Day 9 - Strahan to Stanley via Queenstown

Strahan to Stanley via Queenstown and a trip on the ABT Railway.

Yet another early start!.... as we had to be at the ABT Railway in Queenstown by 8:30 am (sharp!). 

Noeline(with gentle persuasion and negotiation skills) had arrangements for breakfast shifted from the restaurant at the top of the stairs to Banjo's bakery in the town (no stairs!!).  We all took the option for breakfast this morning - even Dale!

Although it is only a 40km drive from Strahan to Queenstown it is a long slow up hill drive through twisty challenging mountain roads.

This morning we were heading west and directly into the early morning sun.  A few times the road didn't seem to exist at all!  Considerable caution was needed. 

Blundell's and Todd's headed off just a little earlier than the rest of us. We collected our pre-ordered lunches from the Bakery and headed out of Strahan.

Mist shrouds some of the corners in the dawn light

Alan and Noeline nearly invisible as they round a bend on the road to Queenstown

McKinnon's 12/50 sparkles in the morning sunlight

Heavy mist and clouds shroud the valleys as we approach Queenstown

We made it to Queenstown with plenty of time to board the train however the Todds and the Blundells' are nowhere in sight.  After discussions and missed phone calls, both cars appear.  They had taken an incorrect turn just out of Strahan. 

The group cheers as Norman and Claire make "an entrance" after missing a turn off

The ABT Railway was originally built to transport the copper ore from the smelter in Queenstown to the Port of Strahan. It uses the rack and pinion system of Swiss design to negotiate the steep grades, sometimes as steep as 1 in 10. This much steeper than the normal 1 in 40 which is considered safe for normal rail lines. The track itself is narrow (2ft 6in gauge) and the steep sided cuttings sometimes rub on the carriages walls.

Luxurious interior of the restored train carriages

Steam wafts through the tress

The cog rack is just visible in the middle of the main rails

Tudor and Ruth explore the engine room

Alvis people loitering again

King River - upstream

Spectacular King River - down stream

Engine driver and train

You have to be fit for this job, turn table operated by manpower

Even though we had organised lunches from the bakery in Strahan we received not only morning tea (hot scones, jam and cream) on the train we also had lunch included.  So bakery sandwiches were "discarded" and lovely hot soup and a selection pointed sandwiches were eagerly consumed. We do seem to be eating continually! 
After departing the train in Queenstown we travelled north via Rosebery only really stopping for fuel. 

Semi -Trailer and 12/50 sandwich!

The traffic was a little heavier than usual with many larger trucks including log carriers now on route.  This did cause a little angst as the trucks either held up the slower cars going uphill (a pain for the 12/50's) or on the downhill runs would try to pass.  We stopped for afternoon tea just short of Hellyer Gorge.  Alan broke out the billy and Noeline had Mary Berry's fruit cake at the ready.

Afternoon tea stop near Hellyer Gorge - Parsell's Silver Eagle in front

Group gathers for Aussie billy tea

Hirst's 12/50 on the road to Stanley

Back on the road and with light fading we travelled a little more urgently through Hellyer Gorge to Stanley for our overnight stop. The sunset gave us a spectacular display but we were again driving into the sun!

McKinnon's 12/50 motoring towards Stanley

Approaching Stanley, going West into the sun this time

Spectacular sunset across the bay near Stanley