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Friday, March 29, 2024

All aboard a slice of Aussie rail history

Have you ever considered taking a scenic train journey in regional NSW?

Until I met Canberra couple Simon and Danielle of Vintage Rail Journeys, I hadn’t.

But after hearing their story I’m thoroughly intrigued by the concept – and in this time of COVID-19, the romance of domestic train travel has become even more appealing for many people.

Danielle and train buff, Simon – brought together through their shared love of brass instruments, both are well-travelled musicians – had been enjoying an early retirement in France when one day Simon…. well, he bought a train!

And not just any old train – his winning auction bid secured the couple a true slice of Australian rail history.

The gloriously iconic Southern Aurora was an overnight express passenger train that first ran between Sydney and Melbourne in the swinging 1960s before it was retired from service in 1986.

It’s a truly gorgeous train – even to those of us who don’t know their baggage car from their caboose – sleek to the hilt in stainless steel, and now highly primped and polished thanks to Simon, Danielle and their dedicated renovation teams.

Aurora Australis … a star is reborn

Guests onboard enjoy a drink in one of the Aurora Australis’ heritage bar carriages.

The 400m-long train has been lovingly restored to its former glory, including such timeless touches as the refurbishment of its original 60s wallpaper – it’s woven vinyl for those interested in heritage details.

Simon and Danielle have been mindful of keeping the famous train’s beautiful mid-century vintage features, while adding their own modern touches for the comfort of their passengers who will be ‘all aboard’ for the ex-Southern Aurora’s maiden journey in September.

“It took six months to restore each carriage,” explains Simon.

“The work was done in Goulburn, we hired an incredible team of over 50’s, all with a ton of life experience and attention to detail – and they did an amazing job… right down to repairing parts of the wallpaper where ladies had rested their feet, with their stilettos at the time making small dents in the walls.”

The train had been due to depart on its first Vintage Rail Journeys adventure in April when the pandemic hit.

The couple, along with their loyal passengers – among them the Purchasing Officer of the original 1962 Southern Aurora train! – have been patiently waiting for the go-ahead to embark on their first journey, which is now just around the corner.

But come September, the train – renamed Aurora Australis by its new custodians – will be ready to welcome its very first 136 passengers for what will be a truly memorable experience.

On September 9, the train – complete with 40 onboard staff to cater to your every whim – will be embarking on a 4-night/5-day, 1,500 kilometre ‘Golden West’ tour, which will be followed by a glorious Riverina tour in October.

Onboard you'll have a selection of locally sourced wines and fresh regional produce.
Onboard you’ll have a selection of locally sourced wines,
partnered with delicious regional produce.

And these will be no run-of-the-mill rail experiences.

You’ll visit some of the state’s true regional treasures – from the delightful bespoke alpaca wool mill at Orange, to the experience of a live Henry Lawson theatre show and supper in Gulgong.

“We have curated the journeys entirely for our guests’ enjoyment – and to open up opportunities for these wonderful communities we visit,” explains Danielle.

“The Buy from the Bush campaign is something that aligns beautifully with our vision for our company.”

“When designing our journeys, we have travelled extensively to all the towns we stop at, and found some true hidden gems.”

Cellar door visits are another popular drawcard of the rail tours, with passengers able to enjoy some of Australia’s finest regional wines both onboard and off.

“The wine list has been carefully selected to reflect the areas we visit as we travel – so, as we head toward the Hunter Valley, the wines served onboard will be wines sourced from the Valley,” says Danielle.

“Then as we move on toward Orange, the guests will be able to enjoy wines from the Orange region.”

Onboard chef, Scotty, is an Orange local, and even harvests his own tomatoes to make a delectable relish exclusively for Aurora Australis guests.

Scotty’s onboard menu is a succulent mix of fresh, regional produce – from Mudgee lamb to mouthwatering roasted seasonable vegetables and desserts.

Once onboard, you’ll unpack and unwind as the beautifully restored Aurora Australis carries you away …

Travel in air-conditioned heritage style…

The train doesn’t travel overnight – meaning you’ll get a good night’s sleep.

“Trying to find somewhere to park a 400m train was hard,” laughs Simon of the train’s overnight arrangements during the rail tours.

And each day there’s around 5-6 hours for you to explore your surroundings, along with some wonderful planned activities – many of them exclusive to Vintage Rail Journeys passengers.

“In Griffith, we’ll leave the train and head to the farm of well-known local chef, Luke Piccolo of the famous Limone Dining restaurant,” says Danielle.

Each day guests will have 5-6 hours
to explore each destination on their Vintage Rail Journeys tour…

“Luke will host us for breakfast, serving fabulous local bacon at the Piccolo Family Farm in an al fresco setting.”

And for those keen for a few cellar door visits or a spot of shopping – the train has a luggage van with plenty of room for carrying your extra purchases home!

On the Golden West tour, passengers will leave the train to spend three glorious hours on the historic Riverboat Postman on the Hawkesbury River.

A sumptuous lunch will be served on the water, as the famous postal boat delivers mail and other essentials to the river access-only settlements.

The boat is skippered by locals who have lived in the area their entire lives – so there’ll be no lack of entertaining anecdotes for those who enjoy a good yarn while cruising.

Keeping with the heritage theme, a vintage 1950’s bus also accompanies the train on its travels – meeting up with the vintage train whenever it stops and transporting passengers easily to and from local town centres.

“We also make use of local school buses wherever we stop, as they have wider doors and lower entrance steps which makes getting on and off much easier for our guests,” says Danielle.

In terms of COVID measures, all Vintage Rail Journeys staff have received COVID safety training and there’s also a nurse onboard at all times. Group gatherings onboard will be spaced apart within the train’s two 48-seat dining carriages to ensure social distancing is easily maintained.

So, now all that’s really left to ask is – what are you waiting for?!

For touring dates still available this year and more details about each of the rail tours – simply follow this link to the Vintage Rail Journeys website : www.vintagerailjourneys.com.au

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