Archer Park Station, Rockhampton

["John Browning" <ceo8@rocknet.net.au>]

Archer Park Station and Steam Tram Museum was opened today, 100 years after
it failed to be opened when first commencing operation. It is in the famous
Denison Street, along which QR main line trains still traverse the city and
has been rstore by the City Council, assisted by the community and QR.
Congratulations to Dennis Sheehan, whose dream this has been for 10 years,
and who is now the manager of the site.

It houses the only operational Purrey steam tram in the world, built in
Bordeaux, France. QR used some of these around Rockhampton, as did the
Rockhampton City Council on its street tramways.

There is also a Billard diesel locomotive at the Station. This was built at
Tours, France.

The station contains a number of displays and there is a wonderful sound
system which brings the station's past to life, including (of course) steam
trains stopping at the station and then moving off.

Two important announcement made by Vince O'Rouke (CEO of QR) today.

1. Archer Park's rail connection to the QR system will be restored in 2000.

2. Following this, a QR heritage steam locomotive and carriages will be
based at Archer Park for steam tours locally.

Worth a visit. It will open Tuesdays to Sundays and the steam tram should
be running at weekends.

John Browning