The Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) is in for a bumper year with the ever popular steam train back on the tracks.
Visitors are catching up on missed rides, celebrating delayed birthdays and experiencing riding beside the driver. Bookings are almost sold out for the incredibly popular Ales on Rails and Murder on the Orient Express. Tickets are still available in May for a ride on Victorian Colonial Express; one of Victoria’s oldest railway carriages dating back to the 1880s.
Last Saturday, VGR hosted a 70th birthday with over 70 guests aboard the heritage steam train with the words’ Happy Birthday Max’ scrawled across the engine.
Photo: Tarrangower Times
The event was fully catered and included the use of the newly restored Archeron first-class carriage and two bars.
Sharon Martin, VGR Administrator, Customer Service and Events Management Coordinator, told the Times, “It’s always great to have the steam train back. We’ve had to give a lot of refunds and gift certificates over the past two years, and now people are coming back.
“For the past year, the trains have been running from Castlemaine to Maldon, which works well. People can now travel to Castlemaine by V-Line and not have to worry about driving or parking their cars. It does mean we’re only running one train now instead of two.
“We’re really trying to make sure we squeeze everyone in; we don’t want anyone to miss out. We’ve had to add an extra two sessions of the Murder on the Orient Express trips, and Ales on Rails is booked out until June.”
The dedicated volunteers on the historic railway are always looking for newcomers to join the team, so if anyone is interested, there are roles to suit all interests, from Stewards to traffic management or customer service; no previous skills are required.
There’s also a Young Volunteers Program running for people 14 years or older (14-16 year-olds must have a parent or guardian present), which includes exciting opportunities to help with train restoration, work in the mechanical department or on the track gang.
For more information, contact Victorian Goldfields Railway on 5470 6658 or email info@vgr.com.au.
You can see more photos at www.tarrangowertimes.com.au/.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 11 March 2022.
