I've attached a review of the video "Bundys' Last Great Adventure" from the current issue of "Railway Review", published in Australia by the Australian Railway Historic Society (New South Wales). Website:
www.arhsnsw.com.au
For those who haven't ordered a copy of Bundy yet this can be done online securely at:
www.gullivermedia.com.au/bundyweb/bundy.htm and follow the link.
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The steam days are long gone in the Queensland sugar fields but Bundy, a preserved narrow gauge loco, is alive and well. Bundy, named after Bundaberg Workshops where it was built half a century ago, travels a circuitous 2000-kilometre route from Nambour to Bundaberg, with whistle stops at local townships along the way including Mackay, Ingham, Tully, Innisfail,Cairns and Mossman.
And you don't need to be a rail enthusiast to enjoy Bundy's epic trip. While there is plenty for the railfan, non-enthusiasts will enjoy this video with its laid back, laconic Aussie-style commentary, spectacular scenery, and insight into Australian history. Along the way we meet up with railwaymen from the days of steam and glimpse their working lives and enthusiasm for the trains they worked. The contrast between old and new comes into stark focus at Bundaberg Workshops where Bundy returned for a spot of unexpected maintenance work during the journey north.
This video moves at a steady speed and there is never a dull moment as it examines the communities and industries along the route and their links with rail. The soundtrack may not be to everyone's taste but it is reasonably unobtrusive and in keeping with the theme and style of the video. The photography cannot be faulted and the overall presentation keeps even the most cynical viewer's attention. A sense of humour intersperses this mainly factual account of the journey north as we take a number of unexpected stops (watch out for the crab and the swimming pool).
In summary, Bundy's Last Great Adventure is suitable for viewers of all ages, it is both entertaining and informative. Bundy's spectacular landscapes, outrageous characters and the odd yarn or two make it a great watch.
The diminutive loco's journey was part of Queensland's Centenary of Federation celebrations and drew considerable crowds on its way north. At the conclusion of the tape, we learn that Bundy is now in residence, and operating every Saturday, at the Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Woodford, Qld... next holiday north, I’ll be stopping off for a visit. Bundy's got me hooked!
