On the train to FNQ
Sometime last year (2023) friends from the USA, Peg and Dave Ertmer, contacted us to propose that we ride the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns with them. Dave is a fan of trains and Majella’s father worked as an engineer for Queensland Rail so we agreed it was something we would be happy to do.
Their initial suggestion was to take the trip in February. Having lived some years in Far North Queensland we had experienced the hot wet summer and cyclone season so we advised against that timing. After some discussion early this year we settled on September-October. Peg and Dave have booked for a Roads Scholar adventure in Tasmania and Victoria during October so the new plan was for them to visit with us for a few days in late September before we all ride the train to Cairns and spend a few days in the tropics. Afterward they will fly on to Launceston for their tour and we will fly to Brisbane and home.
Booking the train ride was an adventure. It wasn’t possible immediately and when booking opened the process did not go smoothly. Once the booking was done we got on with other things including our trip from Adelaide to Perth.
Now it’s happening. Peg and Dave flew into Brisbane from Denver via San Francisco on Friday morning. We met them at the airport, drove home to Toowoomba, and let them rest. Jane and Lea joined us for lunch to celebrate his birthday. Afterwards we drove to Picnic Point and recreated the photo from their visit 20 years ago. We visited the champion carnival garden took a late afternoon walk around the neighbourhood.


On Saturday we saw an art exhibition and then drove to Allora where we walked up a mountain for a ceremony recognising scar trees in an area significant to First Nations people. Sunday included a walk in Duggan Park for Peg and me, enjoying Laurel Bank Park as Majella sang with Sing Australia, and a visit to Jane and Lea’s home at Withcott.






Before leaving town on Monday morning we walked in the Queens Park gardens. Then it was off to Brisbane where we checked our bags at the railway station before Majella took Peg and Dave to explore South Bank while I took the car to the airport and caught a train back to the city.
I joined them where they were having lunch at the museum cafe. We had time to see some museum exhibits and visit the nearby art gallery before crossing the river by the Kurilpa bridge and walking to the station.

The Spirit of Queensland departed on schedule at 3:45 pm. Our rail beds were in their seating configuration with electric recliner function and remote control for the entertainment system. When I booked our seats the car was already filling so we had 3 seats in one row and one in the row in front. Peg and Dave had 2 seats together and Majella was in the other seat across the aisle in that row. I was in the only seat on one side in the other row.
We settled in comfortably and were almost immediately served a glass of ginger beer with ice and a slice of lime. Before long staff were back to take our orders for dinner and breakfast to be served in our seats. After that we relaxed and watched the world go by until dinner time around 6 pm.
Entree was a small risoni pasta salad. I had roast beef prepared with bush spices and accompanied by carrot and roast potato with a Sirromet Shiraz followed by mango and passionfruit cheesecake with coffee. It was all tasty and well presented.
The train was delayed at Bundaberg waiting for an ambulance to treat a passenger with a medical emergency. Once we were moving again staff came around and converted our recliners into beds with under-sheet, doona, and two soft pillows. When we were ready we relaxed and slept comfortably.