The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre ran the trip from Yarrawonga to Benalla and back. Photo: Rene Martens
Photo by
Rene Martens
There was excitement in the air at Benalla Railway Station on Saturday, June 15 when a new heritage rail service pulled into the Rose City.
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Passengers had been picked up from Southern Cross in Melbourne and had been travelling to Yarrawonga, via Seymour.
The heritage train service travelled from Yarrawonga, before stopping in Benalla. Photo: Simon Ruppert
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
The service, organised by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, took a two-hour break in Benalla for lunch.
John Crofts helped organise the journey and said the train was made up of original 1937 Spirit of Progress carriages, and some recently-retired V/Line carriages to allow for the demand to be met.
John Crofts from the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre said he hoped to run regular heritage trains to Benalla. Photo: Simon Ruppert
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
“Today, we're doing the return from Yarrawonga to Benalla, and then we take the Yarrawonga people back home.
“Then tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon, we take the Melbourne people back to Southern Cross.”
The heritage service sold out quickly, and Mr Croft said he thought demand would only increase.
The heritage train stopped at Benalla Railway Station to allow passengers to pop in to town for lunch. Photo: Simon Ruppert
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
“I guess (there’s) a lot of pent-up demand because this is the first heritage train that's been up to Yarrawonga in a long, long time,” he said.
“We’ll be able to operate future trains to the silo art locations of Goorambat, Devenish, St James and Tungamah.
The heritage rail service stopped in Benalla. Photo: Rene Martens
Photo by
Rene Martens
“As well as Yarrawonga and also on to Oakland.
“The next one will probably not be until early autumn next year, maybe March.”
Find out more, including schedules and ticket availability via srhc.org.au
A group of train enthusiasts waited at Benalla Railway Station for the heritage train to arrive on Saturday, June 15. Photo: Rene Martens
Photo by
Rene Martens
After a couple of hours in Benalla the heritage train headed back to Yarrawonga. Photo: Rene Martens
Photo by
Rene Martens
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