This afternoon we went for a little train ride from Mount Surprise to Einasleigh on the Etheridge railway line. The railway line has quite a history!  The line was built to service copper mining in the early 1900's and it was with one sleeper per yard.  It is also a very light weight track.  Many of the sleepers are in very poor condition now!   In 1999 the rail line was to be closed, but there was public out-roar and it was decided that only freight by rail would cease.  Public were happy that the passenger line would remain open.  There is one train a week, which travels out from Cairns and goes as far as Forsayth, which is south of Georgetown.The train came into Mount Surprise at 11.30am and the passengers got off at the 'Bedrock Village and Caravan Park' where they walked across to the parks Cafe for lunch.  We were taken down to the Station at 12 noon by the park bus and the other passengers were bussed down half an hour later.  In the meantime we were able to view a historical display at the station and choose our seats on the train.   Not sure why the passengers had lunch at the Bedrock, but no doubt they have it all worked out!  Whatever is necessary to keep everyone viable in these small outback towns.  The Hotel is across the road from the station and it is 'For Sale'.   Seems strange that they wouldn't cater for lunch!  Pete suggested I may be interested in the Hotel as an investment! I'm sure the kids would be over the moon to receive an email saying "Christmas is in Mt Surprise"!  There is confusion between both of us as to which way we will be heading? I think south of Mt Surprise and Pete thinks we are going further west! We are sitting on the train waiting for our driver to finish having a kip! All we could see in the office at the railway station were some boots up on the table! The train is only two carriages long and our train drivers are Anthony and Leigh.  We ended up going a little west and then south. As soon as we left, the countryside was covered in rocks.  Poor cows walking around here grazing. We could see what Joe and Jo must have had to clear to establish the park!  There was a bit of a commentary on the trip and the first thing Anthony pointed out was a tree called 'Madagascar Vine'.  It was introduced from overseas to the Charters Towers area and now there are patches throughout the Savannah.  They have not found anything that will kill it.  It has become a real nuisance as it chokes out other trees and bush. As we went over the 'Junction Creek Bridge' the driver stopped the train, so we could get some nice photos. It was named 'Junction Creek' as the Telegraph Station was nearby, and a line went off from there to Georgetown.   The 'Telegraph Station' was eventually moved to Mount Surprise and has recently been restored.  We survived the climb from the creek.  The driver gave us a bit of a run down on what the train was capable of, when it comes to climbing inclines. So we were glad when he got us up the rise from the standing start!  Doesn't take many 'clickety clacks' or maybe it's 'clickety clocks', for the fella beside me to have a 'Poppie Nap'! Better not take a photo!  The nap is now over, so we have changed seats! Now he is hanging out the window with the camera. More 'clickety clicks' for me to sort!  Peter has decided to take up the offer from the driver and go up and sit with him for five minutes.  Some photos of the line we are travelling on will be good.  The condition is pretty ordinary really!  After going 'clickety clack' for an hour and a half, with a pleasant breeze blowing in the window,  seeing the odd kangaroo and looking at the countryside of rocks, termite mounds, dry creek beds and trees, we arrived at Einasleigh. Those not on our 'Bedrock Tour' will continue on to Forsayth. During Anthony's commentary, he said "That the wet season is only for 2 or 3 months up here. The rest of the year it doesn't rain"! It seemed so strange getting off the train, in what seemed like the 'middle of nowhere'!  From the train we walked down, or up, to the Hotel.  The bus drivers from the Bedrock Caravan Park had driven the two tour buses out to the hotel.  So we'd had our little train ride and we would be going back to Mount Surprise on the buses.The poor publican couldn't handle the influx of patrons.  It was only just after two and so many asked for a lemon, lime & bitters, which he didn't have.  I decided I would try for a brandy and dry!  Poor fella!  He eventually found the bottle of brandy, some ice and mixed the drink.  By then one of the train drivers was behind the bar helping him!  Can't complain about the price though!  $5.00 a drink and $4 for a very full glass of wine!  Just for the record though, I only had a brandy and dry!  Whoops!  Nearly forgot to say there was even a photo of 'Melbourne's Chloe' in the pub as well.  Einasleigh is an old copper mining town and 'Copperfield Gorge' is just across from the Hotel. The Gorge is spectacular with sheer walls dropping into the sandy river bottom. This area is the south eastern boundary of the 'Undara Lava Field'. The Copperfield River has eroded a channel through a sheet of basalt laid down over 90,000 years ago.  It is said to be the worlds longest lava flow. 

After the visit to the gorge we did a little drive around the metropolis of Einasleigh, which now has a population of 23.  From there we went to the bank of the Einasleigh River for 'Billy' afternoon tea.  Then it was the trip back over the corrugations to the caravan park.  We were in the oldest bus, which we were warned, rattled!  Ian was not wrong!  Good thing the owner of the park is a mechanic.  We think doing tours out there, would be very hard on the vehicles.  Far better though, than doing over 200kms to go alternative routes.  We came back through cattle stations.  It was something different and a great afternoon.  18 photos