G'day Charley,

The Queensland rural railway lines embody everything that was implicit in the Australian application of the term "pioneering standards" in the railway world. For starters, they are running on narrow gauge: 3' 6" (1067 mm) ... in New South Wales we have standard gauge: 4' 8½" (1435 mm) ... and, as you cross south into s(t)olid Victoria the gauge rises again to broad gauge: 5' 3" (1600 mm)!

The Queensland narrow gauge doesn't allow anything like express speeds (although they do manage a bit better speed than Tasmania got out of their narrow gauge ... the intercity express - The Tasman Limited (very!) did Hobart to Launceston (~120 of those old miles ... about 193 kilometres) ... in 5½ hour, just ½ hour better than the "slow" service! Queensland rail may be an adventure, but it is one that needs a long, leisurely visit to savour its delights.

Sandra's contacts with the Arena family might manage to winkle out the right slang terms (of the fish market girls) for you ... skitch Sandra off to do some research!

We have at least on local folksong drawing on The Ship That Never Returned (as does Charley on the MTA or The Man Who Never Returned) ... but ours is about a bunch of boozers waiting for a timberman to come back and spend his next pay cheque.

Regards,

Bob