Australia Southern Steam Spectacular

We anticipate our train to depart Southern Cross Station at approx.

6am on the 19th May. Why not enjoy a convenient overnight stay right across the road from the station?

 Welcome to the Spectacular! Board your train at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station and settle in as your train heads south to North Geelong where it swings right.

You will soon pass over the spectacular Moorabool Viaduct. The 440-metre (1,440 ft) long bluestone and iron viaduct was opened in 1862 to carry the Geelong-Ballarat railway over the river valley. It remains in use today, having been reinforced with extra steel piers in 1918, to a design of Victorian Railways Engineer, Frederick Esling.

Having passed through Gheringhap we’ll arrive in Ballarat. We’ll stop in Ballarat for approximately one hour for a locomotive change before heading to historic Maryborough Station for a brief leg stretch.

The train will then head into the country onto lines that no longer support regular passenger services.

This will be the first time since 1970 that a Victorian K class locomotive has hauled a train to Sea Lake. At Wycheproof, the line will veer right into the middle of the Calder Highway which runs right through the middle of the town!

This unusual arrangement is unique to only two towns in Australia, the other being Rockhampton.

After a short technical stop, we will arrive in Sea Lake. Transfer by coach to Swan Hill where the rest of your evening is at leisure to explore and enjoy dinner.

Overnight: Swan Hill Resort/Comfort Inn Lady Augusta, Swan Hill (B, L)

After breakfast, we travel by coach back to Wycheproof. We’ll have some time to explore this charming little town and take photos of the train waiting for us right in the middle of the main street!

Board the train for the journey to Maryborough where we’ll stop for approximately one hour, time enough to soak up the extraordinary architecture and history of this grand station.

This is also your chance to see the 133 year-old locomotive Y112 join the train for the short journey to Ballarat.
Have your camera ready as we’ll now have three locomotives hauling our train!
In Ballarat we will have another hourlong stop and locomotive change before heading back to Melbourne via North Geelong.

A mid-evening arrival is anticipated. Your hotel is located conveniently across the road from Southern Cross Station.

Overnight: Quality Hotel Batmans Hill on Collins, Melbourne (B, L, D)

 This morning we return to Southern Cross Station for a short mystery tour before heading to the Newport Heritage Railway workshops.
This facility is the home to Steamrail Victoria and 707 Operations Inc. You will have the unique opportunity to privately inspect the sheds and see the collection and maintenance facilities up close.

A BBQ lunch will be provided by the Rotary Club of Williamstown before we re-board our train and return to Melbourne.

The rest of your day and evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Quality Hotel Batmans Hill on Collins, Melbourne (B, L)

Today we head north passing through the Elphinstone Tunnel.
385 metres (1,263 ft) long, the tunnel was built in brick and bluestone as a double-track horseshoe profile tunnel and completed in 1860.

Before our arrival at Castlemaine we will cross the giant Taradale Viaduct. This large wrought iron box girder bridge over Back Creek was erected as part of the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway between 1858 and 1861 and was at the time one of the largest rail bridges built in Australia.

At Castlemaine, we’ll disembark and change trains for the Victorian Goldfields Railway. Heading west, we hope (time permitting) to disembark at Muckleford where our train will reverse then run past the station allowing us some atmospheric photo opportunities.

We’ll then re-board for the short journey to Maldon. This charming gold rush era town is a short walk from the station and retains much of its original Edwardian character.
Here you will have plenty of time to explore, shop and have lunch on your own.

In the mid-afternoon we’ll regroup at the station where our coaches will be waiting to transfer us to Bendigo.

After checking-in, coaches will be on hand to transfer those wishing to explore Bendigo and have dinner in town (our hotel is approx. 1.5km from the CBD).

Overnight: Mercure Schaller Bendigo (B)

Enjoy a free morning to explore as you wish.
Coaches will be on hand to transfer you from our hotel to the station for our lunchtime departure, or you may wish to meet us there.

Lunch today is at your own expense.
This afternoon we will make a little bit of history as this will be the first time in six decades that a Victorian A2 class locomotive has hauled a train to Echuca!
On arrival in Echuca we’ll transfer by coach to the nearby port where we will embark on one of three Murray River paddle wheelers.

Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Murray with refreshments and beverages, before returning to the port we will transfer to our hotels for check-in.

Take some time to relax and freshen up before joining your fellow travellers for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Mercure/Quest, Echuca (B, D)

After breakfast we’ll transfer to the station to re-join our train.

We’ll travel back to Bendigo for a short stop to add an additional locomotive.

Heading further south we’ll pass through the 390-metre-long (1,280 ft) Big Hill Tunnel which was completed in 1860, located between Kangaroo Flat and Ravenswood.
Enjoy lunch aboard as we re-trace our journey to Melbourne and the end of our adventure.

A mid to late afternoon arrival at Southern Cross Station is anticipated, where we say farewell to our fellow travellers and the great trains of the Southern Steam Specular. (B, L)