On Saturday 21st September 2024, the Southern Downs Steam Railway in conjunction with DownsSteam operated a series of shuttle excursions departing from the Historic Toowoomba Railway Station to the growing suburb of Wyreema, located approximately 15km South West of Toowoomba as part of the annual "Carnival Of Flowers" event held every September.
Steam locomotive BB18 ¼ 1037 from DownsSteam was leased out for the day to provide the motive power. The first time the locomotive has been seen in Toowoomba in more than half a century. This was also the first steam hauled train for SDSR since March.
Unfortunately, the locomotive suffered a significant breakdown while hauling the last shuttle out of Toowoomba and was rescued by SDSR's DH45 diesel locomotive and hauled back into Drayton for an assessment of the damage and subsequent repairs.