QR's Spirit of the Outback Brisbane to Longreach
Queensland Rail’s ‘Spirit of the Outback’ (SOTO) service runs twice weekly from Brisbane Roma Street to Longreach. The train takes 26 hours to cover the 1,325km (824 miles) to the outback town, travelling up the North Coast Line to Bundaberg and Rockhampton and then along the Central Western Line via Emerald. The train arrives in Rockhampton at around 1am, from where the entire consist is dragged backwards to a south facing junction several kilometres south of the station. From there, the SOTO turns left and heads westwards through the Bowen Coalfields. After a crew change at Emerald, continuously welded track gives way to jointed track, affording travellers the wonderful experience of lying in bed listening to good old-fashioned clickety-clack wheel noises as the sun rises over the seemingly infinite expanse of outback bush. The significant obstacle of the Drummond Range had to be overcome, the line passing through Hanman’s Gap at an elevation of 524 metres. First class passengers on the SOTO have the use of a private day/night cabin, as well as exclusive access to a restaurant car (The Tucker Box) and separate lounge car (The Shearer’s Rest). All food and some drinks are included in the price of a ticket, with breakfast, lunch and dinner being freshly cooked on board. However, this is not a luxury land-cruise in the ilk of the Ghan or the Indian Pacific. The SOTO is very much a service train, providing a vital link to the isolated communities along its route. Our train left Brisbane the day after the schools had broken up and at several stations along the route we deposited boarders returning home for their holidays. As well as sleeper carriages, the train conveys seating accommodation, and passengers in those coaches are provided with a buffet and dining area. This is very much old fashioned, long distance, overnight train travel as it should be!
Spirit of the Outback - Part 5 - Mamboo to Longreach
Mamboo is a passing loop miles from civilisation, it really is somewhere in the back of beyond, a place where Australia’s vast interior can be appreciated. The track stretches in a straight line for as far as the eye can see with just an occasional slight bend and regular bridges over dry river beds. The train paused at Alpha and Jericho before making an extended stop in Barcaldine to give passengers a chance to visit the “Tree of Knowledge” reputed birth place of the Australian Labour movement. We have time to admire the gardens and humorous sculptures created using scrap metal components before the train staff welcome us back on board for the final leg of this epic journey through Ilfracombe to Longreach, our final destination and home to the Qantas Aircraft Museum.
Train operated by QueenslandRail - Track gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) - Filmed 30.01.2019
Map at 00:35 - Author - Geoscience Australia, Government of AustraliaSource -
Music - Track - Composer - Source 50:38 & 01:11:30 - ES_River Serpent - Jon Björk - epidemicsound.com 00:00 & 52:18 - ES_Sounds From Down Under 6 - Jon Björk - epidemicsound.com
Queensland Rail 'Spirit of the Outback' Leaving Longreach
Filmed on Monday 24th June 2019, Queensland Rail diesels 2415 and 1723 are seen leaving Lonrgeach with the 1000 Spirit of the Outback service to Brisbane Roma Street. The train will take 26 hours to reach its destination, arriving in the state capital just before midday on Tuesday. Here, we see the train at the very beginning of its journey, passing the Quantas Founders' Museum on the outskirts of Longreach.
Brisbane to Longreach on the Spirit of the Outback, train. John Coyle video.
first class train travel!
Queensland Rail Travel: Brisbane to Rockhampton Onboard Spirit of The Outback
Travelling by train in Queensland, Australia from Brisbane to Rockhampton onboard my favourite train in Australia: Spirit of The Outback!
I purchased a seating class which is the cheapest. This train serves Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton where the train will change direction there and departing Brisbane's Roma Street station every Tuesdays 6.10PM and Saturdays 12PM.
I took the Tuesday service only until Rockhampton which is already a 10 hour journey and not even halfway yet as the second leg from Rockhampton to Longreach takes about 15 hours more. It was a smooth and peaceful ride onboard this train and thank god my favourite train in Australia has an advantage to it.
