How do I pay for tickets?

Payment is via the bookings page on the Downs Explorer website; VISA and Mastercard are accepted.

Can I sit with my friends or family?

Email events@downsexplorer.org.au with names and date; they will do their best to seat you together.

What if I need to change or cancel my booking?

Use the link in your ticket email to change or cancel; follow the procedures shown to rebook or request credit.

Are there toilets on board?

Yes — toilets are located in all carriages and at station stops along the route.

Can children get activity packs?

Yes — every child receives a free activity pack and crayons to keep entertained during the trip.

Is the service wheelchair accessible?

Ramps are available but there is one step to navigate; guests should be able to walk a few paces.

Warwick to Wheatvale Heritage Train: Two‑Hour Family Ride | Train | History Tour

Morning light picks out the corrugated roofs of Warwick as the Downs Explorer idles at Warwick Railway Station, Brosnan Crescent, Warwick, QLD 4370. For families with young children the April Warwick to Wheatvale heritage run is a compact, scenic introduction to rail travel — a two‑hour round trip that folds golden paddocks, gum‑tree lines and rural sidings into a child‑sized adventure. Check‑in opens at 8:30am on the platform and the train departs promptly at 9:00am, returning to Warwick by about 11:00am. The schedule is deliberately short: 9:45am arrival at Wheatvale gives just enough time for littles to watch the steam or heritage diesel loco detach and run around the consist while remaining safely on board. The return leg departs 10:15am. Every child receives a free activity pack with crayons and simple puzzles designed around trains and local features; it’s a quiet, low‑stress way to introduce kids to public transport etiquette and curiosity about how railways work. The carriage includes an onboard cafe for snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages (EFTPOS available but mobile black spots mean it's wise to carry cash). Toilets are on every carriage and at the stations. Accessibility ramps are provided but there is one step to negotiate; guests should be able to walk a few paces. Free parking is available at the station and families are asked to arrive thirty minutes early to complete check‑in. BYO alcohol is not permitted; purchases can be made onboard. The service is run by Downs Explorer, a not‑for‑profit volunteer organisation; membership is $30 and helps preserve heritage rolling stock and community rail skills. When steam is unavailable a heritage diesel will substitute, and services may change for total fire bans — a reminder of the region’s seasonal bushfire risk. That short loop is part local history and part living classroom: across the Southern Downs you’ll pass grazing paddocks, stands of eucalyptus and low, rolling farmland that reads like an Australian primer for small children. The loco‑run around at Wheatvale is a highlight for train‑obsessed kids, and the heritage carriages—clean, safe and staffed by volunteers—make the whole outing feel authentic without being overwhelming. Practical families appreciate the two‑hour timing, onboard toilets and cafe, and simple accessibility features that keep the trip inclusive. Book online via the Downs Explorer bookings page (VISA and Mastercard accepted) or email [email protected] with seating requests; membership information is at www.downsexplorer.org.au. Arrive early, bring a little cash for connectivity gaps, and let the kids lead the discovery: this is a low‑commitment, high‑joy way to introduce the next generation to railways and regional landscape in a responsible, community‑minded setting. Pack light layers and a compact camera—close countryside views along the route make them easy to capture as family photographs.