Train Trip 25/07/2010

 We are currently staying at one of our favourite places  at Rifle Creek north of Mount Molloy
but the weather hasn;t been too kind to us.  Although it isn't cold it is showering and overcast so that each day we have had to run the generator to keep up our power.

 Today we decided to go down the range to Port Douglas as they have markets on a Sunday and hopefully the weather is better on the coast.

On our way down we noticed signs indicating that a prawn trawler was in and selling prawns at the marina, so after spending some time wandering around the markets we paid a visit to the marina and bought a kilo of beautiful cooked tiger prawns.

While we were having lunch we kept on hearing  the whistle of a train and initially thought that it belonged to a sugar train as the sugar harvest has started but then it kept on sounding very regularly so we thought that it belonged to a fun park train.

 However on our way back to the vehicle we came across the " Ballyhooly" which is a small open sided train which runs 3 times  on  Sundays for a 4 km run to St Crispins . As it was about 3/4 hour before the next train went we wandered around the Mirage shopping centre  to kill time.

 Backing up the Ballyhooly to pick up the carriages for next trip.

 Unfortunately the showers returned just as our train set off and being open sided we had to sit in the middle of the carriage so we didn't get too wet.

 Bally hooly

 The journey took us past the marina and then through some mangroves before wending it's way past some of the big resorts at Port Douglas.  The whistle was blown lots of times as we crossed footpaths and roads and even just for fun as we passed some people walking along .
 Eventually we arrived at St Crispins where we were all off loaded while the train was turned around on the turntable. The little station there had a lovely out look over a big pond that connected to the river. It was well stocked with lots of fish and possibly crocodiles.

 Lake at St Crispins station

 Engine going onto turntable

  Coming back ready to hook up for return journey.

 The weather hadn't improved on our journey back but it didn't seem to matter to anyone as we all enjoyed our little trip through a part of the area which we would not normally see.