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Longreach to Brisbane on the Spirit of the Outback, train. John Coyle video
congratulations Queensland Rail, and the SOTO train crew!
Brisbane & Spirit of the Outback (Train) - Part 1 - Brisbane to Maryborough.
Australia's “Spirit of the Outback” lives up to its name and Brisbane is a vibrant city with something for everyone. Maybe you live in Brisbane and fancy doing something completely different, chill out, see the outback as you’ve never seen it before, spend a day or two in Longreach, visit the Qantas Museum, or maybe like me you are visiting from overseas and want to get a feel for the real Australia. Most people have heard of the “Ghan”, but few know anything about the “Spirit of the Outback”, to start with its great value for money (look out for the offers). The ever changing view from the window is something airlines can’t offer, the classic stainless steel carriages remind me of the days before budget air travel, when luxury trains connected cities, many travelling overnight, offering the chance to simply relax and soak up the amazing scenery, whilst enjoying first class cuisine with a glass of local wine in the comfort of the lounge or restaurant. The on-board staff are excellent, nothing is too much trouble, working on the train is more than a job to them, it’s a way of life, they take pleasure in sharing their train, making the journey something extra special. There is nothing quite like being rocked to sleep by the gentle swaying motion of a train and waking to see dawn breaking on an alien landscape. Join me for a look around Brisbane before boarding the train for the 1325 kilometre trip to Longreach. Part 1 covers Brisbane to Maryborough. Look out for Part 2.
My confession - the driver’s eye views, whilst convincing are fake, in reality the views were filmed from the back of the train and reversed to give the impression of a forward view.
The train is operated by QueenslandRail and the track gauge is 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in).
Map at 00:15 - Author - Thomas Steiner
Source -
Map at 07:07 - Author - Geoscience Australia, Government of AustraliaSource -
Music - Track - Composer - Source
00.00 - ES_River Serpent - Jon Björk - epidemicsound.com
05:41 & 08.50 & 55.00 - ES_Ebullient Popcorn 1 - Christian Andersen - epidemicsound.com
Longreach to Brisbane on Spirit of the Outback
Longreach to Brisbane on Spirit of the Outback is a 5-minute 720p hi-def video about my 1325 km 26 hour overnight train journey from Longreach to Brisbane aboard Spirit of the Outback.
You will notice at Barcaldine Station I spelt Labour correctly, unlike the Labor Party in Australia.
If you liked this video you may wish to see other Queensland related videos.
Gulflander Railmotor from Normanton to Croydon
youtube.com/watch?v=YNUOTeK9qnU
Savannahlander from Forsayth to Cairns
youtube.com/watch?v=Olzem_MUOGc
Brisbane Highlights 2017
youtube.com/watch?v=r51WPXRnfZw
Spirit of the Outback - Part 2 - Maryborough to Blackwater plus awesome coal trains
Once again we enjoy a driver’s eye view (albeit fake) as we depart Maryborough for Blackwater. This might well be described as big county, the Eucalyptus and Gum tree forests line either side of the tracks for many miles as we race across the level coastal plains, in places the forest gives way to vast tracts of farm land, broken by the occasional rivers, creeks and settlements. Our Driver’s Eye View finishes at Bundaberg, as the section of line between there and Rockhampton was covered in darkness in both directions. We pick up the out bound train again as we leave Rockhampton where the routes to Cairns and Longreach diverge, our diesels begin to work as the train climbs towards Stanwell, never far from the Capricorn Highway. We pass a succession of massive coal trains with locomotives at both ends along with a helper positioned mid train, I’ve seen coal trains in the USA, but I’ve never seen so many, so close together, some destined for the power stations at Stanwell and Gladstone, others for Port of Gladstone, for more informationabout these awesome trains, please click on this link -
From Stanwell onto Blackwater, we pass through open countryside for most of the route to Blackwater, occasionally climbing hard through rolling hill country, passing a never ending succession of coal trains. Bluff and Blackwater are at the center of a network of lines serving the coal mines of Central Queensland.
