Goldlander Steam Hauled Train from Melbourne to Ballarat - 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria
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The Goldlander to Wendouree and the Ballarat Heritage Festival

Sunday 29 May 2022

Travel with Seven-O-Seven Operations on the Goldlander (a steam hauled Slow Rail Journey) to Wendouree (and Ballarat) visiting to the Ballarat Heritage Festival - including a rare that to experience two steam trains running side by side - on Sunday 29 May 2022. Book your tickets here.

What better way to travel to the Ballarat Heritage Festival than on a steam train, sitting in heritage air-conditioned (and heated) carriages designed and built in the 1950's for famous Victorian Railways trains such as the Spirit of Progress. The Goldlander will be hauled by steam locomotive R707 which was built in 1951 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, Scotland. R707 will be assisted at times by a guest heritage diesel locomotive.

During our stop in Ballarat, you will have time to experience some of the activities and events held at the 2022 Ballarat Heritage Festival. The Ballarat Heritage Festival celebrates the city's history drawing on Ballarat's reputation as a historic Australian city. There are a range of FREE events (some of which require tickets and have capacity limits) run as part of the festival. There is a wide range of Exhibitions, Family Activities, Music Shows, Talks and Tours - something to excite everyone! We recommend you plan your visit to the festival using the Heritage Festival's calendar of events noting that some events require tickets and have capacity restrictions. Secure your spot by booking tickets to each event as they will be sure to book out fast.

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For those not visiting the festival there is so much to do in Ballarat - explore the city's galleries, museums, cafes, and history, including the Ballarat Tramway Museum through the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. At Wendouree, there is an opportunity to visit the Ballarat Tram Museum's depot and see their fantastic new facilities which are nearing completion.

On our way to Wendouree, we will stop at Ballarat Station for the option of make it a 'steamy day'. Our train will arrive at Ballarat in time for guests to connect with the Steamrail Victoria steam hauled shuttle train departing at 12.45 pm travelling from Ballarat to Lal Lal and return. To travel on the Steamrail train, you'll need to make your own reservation here.

For our return train from Wendouree to Melbourne will not be able to stop at Ballarat to pick up guests - a range of public transport options, including the 2.46 V/Line Ballarat to Wendouree service are avaliable for guests to travel from Ballarat to Wendoure for our return journey. Why can't we stop at Ballarat on the return journey? To make what will most likely be the highlight of the trip possible. Guests onboard the Goldlander will have the rare opportunity to experience two steam hauled trains running side-by-side.

After leaving Wendouree (3.30 pm), the Goldlander will run into the Ballarat yard where it will meet the Steamrail shuttle train to Lal Lal that will depart Ballarat at 3:45 pm for a parallel run of both steam locomotives climbing the Warrenheip bank from Ballarat East to Warrenheip. It's rare that an opportunity to experience two steam trains running side-by-side - something that does not often occur in Victoria. This is one opportunity you will not want to miss!

The Goldlander will feature open saloon and compartment style seating areas in carriages which date from the 1950's. Our cafe carriage and licenced lounge carriages are available for all passengers throughout the journey serving a wide range of beer, wine and spirits, along with hot and cold snack foods, confectionary, tea and coffee and a selection of souvenirs.

Our heritage train & excursion features:

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

- Cafe Hudson offering a range of snacks, drinks and souvenirs

- Licenced lounge carriages

- Steam hauled train (R 707) with a guest heritage diesel locomotive

- A relaxed vintage travel atmosphere

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Private Compartment and Open Saloon Seats

 

Book your tickets here.

Fares

Adult Return - Melbourne (Southern Cross) to Wendouree $99
Adult One-Way $60 (Limited seats available)
Child Return (4 to 16 yrs) $45 (Must be accompanied by an adult in the same booking)
Child (under 4 yrs) Free
707 Operations Member $85 (One member fare per membership card issued)
Compartment (seating up to 8 adults) $600 per compartment

 

Group discounts and carriage hire:

Contact 707 Operations directly by emailing contact@707operations.com.au for generous discounts if booking for groups of 20 or more, or full carriage hire.

Train Travel Times - to be confirmed

The following train times are approximate and subject to change. Please visit our website two days prior to departure to check for any updates.

To Ballarat/Wendouree
From Wendouree
8.33 am Southern Cross Station
6.00 pm
11.10 am Ballarat Express
11.40 pm Wendouree 3.30 pm

Please remember that the train from Wendouree to Melbourne will not pick up passengers in Ballarat. To connect, please use the V/Line 2.46 pm Ballarat to Wendoure service.

COVIDSafe Travel

You'll also notice some subtle (but necessary) changes as you travel with us in 2022. We've adopted a COVID-Safe plan in line with Government requirements. You'll notice extra on-train cleaning, extra hand sanitising and some capacity limits on all of our future journeys. Our volunteers will be on hand to make the check-in and travel process as streamlined as possible, but we do ask for your cooperation to follow all published guidelines when on board our trains.

The health and safety of our passengers and volunteer train staff are of utmost importance to us. For travel on any future day or overnight excursion all guests over the age of 16 must show their COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition of entry to boarding any train service. The quickest and easiest way to show proof of vaccination is by adding your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app.

If you don't have a smartphone or are unable to use one, there are additional non-digital proof of vaccination status options available including an official copy of your Australian Immunisation Register vaccination certificate or a printed copy of your digital vaccination certificate from myGov.

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/get-your-covid-19-digital-certificate to find out more.

Refund Policy
There are no refunds available for passengers who are unable to show proof of being fully vaccinated prior to boarding the train.

Medical Exemptions
If you have an exemption, please provide it at the time of booking via email to contact@707operations.com.au and present it at the time of boarding. Please ensure your medical exemption is valid and signed by a medical practitioner.

We ask that any guests who are booked to travel with Seven-O-Seven Operations that experience cold or flu like symptoms in the week prior to our departure date please contact our office on 0420 806 820 for advice before travelling.

Book Tickets here.

Revised: 14 April 2022