THE END OF THE LINE

After our stop at Einasliegh we walked back to the train which was taking us to the end of the line at Forsayth. Einasliegh was once a copper mining town. It set on top of flat top hills or mesas that rise up out of the grasslands. 

Our travel companions, Ann and George.

 This was such a unique train experience. Our driver, Will, stopped the train, jumped out of his door and ran through the long grass . What had he spotted?

 It is a rare Grevillea which has just started to be found again in this area after fires a few years ago. He plucked one bloom and brought it back to the train for us to pass around. Before Will worked for Cairns railway he was a zoo keeper. He was very knowledgable about the wildlife and he was always looking for snakes to show us. He was an expert at handling reptiles.

Unfortunately I can't remember the name of this rare Grevillea.

 The train line runs through one cattle station/ranch after the other. So another thing the driver has to be aware of is cattle on the line. 

 It was such an unusual sight that everyone on board was up the front jostling for photographs I was squeezed in behind the driver's head.

 We were going through the Newcastle ranges and the cows were reluctant to climb down the embankment. Will slowly moved them along until finally they took the plunge down the hill. It was like herding cattle with a train. The cattle are Brahmans, suitable for the tropics.

Not only cows but the driver needs to look out for wallabies and kangaroos crossing the track.

 This is a rare rock wallaby.

 The track wound through the ranges and in this spot it  actually lies on the bed of a river, which is only a trickle on the left now that it is the dry season but in the wet season the track is under water. 

 After a few hours we arrive at Forsayth at the end of the line. Forsayth used be a gold mining town and there are still nuggets to be found if you're lucky. Every Thursday the local kids come to meet the train because the drivers give them a ride around the loop which turns the train around to return back to Cairns. All the passengers get off and onto buses for their accommodation overnight. Then all the kids jump on the train for their ride. In actual fact it is not necessary for the driver to do the loop because the rail motors can be driven from both ends but the drivers don't like to disappoint the country kids so they always drive around the turning loop.

We had travelled about 400k from Cairns inland over the last 2 days. Then we were taken by bus over a shaky corrugated road for another 45 minutes to Robin Hood Station. It is an outstanding property with 10,000 head of cattle on 1300 square kilometres with ever changing views. They also have a very nice resort there even though they are miles from civilisation. The cabins were comfortable and the food was good.

The view in the morning was super and the birds were singing their morning chorus. The Terry family, who own the station run cattle and cater for tourists. We were taken on a magical tour of Cobbald Gorge after breakfast. It was my favourite place of the Savannahlander Train  tour. That will be the next post.