Do your Little Ones love trains? Miss 2 1/2 absolutely adores trains, and has been obsessed with "choo choo trains" since around her second birthday.

The first thing she does when we have visitors is show them her trains (Thomas & co), and if someone calls and she talks to them on the phone she inevitably says "choo choo trains" as her opening conversation. And her nighttime story always begins with trains.

How thrilled she is to have trains come by near our fenceline - even if it's only once a month (although the last few had been cancelled due to the dry conditions and the potential for the steam train to set alight the countryside).

We had a ride on the steam train from Stanthorpe to Wallangarra in September. Tickets were $30 each for adults, and free for kids, for the Stanthorpe - Wallangarra return leg. Being cheapskates and with small kids who have limited attention spans, we arranged with friends who have kids of similar ages to do half the leg each and take a car the other leg. This meant 1 1/2 hours on the train instead of 3 hours, which turned out to be just about right for a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old.

It's a great trip, beautiful scenery, nice and green at that time, and Wallangarra Station is pretty impressive. The Downs Dasher was at Wallangarra Station for the kiddies to enjoy another train ride (which I think they liked more than the real train). There was also a market on at the station, but there wasn't many stalls the day we went.

The train came by again last Sunday and we sat on top of our dam wall to watch it go by and wave to all the passengers.

The Rural Fire Brigade folks were at each road crossing to make sure cars stopped, which they need to be because the cars hardly ever do stop despite the obvious Stop sign. The trainspotters were chasing the train again, taking photos at each crossing.

The next Southern Downs Steam Railway trip will be on February 21st 2010. See the SDSR site for ticketing information. They plan to come once a month from now on. It says on their site the steam train will be crossing the Winelander, but I can't find any info on the next Winelander trip at the moment.

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