Weekend of 5-7 Aug, 2022
The Riverlander returns steam locomotive R707 to Tocumwal and Shepparton on a not to be missed Slow Rail Journey featuring tours of the Northeast Silo Art Trail and the Murray Farm Gate Trail.
Fares from $750-$1,145
Seven-0-Seven Operations will operate a Slow Rail Journey from Melbourne to Shepparton, the Northeast Silo Art Trail and Tocumwal featuring Steam Locomotive R707 "City of Melbourne" over the weekend of 5-7 August, 2022.
Join us as the Riverlander returns to Tocumwal, Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley visiting the much acclaimed Northeast Silo Art Trail, the Murray Farm Gate Trail and Lake Mulwala.
itinerary
Step back in time onboard The Riverlander to enjoy a weekend of slow rail travel to some of Northeastern Victoria (and far Southern New South Wales)'s most beautiful townships and famous attractions.
Entering Melbourne's busy Southern Cross Station you will immediately notice our historic steam locomotive R707 and our moving museum of carriages juxtaposing the modernity and hustle surrounding. From the moment you board you'll immediately relax and enter the elegance of a bygone era.
At 10:10 pm The Riverlander will wake up the station as the whistle is sounded announcing our departure. Join your fellow travellers and tour organisers in one of two luxury Club Carriages with a welcome aboard drink and evening supper as we head north out of the city. Enjoy drinks at the bar as the train climbs the Great Dividing Range and pulls into Seymour for a resupply stop.
During the night our train will steam up the lower Goulburn Valley leaving the main Melbourne - Sydney standard gauge line at Mangalore and passing through Nagambie and Murchison East. In the very early morning we will arrive Shepparton and shunt into the freight yard for a few hours of movement free sleep.
Waking in one of Victoria's most dynamic regional cities, guests enjoy breakfast onboard before having an opportunity to explore the town, including the town's Mooovable Art display.
After a country meets modern lunch at the Terminus Hotel, guests board coaches for what is likely to be the highlight of the journey for many - the Northeast Silo Art Trail. The Northeast Silo Art Train stretches from Goorambat to Tungamah. Our tour will visit four Silo Art Installations - in Goorambat we also visit the spectacularly painted Uniting Church.
After Goorambat our tour will visit the Silo Art Installations in Devenish, St James (home to the first store opened by G.J Coles who later founded the Coles empire) and Tungamah. In addition to visiting the Silo Art Installations the tour includes a number of heritage hotel visitation opportunities!
After completing the Silo Art Tour our coaches will return us to Katunga where we will enjoy dinner in a quintessential country pub - the Clydesdale Hotel in Katunga before rejoining the train (which ran empty from Shepparton to Katunga during the afternoon).
After dinner rejoin the train for a nightcap in the bar as we steam north across the Murray and the New South Wales border to Tocumwal.
Tocumwal, once one of a couple of locations that Victorian broad gauge and New South Welsh standard gauge trains pulled into adjacent platforms, retains its historic railway station.
After a restful motionless night in your private sleeping cabin, enjoy a hearty breakfast onboard before an opportunity to explore the town - famous for the big Murray Cod and a number of Murray River beaches.
Coaches will depart mid-morning for today's exploration of the region surrounding Tocumwal before exploring the Murray Farm Gate Trail. Enjoy the the region before lunch on the Murray Farm Gate Trail and, if time permits, another Farm Gate stop.
Our coaches will return to Tocumwal in time for a mid afternoon departure to Melbourne. Relax in our luxurious lounge car, enjoy a drink at the bar or rest in your compartment as our train steams south.
Dinner, which will be sourced locally in the Goulburn Valley, will be served in the lounge car after our departure from Seymour as our train steams south out of the Goulburn Valley, through Seymour and back across the Great Dividing Range.
After dinner it is a quick run into Melbourne, Southern Cross, where our train will arrive and terminate.
fares
timetable
route map
sleeping carriages
Enjoy overnight travel aboard our fleet of heritage sleeping cars.
on-train facilities
The train will feature a fully stocked bar/club car, a luxurious lounge car and Cafe Hudson offering light snacks, espresso coffee and other refreshments along with a number of additional carriages.
locomotives
Our train to tocumwal will feature steam locomotive R707 "City of Melbourne" assisted at times by our heritage diesel fleet.
fares and booking
All sleeping car fares include linen, meals (excluding drinks), accommodation and all coach tours outlined in the itinerary above.