The Winelander or Walkerlander - Steam hauled heritage train to the Macedon Ranges

Saturday 2 April 2022

 

Join 707 Operations on our inaugral Winelander slow rail journey, a steam hauled rail journey with R 707, built in 1951 that will travel from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station to the upper Macedon Ranges for a fabulous day out tasting fine wines and enjoying amazing food. Alternatively, travel to Daylesford for a Walker railmotor-fest with the Daylesford Spa Country Railway, along the way you'll experience a relaxing journey as you travel on our operating heritage mueseum. Book your tickets here.

 

Our WINELANDER train hauled by steam locomotive R 707 will depart from Melbourne, Southern Cross station at 9.10 am on Saturday 2 April 2022, travelling to the Castlemaine, the heart of Central Victoria's cool climate boutique wineries. Step on board and enjoy morning tea as we journey North through the Great Dividing Range. As your Winelander train steams it's way through the Great Dividing Range, you'll be offered wine tastings from Heathcote's Silver Spoon Estate.

"The Silver Spoon Estate consists of over 51 acres of vines grown on 4 different vineyards on the north, south, east and west facing slopes of the Mount Camel ridgeline, 17 kilometres north of the Heathcote township. A family owned and operated boutique winery, the Silver Spoon winery focuses on the production of premium quality wines. The vineyard is named after the now abandoned Silver Spoon Mine situated on the eastern hillside. Our Estate is powered only by the sun, 100% off-grid, fully sustainable, with 100% dry-grown vineyards."


After disembarking from the Winelander at Castlemaine, you'll transfer to a waiting luxury motor coach for the very short journey to one of the region's most popular and famous wineries of today. Our excursion today will visit the beautiful Sutton Grange Winery near Harcourt, where you'll be captivated by an amazing tasting experience with the winemaker while enjoying lunch and wine pairings.

 

 

"With our vineyards flourishing amid the granite foothills of Leanganook (Mount Alexander) on the southern edge of the Bendigo region, Sutton Grange Winery combines viticulture and winemaking to create wines that are a unique expression of the site's character. The Sutton Grange vineyard is cultivated using organic methods, and the wines are traditionally handcrafted by winemaker Chris Smales. The wines combine distinctive style and interpretation with our organically grown estate fruit creating wines that express the uniqueness and characteristics of the site. Established in 1998, Sutton Grange Estate combine traditional and modern techniques, to produce two labels, Fairbank - the original name of the property in the 19th Century — and the Estate range"

Or for those taking our Walkerlander experience, from Castlemaine we will transfer to a waiting luxury motor coach for the short journey to Daylesford and the Daylesford Spa Country Railway's Walker Fest celebrating 40 years for Walker Railmotors at the Daylesford Spa Country Railway. The Walkerlander Experience includes rollingstock and restoration shed guided tours and a shuttle tour with Walker Railmotor 32RM as well as Walker Fest activities at the DSCR. Lunch is not included if you take the Daylesford option, however there are many food stalls operating adjacent to the Daylesford Railway Station.

Our travelling museum includes heritage carriages that feature open saloon and compartment style seating areas in carriages which date from the 1950's - a real opportunity for hands on interation with our museum collection of carriages. Our restored carriages feature ample personal space, a cafe and two lounge carriages will be attached and are available for passengers throughout the journey serving a wide range of beer, wines and spirits along with light snacks and tea and coffee

Our heritage moving museum train and excursion features:

- An all air-conditioned train of open saloon and compartment style seating

- A welcome aboard glass of wine (or beer) as we depart Melbourne on our journey north.

- Morning tea on board the train as we journey North towards the Sutton Grange Estate

- Lunch, wine tastings and luxury coach transfers to the beautiful Sutton Grange Estate with the Winelander

- An information session hosted by the Sutton Grange Estate, and ample time to explore the estate

- Walker railcar experience hosted by the Daylesford Spa Country Railway with the Walkerlander

- Cafe carriage and licenced Lounge carraiges

- Relaxed travel in our restored moving museum train, with ample space provided to allow you to enjoy your experience

- Heritage diesel locomotives

 

Compartment and Open Saloon Seats

This train will departing Southern Cross station 9.10 am, traveling up through the Great Dividing Range before arriving into Castlemaine at 11.15 am for our luxury coach transfer to Sutton Grange or the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.

The return journey will depart Castlemaine at 4.30 pm, and arrive back into Southern Cross Station at 7.00 pm.

Our train is a COVID-Safe environment in line with Victorian Government requirements at the time of the tour and includes enhanced cleaning of the train during the trip and refund policies.

Book your tickets here.

Winelander Fares (includes lunch, winery tastings, on-train tastings and tours)

Adult	$195
707 Operations Member	$170
Compartment (seating up to 8 adults)	$1365 per compartment

 

Walkerlander Fares (includes transfers and the Walker railmotor experience)

Adult	$100
707 Operations Member	$85
Compartment (seating up to 8 adults)	$620 per compartment

 

Castlemaine - rail only (includes on-train tastings)

Adult	$80
707 Operations Member	$65

 

Or contact us directly at contact@707operations.com.au for discounts for groups of 20 or more passengers.

Train Travel Times

To Castlemaine	Station	From Castlemaine
9.10 am	Southern Cross Station	7.00 pm
11.30 am	Castlemaine	4.30 pm

The following train times are approximate and subject to change.

We will provide booked guests with an update about the journey details and confirmed travel times 2-3 days prior to the excursion.

Book Tickets here.

Revised: 23 March 2022