General News
15 September, 2024
Rare chance to ride on bygone rail lines
The lines less travelled will be the star attraction for rail enthusiasts and nostalgia fans when Seymour Railway Heritage Centre brings one of its classic diesel locomotives to the Wimmera next month.
The train will make two special return trips along the rarely travelled Hopetoun and Rainbow branch lines, both departing from Horsham on Saturday and Sunday October 5 and 6.
The first will run to Murtoa, Sheep Hills, Warracknabeal and Beulah, with a stop to view the silo art at Sheep Hills and a long table lunch at Beulah.
The second will head for Rainbow, via Dimboola, Arkona and Jeparit, with opportunities to visit the Pioneer Museum at Jeparit, the silo art at Arkona, Yurunga Homestead, Rainbow, and lunch at the Eureka Hotel.
Dubbed “Spirit of the Wimmera”, the two heritage diesel locomotives C501 and X31 will be pulling original Spirit of Progress cars, including the iconic Parlor Car, and a first class air-conditioned saloon car.
Its journey west from its home base at Seymour begins on Friday October 4, when it will pick up passengers from Southern Cross in Melbourne and along the Ararat line, before continuing through Stawell to Horsham.
The main attraction for many will be the Murtoa Big Weekend, the annual three-day extravaganza celebrating the town’s 138th Annual A&P Agricultural Show, the Murtoa Cup race meeting and the Lake Marma market, among a host of other attractions.
The out-of-towners will depart on Monday, with some taking advantage of additional linked tours to the Grampians.
But for Wimmera locals the day tours to Beulah and Rainbow will offer a unique opportunity to capture the bygone days of rail travel between some of our most loved townships.
Fares vary from $7.50 to $200 and are dependent upon which station people board at, whether lunch is included and whether it is a return or one way trip.
Return fares from Horsham to Beulah are $200 for adults and $130 for children, including a long table three-course lunch.
The Rainbow and Jeparit trip costs $100-$130 for adults and $50-$65 for children, depending on choice of stop. Lunch is $30 extra or BYO.
There also will be an opportunity to take a shuttle over to the Murtoa Big Weekend on a $30 day return ticket from Horsham on the Saturday for those wishing to let the train take the strain.
For details visit trybooking.com/CQPCK. Bookings can be made at www.trybooking.com/events/1232933/sessions