General News
13 October, 2023
Heritage train delights
Over 400 people took advantage of last weekend’s beautiful spring weather, stepping back in time and journeying to Murtoa’s Big Weekend via a historic 1920’s locomotive train dubbed “The Wimmera Weekender” Hosted by Seymour Railway...
Over 400 people took advantage of last weekend’s beautiful spring weather, stepping back in time and journeying to Murtoa’s Big Weekend via a historic 1920’s locomotive train dubbed “The Wimmera Weekender”
Hosted by Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, the 1920s locomotive offered passengers the chance to travel in style, embarking on a four-day adventure from Melbourne to the Wimmera, and back, visiting various stations and attractions.
The train chugged along between the Silo Art Trail’s Horsham, Murtoa, Warracknabeal, Beulah, Hopetoun, Sheep Hills and Rosebery, and ferried Big Weekend visitors from nearby towns to the various Murtoa events via four shuttle services.
“It was a good weekend,” Seymour Railway Heritage Centre president John Crofts said.
“The train has a capacity of 250-300 people, and on Saturday we carried 450 people across the four shuttles from Horsham to Murtoa.
“On the Sunday, we had 220 passengers throughout the day.
“Some went to Murtoa, Warracknabeal and Horsham, while others went through to Hopetoun and Halls Gap.”
Departing Melbourne on Friday August 6, Mr Crofts said there were not as many passengers who joined them for the entire journey as he would have liked.
“The numbers were a little disappointing,” he said.
“But we learned a lesson there in marketing sooner next time.
“Overall it was a successful journey.
“We’d love to come back to the region regularly for other events and to bring the train for all shires’ benefit.”