On Friday, June 14, a classic train organised by Seymour Railway Heritage Centre picked up passengers at Seymour Station for a three-day trip around northern Victoria.
Passenger Peter Mitchell said he was thrilled to have an opportunity to travel around the region in an original 1937 Spirit of Progress carriage.
“I’ve just enjoyed travelling on old trains,” he said.
“Yarrawonga, it’s a line that we very rarely see.
“It’s the first time for a passenger train up there for a long time, I think.”
Yarrawonga-Mulwala Tourism and Business worked with Seymour Heritage Railway Centre to bring the tour to the region.
Seymour Heritage Railway Centre president John Crofts said this tour had been a long time coming.
“This is the first time in over 20 years that a passenger train has run on the Yarrawonga-Oaklands branch line,” he said.
On Saturday, June 15, 200 passengers travelled from Yarrawonga to Goorambat and Benalla for lunch before returning to Yarrawonga in the afternoon.
The train took passengers back to Seymour and Melbourne on Sunday, June 16.
In Benalla, passengers had a couple of hours to enjoy street art, the art gallery, botanical gardens and a courthouse where Ned Kelly was tried.
Mr Crofts said future journeys could include a day-trip along the silo art tour from Goorambat to Tungamah (via Devenish and St James) and back.
He said while future heritage rail trips still needed to be confirmed, they would probably sell out quickly.
“In terms of land-based transportation systems, it’s fairly unique in terms of the ability to socialise and the ability to move freely around the train and to experience different parts and reflect on the history of the carriages that are involved,” he said.
“These all-steel, air-conditioned trains in 1937 were a breakthrough akin to the Boeing 747 in 1969 — they are a significant part of Australia’s industrial history and played a major role in the development of Victoria.”
The train includes an open-air area where passengers can take in the country views unimpeded, as well as dining cars where lunch and dinner are served.
It also includes vintage carriages from the original 1937 Spirit of Progress.
“We have the parlour car, which is the observation car at the rear of the train,” Mr Crofts said.
“We have the guard’s van, which we use as an open-air observation car.”
Mr Crofts said anyone interested in future heritage rail trips could keep up to date at srhc.org.au/