Day 11 Wednesday 2nd July
Normanton to Croydon to Normanton!

This morning we went on a train! We climbed aboard the legendary Gulflander, originally built to connect the once bustling port of Normanton to the rich gold fields of Croydon, some 90 miles to the east. Today the Gulflander is a tourist/ mail train. This Normanton - Croydon-Normanton track was never connected to the main rail of Queensland, and is often referred to as the 'train to nowhere'! This isolated railway is heritage listed and the only line in Queensland still measured in miles. It's unique construction with all steel sleepers, means that it can withstand the battering it takes in the wet season. After the floodwaters recede the train can be up and running within days, with little need for major repairs. In fact the track can still be used when covered in up to 15cm of water. Arriving early at the station for the 8.30 am departure, meant that we secured the two best seats on the train.....right up the front near the driver. The driver's commentary kept us informed and entertained for the 5 hour journey to Croydon. One piece of trivia we learnt is that exactly 126 years ago today, in 1888, the first sleeper was laid for the railway. The driver encouraged us in a round of Happy Birthday, which was met with disappointing enthusiasm!!!!
Our first stop was at Haydon Station, a large beef cattle property, to deliver mail and parcels. The managers of the station, plus their two very excited young children were there to meet the train.
Next we stopped at Bulls Camp for morning tea. We were able to alight here for 30 mins or so and stretch our legs. A 'souvenir mug' was nicely supplied with our cuppa and muffin. (We didn't actually partake of the instant coffee, having had a 'proper' coffee earlier on......yes, I know we are coffee snobs!)
There was another short stop about 40 minutes from Croydon to pick up passengers who were with an outback tour.
Now the train does not return to Normanton until tomorrow. So, passengers can choose to stay overnight in a cabin in the caravan park.....there is no other accommodation option.....or return to Normanton by bus. We chose the latter. This gave us around an hour and a half to wander around the tiny settlement of Croydon, once a bustling gold town with a population of around 20,000, now having a population of 250! This is an historic town with one street set out as a replica of how the town would have looked in the gold rush days at the turn of the 20th Century. We had taken a packed lunch and enjoyed this sitting on a bench in front of the old court house! Inside this court house we could hear a re-enactment of a trial where a young woman was sentenced to 2 months in prison for being drunk and disorderly, and an Asian miner was given the same sentence for selling opium!!! How times have changed!!
After our town walk we had a beer in the pub and waited for our return transport.
The drive back in an 18-seater bus, on a sealed road took only 90 minutes!
Back at camp we could check emails, contact home, have dinner etc.
The evening temperature was pleasant, we had a visit from a couple of wallabies, and the stars were out again.