Ministerial Statement: NEW STEAM GIVES RATTLER MORE PUFF

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
05/10/2007

NEW STEAM GIVES RATTLER MORE PUFF

A second C17 steam locomotive for the Mary Valley Rattler has been delivered by the Queensland State Government.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Paul Lucas, today witnessed the historic locomotive being hauled into Old Gympie Station.

"The steam locomotive's arrival in Gympie is made possible by Queensland Water Infrastructure, which has paid up front the $65,000 needed to secure this piece of Queensland's rail heritage for the Valley Rattler.

"It's wonderful to retain this historical treasure in Queensland and even better that QWI has been able to assist the Mary Valley Heritage Railway Society.

"The Valley Rattler is a major tourist attraction carrying more than 30,000 passengers a year.

"Once the C17 is restored to full operational status it will give the railway two steam driven locomotives.

"It provides the Mary Valley Heritage Railway with a back-up and the ability to minimise disruptions when a locomotive needs an overhaul.

Mr Lucas said the C17, known as locomotive 967, was built by Walkers of Maryborough in 1950 and began its working life as a mail train based in Rockhampton.

"The locomotive ended up in a park at Caloundra as a static display after being retired from service in November 1969 when the steam fleet was upgraded to diesel.

"967 also served as an Alice Springs museum piece before returning to Queensland where much needed restoration work was carried out at Beaudesert.

"Having been built in Maryborough, 967's arrival in the Mary Valley is somewhat of a home coming and signals a new era of steam and certainty for the Valley Rattler," Mr Lucas said.