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The Gulflander is a named passenger train in Australia, running 151 kilometres (94 mi) from Normanton to Croydon in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland. Often described as 'a train from nowhere to nowhere', the line was completed in 1891 and has never been connected to the rest of the Queensland Rail network although it has always been and still is owned and operated by Queensland Rail formerly QGR. The service runs once per week to Croydon on Wednesdays and returns to Normanton on Thursdays. Shorter charter services on most other days are also available.
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The northern terminus of Normanton is located on the Norman River, and served as a port for cattle and gold mining. It was planned for the line to extended to Cloncurry to provide an inland route for the cattle country along the route, but after the discovery of gold at Croydon the decision was made to build the line there instead.[1]
The line was constructed in an unusual manner, with hollow steel sleepers packed with mud used to avoid the need for track ballast. This method of construction also meant that the line was not subject to damage during frequent flooding during the wet season,[1] with most of these original sleepers still in place.
Steam locomotives were used until 1922 when railmotors were introduced. By 1974 the line was under the threat of closure, earning just $3340 in revenue but costing approximately $63800 to maintain.[1] Today the line exists as a tourist attraction, and is said to be more an adventure than a train ride. The train crews are qualified guides and will stop the train and talk about points of interest. The present three-car railmotor set is known as “the old Tin Hare”.
13 power units have been used on the line. It is unusual that of the 13 units 12 survive in one form or another and most are still in the region due mainly to its remoteness.[2] They are as follows: