Steam Train + MV Abel Tasman to Burnie part 2

PART 2 Steam train and Abel Tasman from Devonport to Burnie and back November 21 and 22 1987.

An event of the Tasmania Day celebrations back in 1992, included a short cruise aboard the Bass Strait ferry Abel Tasman from the Port of Devonport to the Port of Burnie, a distance measured on land of about 30 miles

The Abel Tasman in those days, made six night time crossings of Bass Strait to Melbourne a week, and spent Saturday night in Tasmania. Accordingly, the ship was able to sail from Devonport to Burnie on the Saturday, spend Saturday night in Burnie, and return to Devonport in time to load before its Sunday night sailing to Melbourne.

On November 21st 1987 therefore, the ship sailed to Burnie, and returned the next day.

A restored steam train, from the Don River Railway (which is an operating railway museum situated in Devonport with its own section of railway), formed part of this two day event
and did two return journeys between Devonport and Burnie.

Passengers on the Abel Tasman to Burnie, returned on
the same day aboard the steam train. The locomotive was
MA2.


The next day, November 22nd, The train made another
return run from Devonport, taking another load of passengers who were to return on the Abel Tasman.

It was also organised that as the train to Burnie which was to pick up passengers from the Abel Tasman, was relatively empty, a situation which applied also to the return trip from Burnie on the 22nd, passengers could travel on these trains also but had to return to their starting points by bus or road coach.

Part one of the video, consequently starts out with scenes taken from the train on the first day, and finishes with scenes taken of the train on the second day. Part two is of happenings on the second day.

Some of the
coastal scenery at places such as Ulverstone and Penguin
on Tasmania's North West Coast,
skirted by Bass Strait, is seen in this video and it is surely
obvious why why tourist trains should be reintoduced to this line which closely follows this scenic coastline.
and southern Bass Strait.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• steam
• train
• abel tasman
• devonport
• burnie
• tasmania
• australia