Many of our services between Strahan and Dubbil Barril will be operated by one of our 1953 diesel locomotives this year. They were acquired specifically for this line and are every bit as integral to the heritage of the railway and the region as our steam locomotives.
The Drewry Diesel engines are part of the story of the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company since their purchase in 1953. The Regatta Point to Dubbil Barril section of the line (travelled on the entire River & Rainforest journey and on occasion part of the Queenstown Explorer journey) is where they were operated. When guests travel on the River & Rainforest, they will discover more of the story of these engines' significant contribution to the company’s operations.
Book a half-day River and Rainforest tour from Strahan until the start of January 2021, to encounter one of our 1953 diesels as they will be operating on this service. They may operate on the Regatta Point to Dubbil Barril section of the line on the Queenstown Explorer as well. While an important part of the railways stories in their own right, the Drewry diesel engines also play a support role to the steam locomotives when they are out of service due to the extra maintenance they require to keep them operational.
