CHRONICLE COLUMN – 2 JULY 2024 – DOWNSSTEAM
The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce heartly congratulates DownsSteam on its recent (May 2024) successful excursion with passengers to Wyreema and back to Drayton of steam locomotive 106 (Pride of Toowoomba). This excursion was much anticipated by the members at DownsSteam and the numerous volunteers, who had spent many years in the restoration of the Pride of Toowoomba. This iconic steam locomotive had been built at the Toowoomba Foundry (given the number 106) and commenced its initial operations in Queensland in 1915. So iconic was this locomotive that during the First World War it transported young men from northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland to Brisbane for training and then eventual service on the western Front in France and Belgium Did you know that the Toowoomba Chamber had a pivotal role in the 1990’s in securing this steam locomotive for the Toowoomba community? In 1993 inquiries were made through the Toowoomba Chamber with the then Queensland Rail Commissioner, Vince O’Rourke to return 106 to Toowoomba so it could be restored. The Toowoomba Chamber board members at the time, John Peel, Phil Gregory and Peter Eldridge were instrumental in negotiations with Mr. O’Rourke for the return of 106 to Toowoomba. The Toowoomba Chamber was also instrumental in establishing the entity Darling Downs Historical Rail Society Ltd (DDHRS) and for many years the Toowoomba Chamber was designated a seat on the DDHRS Board. Eventually, the name DownsSteam emerged as the trading name of the entity DDHRS. The Toowoomba Chamber is immensely proud of the role it played in the return of 106 and the establishment of DownsSteam. The Toowoomba Chamber will continue its enthusiastic support for this stella establishment and in particular, applauds the magnificent volunteers who have worked so hard and diligently, in the restoration of 106, the Pride of Toowoomba. DownsSteam, is a tourist attractor itself, and we support the continued running of a heritage steam railway with regularly excursions being staged on the southern line to Clifton, Warwick, Stanthorpe and Wallangarra (when the bridges are repaired), west to Goondiwindi and Pittsworth/Brookstead and east to Spring Bluff, Murphy’s Creek and beyond. We hope that this heritage tourist railway enterprise will eventually trial blaze a tourism industry on the western line to Dalby, Roma and Charleville. As the Capital of the Great Southwest, opportunities abound with the other heritage tourist railway associations operating in our region, such as the Warwick by Southern Downs Steam Railway (SDSR).
Together, there is an enormous opportunity for further growth of tourism, and subsequently businesses, within the southern inland Queensland region resulting in many visitors from elsewhere in Australia and overseas. Together, will result in more than ‘just’ business benefits. It has the potential to bring new ideas, shared workload, knowledge and experiences. And most importantly build community and remind us, of our regions treasured rail heritage. With the growing chorus of articles like the June Financial Review Magazine, “Luxury travellers are swapping plans for trains – here’s why”, the Toowoomba Chamber understands the ultimate potential of this unique tourism opportunity in our region and will support and do what it can to solidify the enormous advances that DownsSteam and SDSR have made to date.
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