Dreamworld Railway

Dreamworld Railway
Location	Dreamworld
Area	Main Street, Rivertown, Australian Wildlife Experience, Rocky Hollow
Coordinates	27°51′46.78″S 153°18′59.91″E / 27.8629944°S 153.3166417°E / -27.8629944; 153.3166417 (Dreamworld Railway - Central Station)Coordinates: 27°51′46.78″S 153°18′59.91″E / 27.8629944°S 153.3166417°E / -27.8629944; 153.3166417 (Dreamworld Railway - Central Station)
Opening date	15 December 1981 (1981-12-15)
Attraction Type	Steam locomotive
Designer	Dreamworld
Model	Perry / Baldwin
Length	3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Capacity	432 riders per hour
Duration	20 minutes (full circuit)
Trains	2
Riders per train	72
Previous name	Cannonball Express
Wheelchair accessible

The Dreamworld Railway is the longest privately-owned railway in Australia located at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast.^[1]

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 Street.^[2] 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 Street 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.^[3]

Trains

The Dreamworld Railway features two steam trains - a Perry and a Baldwin. 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.^[4]

Preceded by Unknown

Longest privately owned railway in Australia 15 December 1981-present

Succeeded by Current holder

References

1. ^ "Dreamworld Railway". Dreamworld. http://www.dreamworld.com.au/Rides/Family-Rides/Family---Lightboxes/Dreamworld-Railway.aspx?innerHeight=272&pos=6&tileid=633941442524016554&lightbox=y. Retrieved 2 January 2011. 
2. ^ "Dreamworld History". Dreamworld. http://www.dreamworld.com.au/Schools/pdf/DW-Schools-History.pdf. Retrieved 2 January 2011. 
3. ^ "Park Map". Dreamworld. http://www.dreamworld.com.au/Resources/Documents/Park-Map.pdf. Retrieved 2 January 2011. 
4. ^ "Dreamworld Railway (Dreamworld)". Database Entry. Parkz. http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/_/_/_/rides/96-.html. Retrieved 2 January 2011.