Goldfields Railway, VICTORIA
Airing Date: Sep 12th, 2005
The gold rush of the 1800's was responsible for the birth of the Victorian goldfields town of Maldon located 137km north-west of Melbourne. Gold was first discovered around Mt Tarrangower in 1853 and in 1862 and the township of Tarrangower was renamed Maldon.
The rail line to Maldon was originally opened in 1888 and was part of an extensive railway system which served rural Victoria and provided transport for both goods and passengers from around 1880 through to the 1970's.
The use of road motor transport reduced the isolation of rural areas and the demand for rail services in the region waned until the eventual closure of the line in December 1976. Local residents and rail enthusiasts were keen to preserve the line and so even . before its official closure they formed the Castlemaine & Maldon Railway Preservation Society.
Nowadays, the Victorian Goldfields Railway offers train enthusiasts the opportunity to drive a steam locomotive on the former Victorian Railways Castlemaine to Maldon Broad-Gauge Branchline in the Mount Alexander Shire. Would be drivers get to assist in lighting the engine, shunting and driving the train. And at the end of the day you get a certificate to say you have driven the locomotive!
The course runs between Maldon and Muckleford a distance of 8 kilometres. After leaving Maldon, the line passes through open Eucalyptus State forest dotted with numerous reminders of the gold mining era before opening out on grazing land around Muckleford Station. With a ruling gradient of 1 in 40 the line climbs some of the steepest gradients left in Victoria!
One of the locomotives that you are able to drive is the K160. The K class were built by Newport Workshops in Melbourne in two batches.
The first batch was built in 1920 and the second in the 1940's. To create the steam it uses around 4,200 gallons or 19,093 litres of water, which is equivalent of around 10,607 standard kettles. It also uses around five tonnes of coal which is around the weight of a large Asian male elephant or 4 medium sized cars!!
Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine gives the young and the young at heart the chance to get up close to their favourite Thomas the Tank Engine characters. These include steam engines Jeremy and Kevin, diesel friend Freddy, Terry the coach friends, little Sebastian the Trolley and Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller. There are three Friends of Thomas days a year, the next one is in October and they cost $19 for adults and $8 for kids.
Further information
Steam Train Driver Experience, from $955 a person.
This includes lunch.
Victorian Goldfields Railway, telephone: 03 5475 2966.
Rooms at Eaglehawk Motel Maldon are from $90 a night.
This includes breakfast.
Telephone: 1800 801 017.
Prices correct at 12/9/05
Package to Melbourne from $270 ex Sydney, $272 ex Adelaide, $353 ex Brisbane, $529 ex Perth. Based on twin share. This includes surcharges, fees & taxes. Conditions apply. Includes two days car hire. Book by 27/1/06. Travel by 31/1/06
Qantas Holidays, telephone: 13 14 15
Prices correct at 23/8/05
