I like trains. No I am serious I have always had a rather soft spot for them. Although to be fair I like most forms of transportation; I am mad for a ferry trip, get a little too excited at take-off and landing in planes and there is something special about the 560 bus to/from Gordon.

Don't get me wrong I'm not a train freak or anything. I don't subscribe to 'Train Fanciers Monthly' nor will you find me at Central station of a Sunday morning logging train departures. So it's not like I totally love trains it's probably somewhere between love and like. Maybe I like like trains is the best description.

I tell you who does love trains though is my boss George. Yes he is a massive train freak; not that you get that impression looking at him and he doesn't talk about it much (and he will probably deny it if you ask him). I have never actually seen this as I have never been to his house but apparently along with his family pictures, his house is covered wall to wall with photos and pictures of all things trains. I believe there's steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, goods wagons, passengers carriages, railway stations, railway sidings, cuttings, tunnels, timber bridges, steel bridges, part steel-part timber bridges. Apparently there is also pictures of train conducters, ticket inspecters and station managers. It's a pretty impressive sight I have been told.

And not only does he have pictures about them he also knows loads about them. If you were to ask him about say 'what's so special about the single-axled bogie on a Bissel truck' he would still be going 45 minutes later.

Anyway the reason I mention trains is this week I went on a trip which would appeal to most trains fans, from George down.

On a very wet wednesday morning about 15 fans (I believe I was the only full fare customer. There were no students!) boarded the Savannahlander for a trip from Cairns to Forsayth. Although we only did half the full tour (we alighted at Mount Surprise) it was more than enough to enjoy the diverse country in this part of QLD. Starting with the rainforest and waterfalls as we climbed the ranges behind Cairns, to the huge patches of agricultural land covered in sugar cane, mango, etc through to the true 'outback' covered with typical terrrian of euclayptus, grantie outcrops, more ranges, kangaroos, ant hills, creek beds (dry, wet and spring fed), cattle, horses, and heaps more. I was abit crazy with the photos and have loads more than what I have posted here if anyone gets the bug!

All this scenery plus the fact that you are travelling in a restored 1960/70 passenger trains makes it a pretty fun journey - well it was for me anyway. The track was rarely next to a major road or highway - which made the trip feel it was just you, the track and the outback (and the 15 odd oldies of course).

The train drivers put on a pretty good show as well.

Our part of the trip had an overnight stay in a tiny town called Almaden which has a train station (but trains arriving only on a Wednesday and Saturday), 5 or 6 houses, a tip, a main street and a pub. It claims to fame are 1) the local cattle farm has no fences so cattle and horses roam the streets at night (apparently they try their luck for a beer with the publican at times) 2) the region has a 3-day 140km wheelbarrow race of which Almaden is one of the checkpoints.

Apparently no one in the area drinks so the pub is pretty quiet - much to the delight of the publican rather surprisingly. Dad and I were there on origin night and we were the only ones patrons!

Anyway if you like trains, outback scenery and are ever in Cairns I would definitely make the effort for this trip - as nerdy as it may sound.

Note: Elements of this blog are fictional in nature.