Travel Australia

Downs Explorer, Warwick, Qld

Downs Explorer (originally known as Southern Downs Steam Railway) was founded in 1996, initially to restore the former Queensland Railways locomotive depot in Warwick. In 2000, a C17 class steam locomotive was purchased and restored to operational condition with passenger operations commencing in January 2009.

The museum regularly operates services on the Southern line from Warwick to Toowoomba and Wallangarra. It is an all-volunteer railway.

The C17 class was introduced as an improved version of the C16 class. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the C17 class, C representing they had four driving axles, and 17 representing the cylinder diameter in inches. They were used to haul Mail trains on lines could not accommodate heavier B18¼ class, also suburban passenger, mixed, goods and branch line trains. Until 1948 they were the heaviest engines that could work north of Mackay. Twenty-five have been preserved.