Re: [QLD] Kuranda SX sets (was: [QLD] The last SX tin sets)

[John Dennis <jdennis@acslink.net.au>]

On Sun, 28 Nov 1999 21:09:05 +1100, James Brook
<ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au> wrote:

>Bill Bolton wrote:
>
>> Did you entirely miss the specifier "most people who holiday in
>> Cairns"?
>
>Ok then, according to you most people who holiday in cairns never use a suburban
>train.

IMO it is certainly true that most Australians don't use suburban
trains.

>> That's a fairly serious comprehension problem you have there.  No, I
>> didn't say that.
>
>Ok then, I made a very small mistake, I'll rephrase it. So you are saying that
>everyone in the world who visits Cairns, apart from railfans hardly ever use a
>train? 

And, that most people don't regularly travel by train.

>> Perhaps its depends on the time of the year but the tourist operators
>> were of the strong opinion that the majority of tourist traffic ineth
>> area was from outside Australia.
>
>Who were these tourist operators? When Australian's holiday in Cairns it is
>during the winter months because it is a lot warmer up there. I know plenty of
>people who have gone to Cairns.

So do I.  I try and get there every two years or so.  But whenever I
am there the Aussie tourists seem to be outnumbered by Japanese.
Especially in Cairns itself - I think the Aussies tend to head for the
northern beaches.

[snip]

>The only thing different it will have to offer is the steam locomotive. There is absolutely no
>heritage value or anything else of interest to attract passengers that are after
>more than just a steam train ride. It will probably be more expensive than the
>current QR diesel hauled service and I heard that it has been given an 0840 path
>out of Cairns. This isn't exactly the most ideal time for the average tourist.

Firstly, a steam loco is much more likely to attract tourists than
wooden cars.  Secondly, I would have thought that many all-day tourist
trips from Cairns leave that early.  Tourists, especially those from
overseas, find early starts to be very common in their itinerary.

Just my 2c worth...

Cheers...JD
==========================================================
John Dennis                         jdennis@acslink.net.au
Melbourne                                  denjo02@cai.com
Australia                   Home of the Dutton Bay Tramway
DBT URL:       http://www.acslink.net.au/~jdennis/dbt.html