Dreamworld Railway
Encyclopedia
The Dreamworld Railway is the longest privately-owned railway in Australia located at the Dreamworld
amusement park
on the Gold Coast
.
. Until the late 1990s the railway operated with both trains in peak periods. Currently the railway operates on a rotational basis with one train being serviced while the other operates normally.
at the bottom of the hill. The railway cuts across a main pathway through the use of a set of boom gates
before navigating between the Tower of Terror II, Rivertown
, Wiggles World
and Tiger Island
before arriving at the second station. The second station is located in a portion of Rivertown
near the Billabong Buffet restaurant. Directly after the station the train passes another set of boom gates before passing the Dreamworld Woolshed and part of the Australian Wildlife Experience. A station is located in Australian Wildlife Experience with entry and exit via the Kakadu Cafe and Croc Creek Traders. The railway then passes the rest of the Australian Wildlife Experience alongside the Murrisipi River before arriving at the fourth and final station at Rocky Hollow
. The station is located near the Rocky Hollow Log Ride
and its on-ride photo shop. The final section of railway travels around the former location of the Blue Lagoon water park
as well as Dreamworld Studios where Big Brother Australia was filmed. It then returns to Central Park Station in Main Street after passing the railway maintenance sheds.
. It is very rare to see both trains operating at once due to low demand and the high level of maintenance each train requires. The two trains can each tow carriages to cater for up 72 passengers at a time. A set of covered cars are mostly used on the railway with a set of uncovered carriages are rarely used unless both trains are operating. A carriage with disabled access is always added to the end of at least one of the operating trains.
Dreamworld
Dreamworld is a large theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is currently Australia's largest theme park with over 27 rides including 4 roller coasters. The park is made up of several themed lands: Ocean Parade, Kid's World, Wiggles World, Gold Rush Country, Rocky Hollow, Tiger...
amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
.
History
The Dreamworld Railway opened with Dreamworld on 15 December 1981 as the Cannonball Express. At the time the railway only featured a single stop in Main StreetMain Street (Dreamworld)
Main Street is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The area acts as the main hub for the park catering as a gateway to many other lands including Gold Rush Country, Rivertown, Nickelodeon Central and Ocean Parade.-History:In 1974, John Longhurst...
. Until the late 1990s the railway operated with both trains in peak periods. Currently the railway operates on a rotational basis with one train being serviced while the other operates normally.
Stations
Four stations are located throughout the park. The first is Central Park Station located at the end of Main StreetMain Street (Dreamworld)
Main Street is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The area acts as the main hub for the park catering as a gateway to many other lands including Gold Rush Country, Rivertown, Nickelodeon Central and Ocean Parade.-History:In 1974, John Longhurst...
at the bottom of the hill. The railway cuts across a main pathway through the use of a set of boom gates
Boom barrier
A boom barrier is a bar, or pole pivoted in such a way as to allow the boom to block vehicular access through a controlled point. Typically the tip of a boom gate rises in a vertical arc to a near vertical position. Boom gates are often counterweighted, so the pole is easily tipped...
before navigating between the Tower of Terror II, Rivertown
Rivertown (Dreamworld)
Rivertown is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It currently provides a link between Main Street and Wiggles World.-History:...
, Wiggles World
Wiggles World
Wiggles World is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. On 17 September 2005, the area opened replacing the previous Gum Tree Gully section...
and Tiger Island
Tiger Island (Dreamworld)
Tiger Island is wildlife attraction at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In 2010, the area was home to twelve tigers and two cougars. The exhibit is home to both the Bengal and Sumatran tiger species.-History:...
before arriving at the second station. The second station is located in a portion of Rivertown
Rivertown (Dreamworld)
Rivertown is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It currently provides a link between Main Street and Wiggles World.-History:...
near the Billabong Buffet restaurant. Directly after the station the train passes another set of boom gates before passing the Dreamworld Woolshed and part of the Australian Wildlife Experience. A station is located in Australian Wildlife Experience with entry and exit via the Kakadu Cafe and Croc Creek Traders. The railway then passes the rest of the Australian Wildlife Experience alongside the Murrisipi River before arriving at the fourth and final station at Rocky Hollow
Rocky Hollow (Dreamworld)
Rocky Hollow is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It currently provides a link between Gold Rush Country and Australian Wildlife Experience.-History:...
. The station is located near the Rocky Hollow Log Ride
Rocky Hollow Log Ride
The Rocky Hollow Log Ride is a log flume located in the Rocky Hollow section of the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Australia.-History:...
and its on-ride photo shop. The final section of railway travels around the former location of the Blue Lagoon water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
as well as Dreamworld Studios where Big Brother Australia was filmed. It then returns to Central Park Station in Main Street after passing the railway maintenance sheds.
Trains
The Dreamworld Railway features two steam trains - a Perry and a BaldwinBaldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
. It is very rare to see both trains operating at once due to low demand and the high level of maintenance each train requires. The two trains can each tow carriages to cater for up 72 passengers at a time. A set of covered cars are mostly used on the railway with a set of uncovered carriages are rarely used unless both trains are operating. A carriage with disabled access is always added to the end of at least one of the operating trains.