switches at CC are on the left side. And there is definitely no water tank at CC.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@Langevloei-NL Hi, you are correct, I have now altered the video as much as KZbin allows me to. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[@cprgreaves]

Watch the video again and imagine that you are an explorer, on foot, navigating this part of Australia. Low-level intermittent scrub covers the land. The scrub is tall enough to hide any landmarks that might be in the vicinity. There could be a 50-metre hill within a quarter-mile of you, but you couldn't and so wouldn't see it. No way for you to climb that "hill" and get a bearing to the next hill. No way to spot a grove of trees that might signal a source of water (if you dig deep enough!) We read of explorers trekking from Adelaide to The Gulf. They walked it through country like this. My heroes!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I enjoyed reading your comment, even today, once you are away from the road or the railway it must be easy to lose your way.

[@robertmartinez1228]

It's beyond infinity mate. Australia reminds me of that movie Wolf Creek. Ey.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It's nice to have plenty of space, but you can have too much of a good thing.

[@robertmartinez1228]

@@Timsvideochannel1 i like hearing the accent from the people of Australia. interesting.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@robertmartinez1228 Their humour makes me smile, sometimes a bit close to the knuckle, but nevertheless funny.

[@neilforbes416]

If it's okay by you, Tim, I'd like to take a screenshot(still) of the Gulflander RM93 as I've come up with an idea for a compilation video explaining the CPH "Tin Hare" rail motors in some detail(as much as I can gather, at any rate).

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Neil, you are welcome to use a screen shot.

[@neilforbes416]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Cheers, Tim. I'll give you full acknowledgement as the source of the image.

[@Afrodizyak47]

Thanks to the staff member whom answered m7y query from Psrt 1, where I asked about the engine and drive train. It was clearly explained in the sound track on this, the second part. Having grown up in the era when Gardiner and Leyland "big sixes" powered the best heavy haulage semis, in the likes of Foden and ERF's the sound brought back a lot of memories.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

A guy I used to work with loved the sound so much, he bought an ERF flatbed lorry and restored it to almost as new condition, it sounds wonderful and it's very popular at local museum events.

[@MrBlack.]

I'm surprised there is anything GREEN in Austraila. I actually see some sparsely green trees along side the rail tracks.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm told it's very different at the end of the wet season, I intend to return to see the transformation for myself.

[@neilforbes416]

Hey Tim, you know the opposite of a *didgeridoo?* A *DidgeriDON'T, * of course! LOL

[@surlyogre1476]

When are we scheduled to arrive at Dingo Piss Creek?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I didn't even see a Dingo, now I feel I've missed out on something, I'll have to go back now to try and find one.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hi Tim, Dingo piss creek is a fictional place created by John Cadogan auto expert.😁@@Timsvideochannel1

[@satanofficial3902]

Fun fact... When the Earth is properly displayed with the South Pole at the top, Australia is the Land Up Over. It's a topsy-turvy world when maps always have the North Pole at the top. It's way past time for things to stop always being upside down. Regarding the solar system from the southern ecliptic is the correct view.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

That's an interesting outlook, I've always regarded my family in Brisbane a being down under, now I'm going to have change my perception of the world 🥴.

[@ВиталийКулаковский-ж4с]

SUPER! 🙏👍🌲🌲🌲🎅

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you 😊.

[@satanofficial3902]

"In the bush, no one can hear you scream. You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice scream." ---Old Australian Proverb (from WikiAustralia, subsection Australian Proverbs)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Well!! I've learned something else new today 😊.

[@CharlesHarpolek4vud]

I see why so much of Australia is called the Outback because it really is nothing out here except fresh growth and seems to be rather dry as well. It is too bad the Outback is so big because if it were a little nicer it would certainly be home to lots of people. Appealing to regular folks

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Most of Australia's population live in the cities and towns on the coast, as you go inland it gets wild, not desert, just scrubland, in the rainy season many areas are flooded and there are water holes and rivers flowing underground. I want to return at the end of the rainy season to see the place when it is lush and green.

[@msgproductions3515]

Doesn't look like they use it much with all the weeds and bushes growing between the rails.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

There is one train a week over the complete route in each direction plus one or two short workings at either end.

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Would this be a candidate for battery power electrification.?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I think it would make a good candidate, not too long or hilly, whether or not the expense could be justified is another matter.

[@trasgu2011]

Hermoso viajar al infinito.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Gracias, me alegra que hayas disfrutado viajando en el tren del infinito 😉.

[@kilowagmagnusson4590]

It's really amazing how you can drive and drive and drive and still manage to see a whole lot of nothing!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

That's one way to describe this railway, it's an adventure that is best done in person, a video will never do the full Gulflander experience justice.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@MohanDaliwahli There were plenty of Wallabies eating what’s left of the grass around the mobile home site I stayed at in Croydon. I am currently editing my ride on the Savannalander, so far I've only travelled a few miles and already two roos have run in front of the train.

[@sellier-bellot22]

Not many kangaroos in sight ??? Where are they hiding ,night animals maybe ??? LOL😄😄

[@Timsvideochannel1]

They are fast, you have to be sharp eyed to see one 🦘🦘🦘.

[@sellier-bellot22]

@@Timsvideochannel1 🦘🦘🦘

[@danielfantino1714]

Well i don´t know if they still count like animals, but if you go to Blackbull with Google street view, you can see at the crossing the "Station" with the train and on the road "2 defective" i think kangaroos that won´t jump anymore, sadly. Proof that cars and animals make bad encounters. If you search with Google Earth, put Normanton in your search. Croydon will bring you at bad location. Good to see from above what there is and street view went in both locations. Main road, national 1 is paved but it´s pick up country. It´s dry and hot. Bring a lot of water. Don´t know how much traffic there is, but on back trail, consider that you´re alone if badluck happens. Thanks for that ride, many many plane hours away. Cheers.

[@heruape5788]

ga ada satu manusiapun yg terlihat sir..😂 pemandangannya monoton 😂👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Ini adalah gambaran jujur ​​tentang Pedalaman Australia, tempat yang dihuni oleh burung dan hewan, bukan manusia 🐂🐫🐿🐦🐊🪳🕷🪱🦘🦘🦘.

[@heruape5788]

oo begitu yaa..hutan belantara

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@heruape5788 Hutan belantara begitu tenang dan anehnya ia memiliki keindahan tersendiri. Saya harap Anda menikmati videonya.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Wonderful journey thanks Tim, It's a big state but WA is bigger by 800 thousand square kms, If they thought of joining the line into the Qld rail network it would be to the closest town of Forsayth 180 km away cheers Bob. PS you could fit 7.5 UK'S into QLD.😲🤠😎😁🦘

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hi Tim merry xmas to you & Karen cheers Bob & Jan.🎅🎄🍺🍾🍷

[@kilowagmagnusson4590]

Quebec is WAY bigger-pbbbt!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Robert, Queensland is a big place, but for some crazy reason most of the worlds people are trying to get into Britain and we are rapidly running out of countryside to build any more new houses on, my home county is one massive building site, I'd move to Queensland in a flash if was younger 😟.

[@robertcoleman4861]

COME ON DOWN.🤣🤠🦘🐨@@Timsvideochannel1

[@kilowagmagnusson4590]

Sorry, but if you're not too old to go all the way to Oz, then you are too old to move there. It's not crowded here in Iceland, if you don't mind nearly six months of darkness every yaer, too much sun making it hard to sleep in the summer, volcanoes and glaciers, cold, long winters, no trees, hordes of tourists in the short summer.@@Timsvideochannel1

[@ΙωαννηςΜαυρικης]

Μονότονη και κουραστική διαδρομή.

[@4DMiRAl-1313]

هذا المكان في ستراليه?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

مرحبًا، تم تصوير هذا الفيديو في كوينزلاند، أستراليا. اتمنى ان تكون قد استمتعت به.

