ONCE on display at Bendigo Station, Steamrail Victoria is firing up the engine R711 Spirit of Bendigo for a weekend of locomotive tours next month.<\/p>\n
Established in 1965, the not-for-profit organisation runs tours all over Victoria, preserving, restoring and operating classic steam, diesel and electric trains and carriages.<\/p>\n
Board member Jeremy Lavery said the trains serve as \u201cmovable heritage\u201d and turn heads wherever they go.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty much everything we\u2019ve run this year has sold out, possibly due to the COVID situation I guess because people can\u2019t travel as much, but they still want something to do and experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also just a bit of a throwback to a simpler time and equipment that\u2019s not so sterile as the modern stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou open the windows, smell the smoke and steam that wafts through the carriages. It\u2019s a full experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
The R711 Spirit of Bendigo engine first started service in 1951, hauling passengers and freight trains through North Melbourne.<\/p>\n
In the 80s, the R711 replaced the R766 outside Bendigo Station, where it remained on show, owned by the City of Greater Bendigo.<\/p>\n
In 1995 West Coast Railway obtained and restored the engine for passenger services in Warrnambool and when WCR folded in 2004, the City granted a lease of the train to Steamrail Victoria, with volunteers maintaining the engine in Newport.<\/p>\n
Now, Bendigo locals will have the chance to experience the historical train when it comes to town from 20 to 23 August.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re coming up to Bendigo on the Friday, we\u2019ll be doing some short shuttle trips up there on the Saturday as well as a day trip to Echuca and back to Bendigo,\u201d Mr Lavery said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSunday we\u2019ll be running day trips from Bendigo to Woodvale, five of those and then Monday we\u2019ll head home back to Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n