Do the locomotion

SUNSHINE Express Rail Tours is oiling its cogs and filling its engines with coal for a day of fun with the C17 steam train, which is coming to the Laidley Spring Festival.

Things will be in full swing on September 11 and the relic from 1945 will pass through historic Grandchester over the hill and will return to Laidley in the afternoon.

The train is a recently restored C17 class steam locomotive (no. 974) and will be making the day trip from Ipswich.

This particular train has been requested for the tour and features wooden carriages and is from Queensland Rail's ‘heritage fleet'.

Ray Edser from Sunshine Express Rail Tours said there are five tourist locomotives used.

“Their carriages weigh 35 tonnes each and there are five wooden carriages that can accommodate 250 people,” Mr Edser said.

“The carriages were built in 1910 from Queensland timbers such as Cedar and Silky Oak and the locomotive itself weighs about 80 tonnes.

“Steam trains started in about 1865 and were the backbone of Queensland rail for more than 100 years.”

Light refreshments, sweets and a variety of drinks will be available on board.

TIMETABLE

Forward journey: Starting at 10.15am from Ipswich and arrives in Laidley at 11.45am.

Return journey: Departs Laidley at 4pm and is scheduled to arrive in Ipswich at 5.30pm.

The local shuttle departs Laidley at 1.45pm and returns by 3pm.