The Warwick Railway Precinct has gained a new locomotive with funding from the Southern Downs Steam Association in an effort to increase tourism.
The Southern Downs Steam Railway Association received a grant of $50, 000 from the Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) to boost tourism and attract visitors to the region. SDRC Mayor Tracy Dobie said the heritage railway tours on the Southern Downs and Granite Belt are a unique experience and showcase the region’s rich culture and history. “The heritage railway tours have long been enjoyed by young and old alike. Council believes in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt as a tourist destination and wants to support and invest in the growth of the industry,” Mayor Dobie said. “The heritage railway is a great way to motor through the region and discover our picturesque countryside and sample award-winning Granite Belt wines and fresh local produce.”
“There’s already so much see and do in our region, and the addition of the new locomotive and rail tours at the Warwick Railway Precinct gives tourists yet another reason to visit the Southern Downs and Granite Belt,” she said.
The new diesel locomotive, Spirit of the Southern Downs, will increase the number of train tours on the region’s popular tourist railway. Southern Downs Steam Railway offers regular tours from Warwick to Wallangarra, Clifton, Wheatvale, Hendon, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Tenterfield, and Stanthorpe.
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