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at 5:25pm. About 100 people watched from the platform as the train made its departure. Most of the available accommodation on the train was booked out for the first journey. Among the passengers on the train's first run to Winton were
Minister for Transport
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during its return journey to
Rockhampton on 26 February 1960 where seven people were killed when the flood-damaged bridge above Medway Creek collapsed, forcing the train to plunge into the water below.
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at 1:15pm the following day, before arriving in Winton several hours later. Large crowds gathered at both
Longreach and Winton to welcome the train where brief ceremonies took place.
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The
Midlander was made up of a mix of M series along with L series steel rolling stock. As at 1990, the service featured the following facilities and accommodation:
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was introduced in 1954, replacing a Mail train service with its wooden carriages, and providing a more comfortable and cleaner service.
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which would then pull the train through the
Drummond Range. One of the steam locomotives would be taken off at
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In the late 1980s, tourism to western
Queensland began to grow following attractions such as the
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Midlander at Winton: transport vital to the west - Minister has their existence in his hands
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and terminated at
Longreach. A bus service now provides the connection to Winton.
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Passenger comfort is the answer to air competition - Midlander's first run
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The
Bogantungan rail disaster: Have you heard the children cry?
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then commenced its maiden journey, departing from the
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35:Depiction of the Midlander locomotive headboard
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596:was combined with the Brisbane - Rockhampton
155:arrived in Rockhampton at 4pm on 4 May 1954.
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720:Air-conditioned train starts on western run
912:Discontinued railway services in Australia
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697:On the way north - Midlander's first run
872:Queensland Rail - Spirit of the Outback
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548:Within a decade of its maiden journey,
117:was a passenger train that operated in
907:Railway services discontinued in 1993
524:Through many years of its service, a
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887:Named passenger trains of Queensland
833:Salecich, Judith (26 February 2019)
902:1993 disestablishments in Australia
892:Railway services introduced in 1954
630:Economy Class Triple Berth Sleepers
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897:1954 establishments in Australia
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147:Completing its initial run from
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797:7 Die in Queensland train crash
552:s most infamous incident, the
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858:. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
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725:The Central Queensland Herald
705:. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
627:First Class Twinette Sleepers
624:First Class Roomette Sleepers
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839:Love in a Little Black Diary
677:Rail transport in Queensland
92:Central Western Railway Line
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161:Rockhampton railway station
44:Loco Hauled Passenger Train
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554:Medway Creek rail disaster
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176:and Member for Mackenzie
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778:Adjustments to Midlander
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821:Central Queensland News
586:Stockman's Hall of Fame
576:crossing the westbound
544:Incidents and Accidents
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852:Cruise ship on wheels
605:Spirit of the Outback
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517:The train arrived in
200:Midlander Route Guide
76:Spirit of the Outback
783:The Morning Bulletin
762:The Longreach Leader
744:The Longreach Leader
850:(29 November 1993)
814:(26 February 2016)
795:(27 February 1960)
856:The Canberra Times
802:The Canberra Times
602:Train renamed the
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16:Train in Australia
655:Queensland portal
580:in September 1989
534:steam locomotives
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123:Central west line
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49:Entered service
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97:Specifications
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636:Sitting Cars
633:Food Bar Car
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599:Capricornian
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89:Lines served
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588:opening at
565:Replacement
558:Bogantungan
226:Rockhampton
178:Paddy Whyte
170:Jack Duggan
127:Rockhampton
103:Track gauge
65:Predecessor
881:Categories
683:References
424:Barcaldine
314:Blackwater
119:Queensland
68:Mail Train
41:Stock type
590:Longreach
578:Midlander
519:Longreach
446:Longreach
115:Midlander
81:Operators
73:Successor
24:Midlander
641:See also
616:On Board
610:Brisbane
248:Duaringa
149:Brisbane
125:between
538:Jericho
530:Emerald
468:Morella
402:Jericho
358:Emerald
137:History
57:Retired
490:Winton
192:Legend
165:Winton
131:Winton
107:1067mm
380:Alpha
336:Comet
292:Bluff
270:Dingo
574:1604
163:for
129:and
113:The
60:1993
52:1954
883::
854:,
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769:^
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710:^
699:,
180:.
133:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.