Wallangarra Wanderings

[@realjohnboxall]

After driving from Toowoomba to Wallangarra in April 2024, there won't be any more trains down there past Warwick. So many little wooden bridges are burnt to nothing with the rails simply dangling and bowing in mid air.

[@mikecondon9576]

Hi John, Thanks for your comments. I am pleased to say that the Queensland Government via Queensland Rail announced a few weeks back that the Wallangarra line will reopen as far as Ballandean. A broad outline of this plan and other elements about rail heritage were released a number of weeks ago. Trains will return to the line beyond Warwick in the coming months and the local operator, Downs Explorer or SDSR are very happy indeed. The final statement from Queensland Rail simply says the line beyond Ballandean to Wallangarra, "remains closed at present". So the prediction of no trains beyond Qarwick might be a bit premature. I am sure you will be happy to learn of this progress.

[@digitalmoviedv]

Hi! Great scene, video and camera work! New subscriber. Greetings from Italy. Stefano.

[@mikecondon9576]

Hello to you Stefano in Italy. Firstly, thank you for subscribing. Thank you for compliment about my production. You might enjoy some of my other productions. Enjoy the channel. Thanks Mike

[@darylcheshire1618]

Wallangarra fascinates me as it’s a dual guage border station with the island platform and the NSW style verandah on one side and the QR verandah on the other side. And the spelling of the name as hyphenated or one word. The other border station is Tocumwal a smaller building with a NSW verandah on one side and VR verandah on the BG side. In the ‘80s I was able to ride the CPH from Tocumwal and ride different trains to Tenterfield where I got a taxi to Wallan-garra and rode in the van on a fruit train to Warwick. Wallangarra has or had a dual guage triangle which was great in looking at the different turning radius of the two guages. The NG triangle was inside the SG triangle sharing one side, I have photos somewhere.

[@mikecondon9576]

Apologies Michael, I have been away for many weeks. You correctly identified that fruit was in the former coal wagons. These trains hauled apples to the Golden Circle cannery. As they were considered juice apples, the fruit was tipped into the wagons without a lot of consideration of presentation. The services ceased in 2007 when the rail operator claimed that it was not viable. So I hope that information allows you to confirm something that looks quite odd. Thanks for your question.

[@MichaelC-no8dx]

Thanks Mike appreciated

[@katrinalaw1479]

What year did that beyer garret in this video took the tour to wallangarra

[@taureanlea3777]

Wow!! I love it when QR Diesels are at Notch 8 :-D.

[@mikecondon9576]

Glad you like the sound track.

[@taureanlea3777]

i have created a KZbin playlist which contains heaps of videos of QR Locomotives roaring at Notch 8 and it is avaliable at kzbin.info/aero/PLM8FVv8kQdtlofhMggHNq2Pkjqrf5-a8f.

[@MichaelC-no8dx]

whats the train at 4:28 carrying? looks like fruit

[@realjohnboxall]

Apples

[@jackcapewell4373]

How NICE VIDEO!, How old are some of those clips

[@mikecondon9576]

+Jack KaiserCapewell Hello Jack, Thank you for your comment and question about the clip. Some shots are drawn from material I shot in the late 1980's, early and mid 1990's. Other shots come from the early years of this century. There are also shots from 2007 through to 2015. So it depends on the exact shot you are looking at. It also important to note that some shots of C17 974 come from different trips years apart. This also applies to the diesel rail 1901. I hope this information answers your question. I am happy to answer these types of questions whenever I can. Thanks for watching Regards Mike

[@jackcapewell4373]

Mike Condon:D thanks for telling me, and have you filmed in Toowoomba before?

[@mikecondon9576]

+Jack KaiserCapewell Hello again Jack, If I understand your question, "Have you filmed in Toowoomba before?" I have filmed in and around Toowoomba from the mid 1880's until just a few days ago. I will continue to film in and around Toowoomba for the foreseeable future. A number of clips feature material form the area. Aurizon Coal, Darling Downs Molasses and Queensland Steam Action all have elements around Toowoomba as does the Garratt To Toowoomba. No doubt, there will be other clips and indeed DVD's produced in the future that have some elements of Toowoomba but I just don't know what they will be. I hope this answers your question.

[@jackcapewell4373]

Mike Condon thank you

[@lachlancampbell3058]

looks like lime stone

[@mikecondon9576]

Hi Lachlan, Thanks for the comment but I am a bit lost. What looks like limestone? I am happy to reply and advise of any details. Mike