What is the Gulflander train?
The Gulflander is a historic train that runs between Normanton and Croydon in Queensland's Gulf Country. Known as the tin hearse, it travels about 150 kilometres on a railway built in the 1880s and 1890s.
The railway was built to connect the Croydon goldfields with the port of Normanton. It was constructed with steel sleepers to resist termites and floods, and some still lie on the line today.
The line was never connected to the rest of Queensland's rail network, making it an isolated railway. It survived closures that affected many rural lines.
A slow journey
The Gulflander runs once a week in each direction, taking around five hours, with stops to see historic sites and wildlife.
Normanton is home to a famous replica of Krys the Savannah King, a huge saltwater crocodile shot in 1957.
The train draws tourists from around Australia who want to experience the remote Gulf Country, with its flat savanna plains, termite mounds and birdlife. Croydon itself was once one of Queensland's largest towns during the gold rush, and today it has preserved historic buildings.
The journey is best done in the dry season, as wet season floods can cut roads and the railway in the region.
Did You Know?
The Gulflander is operated by Queensland Rail as a heritage service.