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

Very nice, but I don't think I could sit through a 5-hour train journey. 1 or 2 hours is a lot better.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

These two videos show the whole journey, the rest of the time was spent stopping for pick-nick breaks where our guides gave us some background information on the railway and the countryside it traversed, it was also nice to chat to some of the other travellers. In many ways it's more of an experience than a train ride.

[@ilya-sukhanov]

All 1.5 hours - the same landscape and a straight rail track across the plain. The engineer of this train has a very boring job.

[@jimcrawford5039]

He is known as a driver here. This train runs twice a week, the tourists love it!

[@geoffgeoff143]

Not at all. So much to see.

[@phugoid]

Crikey! What a bleak, desolate stretch!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It's in the eye of the beholder, to many people it is a beautiful, bleak, desolate stretch of track.

[@phugoid]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Hmmm I love most things railways anyway. If there are tracks and a train, it suffices, pretty much. I'd have liked a bit more variety in the landscape, especially verdure

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@phugoid I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the Australian video I'll be posting this weekend, it's got the lot.

[@wizeoldfart26]

Most boring trip ever. But I plan to do it some day soon.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I hope you do this trip some day, maybe at the end of the wet season when it is not so dry and brown. This video doesn't do justice to the Gulflander experience, there is a lot more to this trip including the towns at either end, the railway museum at Normanton and the train itself.

[@wizeoldfart26]

I watched part 2 first and sat through to the end. Now watching part 1 .@@Timsvideochannel1

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@wizeoldfart26 I hope you enjoyed both parts, assuming you didn't fall asleep halfway through. Seasons greetings. Tim.

[@wizeoldfart26]

Yes I did enjoy both parts even though the landscape was monotonous. Yes I did nod off a few times but didn't seem to miss anything. Part 1 was more interesting when I saw that body of water.. Will there be a wet season version of this trip? @@Timsvideochannel1

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@wizeoldfart26 Hello, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The description of the area given by the crews on both the Gulflander and the Savannahlander left me wanting to return to see how it looked when transformed to beautiful lush grasslands for myself. I will try to return.

[@neilforbes416]

Gulflander. also known as the ‘Tin Hare’? Sorry, but *NO!* Queensland Rail got it VERY WRONG here. A *Tin Hare* is an ex-NSWGR(New South Wales Government Railways) CPH-class single rail motor with, ironically a wooden body. The *Tin Hares* celebrated their centenary during 2023 with the three CPH motors, 1, 3 and 7, owned and operated by the *Rail Motor Society* of Paterson, NSW, traveling down to the Riverina region of the state in September of this year as part of the Centenary celebrations. If you watch one of my videos on the Rail Motor Society, you'll see a CPH *Tin Hare* "in the flesh", as it were.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Your right on the money there Neil cheers Bob.👍👍🍺

[@neilforbes416]

@@robertcoleman4861 Sorry to do this but I've been seeing far too much of this lately, people writing "your" (possessive) when they should be writing "you're" (accusative, short for "you are").

[@robertcoleman4861]

SORRY.@@neilforbes416

[@Mediawatcher2023]

​@@neilforbes416 The essence of politeness and good manners is to make other people feel comfortable. Correcting someone's grammar might embarrass them, and would therefore be rude. However, if you know someone would appreciate and wants your corrections, then making the correction would not be rude.

[@Mediawatcher2023]

@@neilforbes416 were you a school teacher in the past ?

[@mnielsen490]

Wow! I am sorry to say, "horrible landscape" depressive 😔

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Imagine the elation felt by the passengers and train crew at the sight of a corner 😉.

[@andreygurenkoff2721]

железная дорога единственное что указывает на цивилизацию. что же вы так Австралию не освоили кроме побережья ?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Привет! Железная дорога и случайная дорога - единственные признаки человеческой деятельности на большей части этого видео. О некоторых городах и мероприятиях я расскажу в этом видео - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJyuY4ODoMxkp5Y.