Once again the Driver’s Eye View is the result of reversing the footage taken from the back of the train.
The train is operated by QueenslandRail and the track gauge is 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). Filmed 30/01/2019
Spirit Of The Outback Train - Longreach railway Station, Queensland
This video features the Longreach Railway Station in Queensland, and the arrival of the Spirit Of The Outback train into the station. This is one of Australia's iconic remaining rail journeys.
Great Outdoors program takes the Spirit of the Outback Train to Longreach
Great Outdoors program takes the Spirit of the Outback Train to Longreach, visits the stockman's hall of fame and QANTAS museum
Spirit of the Outback - Part 3 - Blackwater to Anakie
We pull away from Blackwater past another mammoth coal train, branches diverge from the mainline to serve several colliery complexes, with less traffic using the line beyond Queensland’s central coal belt, a single track is sufficient from now on as the eucalyptus and gum trees give way to cotton fields, some of which have been harvested, the large bales waiting to be transported, other fields are ready for harvesting. The line follows the undulations of the land with little in the way of heavy engineering, other than the Comet River Bridge and low trestles over occasional water courses until we reach the Nogoa River, crossed on a substantial bridge to enter Emerald where we stop at the traditional station with its ornate canopy. Overhead line equipment is being installed to enable electric locomotives to operate services to the town and nearby coalmines.
After Emerald the railway takes on a more rural appearance, even the familiar clickety-clack of yesteryear can be heard as the modern long welded rails give way to jointed track on wooden sleepers, our progress has slowed as we pick our way along a route more suited to the less than daily service to Longreach, supplemented by stock, produce and maintenance trains as required. The Capricorn Highway with its fascinating succession of road trains is never far away, cotton production gives way to native trees, scrub and heath land, we are traversing the real outback, a strange desolate, yet in its own way a beautiful landscape. Take a seat and join me for this trip into the fabled Australian outback.
End of video should read Look out for Part 4 not Part 3
Map at 01:03 - Author - Geoscience Australia, Government of AustraliaSource -
Other Maps - Google Earth/Maps
The train is operated by QueenslandRail and the track gauge is 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in).
Train Journey to Longreach
Travel by Train on the Spirit of the Outback from Brisbane to Longreach. We journey overnight via Rockhampton and Emerald taking 26 hours. Visit Longreach and Winton experiencing many outback excursions Organised by Great Value Holidays and Outback Aussie Tours
The spirit of the outback heading to longreach seen passing narangba station
Spirit of the Outback
Take a journey with Queensland Weekender aboard the Spirit of the Outback to the heart of Queensland's outback.
Spirit Of The Outback Sleeper Train
Sleeper Train from Brisbane to Longreach, Queensland,, Australia October 2019
QR Travel's 2474+1723 Spirit of the Outback train to Longreach passing Elimbah Station 24/09/2016.
Spirit of the Outback Longreach to Brisbane 9 and 10 May 2019
This is a video for train enthusiasts only as it consists of views from the window of the train from Longreach to Brisbane - selected segments only as the actual trip takes 26 hours. The windows are slightly tinted hence some of the video is a little lighter than usual. Up until around the 49 minute mark was filmed on the first day, with the last few minutes heading into Brisbane railway station (Roma Street) on the second day of the trip. The train left Longreach at 10:00am and arrived in Brisbane 11:55am the next day and on schedule. We would certainly recommend the trip to anyone interested.
Spirit of the Outback arriving at Longreach
Spirit of the Outback (Brisbane - Longreach) train arriving, unloading, turning and stabling at Longreach station in central west Queensland.
Spirit Of The Outback Train
Brisbane, Australia - Sleeper train from Brisbane to Longreach