Community & Business
23 August, 2023
Steam rides on track for 2024
Pittsworth had a surprise visit from a restored steam engine on the weekend in a trial that will likely be followed by passenger journeys in the region as soon as 2024.
C16 Steam engine 106 went through town on its maiden trip to Brookstead on Saturday having departed Drayton station at 10am before a large crowd of train enthusiasts. The crew, led by operations manager Andrew Caldwell, was pleased with how the engine went with no issues whatsoever. This engine was the last one built at the Toowoomba Foundry in 1914 and has found its home back at DownSteam. DownSteam chair Ros Scotney said 106 has been lovingly restored by volunteers in “a truly amazing achievement.” “Thanks to Clive Berghofer AM over the past four years, his generous donation has enabled DownsSteam to bring 106 back to her former glory,” Ms Scotney said. “There are still some processes to go through to get full accreditation to take passengers but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.” She said passenger trips with carriages could begin as soon as early 2024 which would be a significant tourism boost for towns and regions of the Darling Downs.
