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Queensland's own 'Orient Express' emerges from storage at The Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich

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    News article: Queensland's own 'Orient Express' emerges from storage at The Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich

    THE most luxurious train ever built in Queensland has re-emerged after a decade hidden away in a dusty work shed while elected officials broker a deal to give the public even greater access.

      GeoffreyHansen Minister for Railways

    Location: In a FAM sleeper
    THE most luxurious train ever built in Queensland has re-emerged after a decade hidden away in a dusty work shed while elected officials broker a deal to give the public even greater access.

    The opulent dark wood and stained-glass Great South Pacific Express has been mothballed in an off-limits section of The Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich after the failure of a partnership between the State Government and the Orient-Express company.

    "Queensland's own 'Orient Express' emerges from storage at The Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich"


    View the full story

    An excellent idea. It would give me a reason to visit the Workshops Museum again. It would be good if they had lunch dinner tours around Brisbane as long as they weren't too expensive.

    The inter-carriage connections look more like that on a modern train than one done in a heritage style.

    Actually the GSPE is the only train I've seen at Sydney Central, Mount Victoria and platform 2 Roma Street when it was narrow gauge only.
    Posted: 22 Sep 2013 21:22

    Last edited by GeoffreyHansen on 22 Sep 2013 21:27; edited 1 time in total

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      RTT_Rules Dr Beeching

    Location: Dubai UAE
    View the full story

    An excellent idea. It would give me a reason to visit the Workshops Museum again. It would be good if they had lunch dinner tours around Brisbane as long as they weren't too expensive.

    The inter-carriage connections look more like that on a modern train than one done in a heritage style.

    Actually the GSPE is the only train I've seen at Sydney Central, Mount Victoria and platform 2 Roma Street when it was narrow gauge only.
    GeoffreyHansen
    "as long as they weren't too expensive." and this there lies the problem. Rail anything is usually expensive especially when somebody else doesn't have to pick up the tab.

    Lets hope they can make it work, lunch and/or dinner train around Brisbane on weekend or special occasion might work. But for a meal train you need dinning cars, not sleepers or sitters.
    Posted: 23 Sep 2013 17:26
      The Vinelander Minister for Railways

    Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
    "as long as they weren't too expensive." and this there lies the problem. Rail anything is usually expensive especially when somebody else doesn't have to pick up the tab.

    Lets hope they can make it work, lunch and/or dinner train around Brisbane on weekend or special occasion might work. But for a meal train you need dinning cars, not sleepers or sitters.
    RTT_Rules
    There's only 1 'N' in dining...
    Posted: 26 Sep 2013 17:02
      bingley hall Minister for Railways

    Location: Last train to Skaville
    The $35 million train, a symbol of the former government's excesses, could now become the museum's centrepiece.
    Somebody
    I wonder who gave them that line?

    If that's what you truly believe Scott then sell it or scrap it.
    Posted: 26 Sep 2013 19:28

    Last edited by bingley hall on 26 Sep 2013 19:28; edited 1 time in total
      cpdbear Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide, South Australia
    I wonder who gave them that line?

    If that's what you truly believe Scott then sell it or scrap it.
    bingley hall
    They are still claiming that it is now not owned by QR, but the Orient Express mob. If this is true, I would love to know what sort of monthly rent they are getting for storing 20 carriages. If they are paying commercial rates it would be rather a lot of money.

    If it is true that they don't own the thing, then it does make you wonder why they don't come clean and actually answer the simple questions the media keeps asking about when it was sold, and for how much, and why it was not subject to public tender etc..
    Posted: 28 Sep 2013 00:16
      PClark Chief Commissioner

    My understanding is that the Orient Express company has refuted claims that they are the owners of the GSPE and has placed ownership with the Queensland government.
    Posted: 28 Sep 2013 16:00
      RTT_Rules Dr Beeching

    Location: Dubai UAE
    My understanding is that the Orient Express company has refuted claims that they are the owners of the GSPE and has placed ownership with the Queensland government.
    PClark
    It would appear a strange situtaion in that no one wants to actually own it. Therefore offer it to the highest bidder and donate the proceeds to the Ips Rail Museam and/or charity.
    Posted: 29 Sep 2013 19:50
      locojoe67 Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Gen X purgatory/urban Joh-land
    I understood the relatively short wheelbase carriages it was based on resulted in a less-than-premium ride experience.

    Perfect for day trips, Brisbane to Toowoomba then. Smile
    Posted: 30 Sep 2013 06:45
      RTT_Rules Dr Beeching

    Location: Dubai UAE
    I understood the relatively short wheelbase carriages it was based on resulted in a less-than-premium ride experience.

    Perfect for day trips, Brisbane to Toowoomba then. Smile
    locojoe67
    There was comments about bogies as well, but this doesn't explain why its still a dog of a ride on SG, but the short wheel base makes sense.

    I think you are right, perhaps the best thing is to convert the sleepers to seater compartments and just use for day trips. I was thinking if the southern missing link was actually finished this might be a suitable train for a less regular tourist loop as Brisbane lacks alt routes unlikely Sydney and Melbourne. Being on what should be mostly high grade track the ride should be better.
    Posted: 30 Sep 2013 13:49
      Graham4405 Minister for Railways

    Location: Dalby Qld
    I understood the relatively short wheelbase carriages it was based on resulted in a less-than-premium ride experience.
    locojoe67
    Hence the nickname GSPE = "Go Slow Passengers Eating"! Wink
    Posted: 30 Sep 2013 15:39
      Black Hoppers Chief Train Controller

    Location: Banned
    I understood the relatively short wheelbase carriages it was based on resulted in a less-than-premium ride experience.

    Perfect for day trips, Brisbane to Toowoomba then. -)
    "locojoe67"


    The bad ride quality was apparently caused by the ex guards van bogies they used under these cars.
    Posted: 30 Sep 2013 15:58
      andrewstrains Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Townsville, Where else but QLD
    Don't get me wrong I would be first in line for a tour type run of the GSPE but where would the punters sit? The train is made up of mainly sleeper cars and dining type cars IIRC

    Andrew
    Posted: 30 Sep 2013 20:47
      LegendsofSteam Junior Train Controller

    What's "The Sthn Missing Link???"
    Posted: 30 Sep 2013 23:23
      Sulla1 Chief Commissioner

    What's "The Sthn Missing Link???"
    "LegendsofSteam"


    It's a proposed dual gauge link between Wandoan and Banana that would connect the Surat coal basin to the port of Gladstone. It's been on the cards for several years, but Glencore has just announced they won't be proceeding with their Wandoan mine which means the link won't be happening for many more years unfortunately.
    Posted: 01 Oct 2013 06:44

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