[@robertfoster7807]

most of western australia is dry and boring no decent rivers hell in summer canada got alot better scenery and big rivers and lakes

[@Timsvideochannel1]

We are lucky to have such awesome places as Canada and Queensland to visit, the two places are about as different as it's possible to get. During the wet season something like a half of this route can be underwater and as the water recedes the whole place comes to life, I will return to film this line again when everything is lush and green. This railway is a place where one can see and understand what our forefathers went through when this land was first settled not so long ago by intrepid farmers and prospectors hoping to find gold. It's way more than a train ride, it's history, like a gateway to a place where time has stood still for the last 100 years.

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……you’ve obviously not seen the Fortescue, or Gascoyne Rivers………

[@robertfoster7807]

@@elizabethroberts6215 the fortsue and gascoyne rivers dont have water in them all year round there are sections like millstream that have permanent water.but most the year the majority of these 2 rivers are dry dont know of any rivers in western australia that flow all year round there are rivers that have water in them all year round

[@elizabethroberts6215]

@@robertfoster7807 ……I swam in the Fortescue River in April 1996. It was full strength, at that time, very deep, & exceptionally wide…………have been to Millstream, too………

[@johncools1]

What boring job for the driver, and he still has to do the return trip.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Neither of the drivers on this train looked bored, they also gave a commentary and answered any questions passenger might have. There were two drivers because one was training to be a driver and the other was teaching.

[@JulioDiaz-hc2ho]

Que video mas monotono tiene casi nada de curvas muy pocas si asi el final ni desvios no cruza a otro tren no hay estaciones el paisaje siempre es lo mismo no se ven personas y siempre derecho ufffff

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Esa es una descripción precisa, pero a los australianos les encanta este ferrocarril. Creo que es la historia, un recordatorio de la tierra con la que tuvieron que lidiar los primeros colonos.

[@JulioDiaz-hc2ho]

Que recorrido tan aburrido y monotono no hay nada ni curvas ni rios ni estaciones no hay nada

[@panikrystyna1]

😀

[@Timsvideochannel1]

🛃🌞🚂🚃🚃🚃🦂🪱🪳🦘🦘🦘🦜🐫😊.

[@geoffreymartin2764]

Thanks Tim very much. 🥵🏳‍🌈

[@mrhot6shot]

Hey Tim how much did you speed up the playback on this one, it looks like faster than 40kph? More like 40mph Also where is all the wildlife? It looks like you're out in the middle of no where. No animals, not even a bird sitting on the track? Now you're in Australia? it's a long way from the UK last time I saw you. Since you are a world traveler I guess you'll go to NZ next.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, the video is real time, the position of the camera gives a false impression of speed. I did see the occasional kangaroo whilst I was editing the two videos in this series and the trees are full of noisy, bright coloured birds. I'm back in the UK now, but you guessed correctly, I did go on to visit New Zealand. After Christmas I'll get back to posting one video a week, I'll have more time to put together a video showing some of the amazing places I visited along the way and hopefully show that there is a lot more to the outback than can be seen in this video.

[@philippefoubert1956]

Je pensais également que c'était plutôt 40mph. Mais Wikipedia indique également 40kph, alors...🤔. Bonne et heureuse année 2024 à tous🎉🎇

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@philippefoubert1956 La position basse de la caméra donne une fausse impression de vitesse. Bonne année 😊.

[@Myavorg]

Let me add that the track width is added to the low location of the camera on the train - here it is not 1435 mm, but 1067 mm. Therefore, the train appears to be moving at high speed.

[@anthony851]

If the 61 mile peg @ 16:54 and the 62 mile peg @ 18:56 are indeed 1 mile apart the average speed over that section was about 47.5km/h. Anthony

[@Plateaudweller]

Just a pity KZbin doesn't have a 5 x video speed setting....or an endless loop option. 🥱🥱

[@Timsvideochannel1]

The maximum speed in the KZbin player is only X2 and the endless loop option is no longer available ☹.