Miniature Trains at McPherson Park Bracken Ridge ::
I originally found this Brisbane event that happens on the 4th Sunday of each month on the Brisbane City Council website under events (Good place to look if want to see what’s on).
Click here to see Brisbane City Council Things to do
So we packed, threw the kids into the car that morning and we were off to Bracken Ridge.
It’s a nice little park and there was plenty going on too, lots of people around, music and stalls too.
Easy to park close to all the action too was a bonus.
I didn’t take any photos while I was there, so I’ve used the Lions one here.
The trains are run by the Bracken Ridge Central Lions Club which is a community based service club that gives back to the community by helping others through fundraising or getting stuck in and working, so you know any money you spend in your outing is going to the right people to give others a hand when they need it.
You can find out more about them here Braken Ridge Central Lions Club
They fire up the trains at 9.30am and run through to around 2.30pm.
The train rides were 2 bucks and you buy a ticket you can use over again depending on how many times you go back.
There are plenty of trains, some steam and some electric now too, just watch out for some of the older steam ones as we had a bit of an incident with the coal coming out of the smoke stack at the front, but the Lions were friendly and helpful in this regard too.
Another bonus was the man who makes his own music boxes, this wasn’t a standard music box, it was still one you hand to rotate the handle on the side and it read the notes of the paper reels with the dots in it, but it was similar to an accordion setup, so blows air through reeds setup as notes.
I’m sure it has a proper name for this instrument, but I can’t find it.
Anyway it was a beautiful sound, beautifully made and played well known old tunes, this just adds alot more character to what’s going on around the park on these Sundays.
We used about 4 rides off our ticket, sat down and took it all in and even though there are food stalls there, sausage sizzles etc, we had to head home for the afternoon, next time we will take a picnic lunch.
The trains, I’m sure it’s the same for most, bought back alot of memories of growing up and travelling to Rotorua and going on the Toot n Whistle train ride in Kuirau Park with my parents and later on with Dad.
So it makes the day even more fun seeing the kids experience the rides too.
McPherson Park is home for alot of clubs and sports clubs too, there is alot of extras here too even if you want to go and waste a few hours away on a picnic rug.
There is a playground for kids, walking paths (or bike paths), picnic tables, basket ball net and lots of big trees.
Also, we didn’t do it this year as we were away, the Lions Club run a event called “Backyard Bonanza” which is a full on event compared to the Train Ride Sundays.
They have plenty going on for the Bonanza, alot more bands and stalls too, we will be pencilling this in for next year for sure.
So if your looking to waste a few hours away on a Sunday morning, or looking at making a half day of it, get down to McPherson Park for the Miniature Train’s, you won’t be disappointed.
Also, you need to have kids to enjoy this event, if you want to go down and hang out, people watch and grab the odd snag sanga, you’ll enjoy this outing too.