Sunday Carnival Special - Steam Train Special (afternoon session)
Carnival Special - Steam TrainCarnival Sunday Special - Steam train trip to Drayton departing Toowoomba at 11:00am & 2:30pm.
Experience something truly special during the biggest weekend of Toowoomba’s Carnival celebrations with DownsSteam’s historic heritage train operating between Toowoomba Railway Station and the DownsSteam Railway Museum at Drayton. Sausage Sizzle, drinks and snacks will be available at DownsSteam!
Step aboard our beautifully restored heritage passenger train and experience Toowoomba from a different perspective as you travel along a railway steeped in history.
This year’s Carnival Special will also mark an exciting milestone for DownsSteam. Toowoomba’s own historic steam locomotive will be joined by our newly restored DH-41 diesel-hydraulic locomotive, making its inaugural passenger service following an extensive restoration program.
Hear the unmistakable beat of steam and experience the sights and sounds of heritage rail travel, while being among the first passengers to see DH-41 back on the main line and working alongside our steam locomotive.
With comfortable seating and panoramic windows, this special journey offers a memorable Carnival experience for families, visitors, railway enthusiasts and anyone looking for a unique way to enjoy one of Toowoomba’s biggest weekends of the year.
Steam, heritage diesel and Carnival come together for one very special Sunday.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the occasion on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
Ticket also includes entry to the DownsSteam Station and there will be free tours at the Drayton station. Our visitor souvenir shop and cafe will be open and a sausage sizzle will be operating.
The total experience will last approximately 120 minutes.
More info
Please plan to arrive at Toowoomba Railway Station at least 30 minutes before departure.
Infants under 2 years old who are not occupying a seat travel free; however, if you would like to reserve a seat for your infant under 2 years old, please book as a child fare.
Minors of 16 and under may be booked under a child’s seat and must be accompanied by an adult.
Light refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase from the station café and the visitor souvenir shop will also be open at Drayton.
Please note: due to the heritage nature of our coaches some seats may not have windows (as noted on seat maps and tickets), guests are highly encouraged to select their own seats when booking.
We will endeavour to honour advance seating requests; however, we cannot guarantee any particular seat. We reserve the right to assign or reassign seats at any time, even after boarding the train. This may be necessary for operational, safety, security or other reasonable reasons.