Ekka 2009, steam returns!

[ozbob]

The QR Heritage Steam Engine the 'Blue Baby' DD17 No.1051, will be operating passenger trains  on the Exhibition Loop on the first Saturday of the Ekka RNA Show and on the Wednesday, People's Day.  The sx set will be used for the carriages.

This is the first steam to operate the Exhibition loop since 2001.  Sure to be a treat for the kiddies (small and big!).

[Sunbus610]

This puts a smile on my face too ozbob, seeing cute little 'Blue Baby' DD17 No.1051 pulling those stainless steel SX cars. Hey, they might be old and non air conditioned but the SX cars (originally built for Brisbane's rail electrification scheme back in the late 1950's) give a nice ride IMO along with some good old fashioned QR history attached,  from me too.

[ozbob]

http://www.citytrain.com.au/events/ekka-2009.asp

Steam into the Ekka

blue-baby.jpgQueensland?s favourite steam locomotive, the Blue Baby, will be brought to life again for Ekka patrons, with the tank engine to operate special trips to the showgrounds.

QR Passenger Executive General Manager Paul Scurrah said special steam train journeys to and from the Ekka would operate from CBD stations on Saturday 8 August, and Wednesday 12 August (People?s Day).

?We?re expecting these steam train trips to and from the Ekka to be very popular, judging from the tremendous response we had to the Q150 train,? Mr Scurrah said.

?This is our way of giving people another chance to experience a steam train ride, right in the heart of Brisbane.?

The Blue Baby will pick up and drop off from Roma Street, Central and Fortitude Valley stations and will take Ekka goers directly into the showgrounds via Exhibition Station between 11.00am and 3.30pm.

[ButFli]

Hey, they might be old and non air conditioned but the SX cars (originally built for Brisbane's rail electrification scheme back in the late 1950's)

Don't you mean prior to electrification?

[curator49]

Sunbus601 is correct the SX cars were built in the late 1950s for a proposed electrification scheme of Brisbane's suburban network that was never completed. They were built as carriages capable of being converted to electric sets. Note the location for a headlight and destination roll on the end's of the guard's vans. The quadruplication of the line between Corinda and Roma Street was part of that scheme. By the time the 1970s electrification project had commenced technology had surpassed the use of the SX cars.
Enjoy the nostalgic trip to the Ekka behind steam and the travel on these historic vehicles.

[ButFli]

I stand corrected!

[Otto]

They were built as carriages capable of being converted to electric sets. Note the location for a headlight and destination roll on the end's of the guard's vans.

I always wondered why the Guards end looked like it was meant to have a headlight... Now it makes sense ! When the EMU's began service, I was disappointed that the seats could not be reversed like they can in the SX cars..

[ozbob]

Nice potted history here -->  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railways_in_Brisbane

[brismike]

Heh Otto . . I like your Stan, Jack and the Inspector Avatar . . nice one! - Mike