A special Australia Day service on the Mary Valley Rattler will allow passengers to take their own trip back into Australia’s heritage past.
The 26 January service will depart Gympie Station at 10am for its scenic journey through the Mary Valley to Amamoor. It will return to Gympie Station at 1pm.
To celebrate the day, the team at the Rattler will provide entertainment on the platform before and after the train journey, while a true blue Aussie BBQ will be available at Gympie Station from 12:30pm.
Besides the BBQ, fine Aussie staples such as lamingtons, vegemite and cheese scrolls, scones and picnic baskets can be purchased for the train journey.
Riding on board the heritage steam train is like riding back in time to an era when everything was slower, a time when the Mary Valley railway line was the driving force of the community and local economy.
Plans for the railway began in the late 1860s, when the name Gympie was synonymous with gold. Initially the rail line linked Gympie to Maryborough, and in 1891, the line to Brisbane opened, servicing the region until the 1990s, when commuter and freight services ended and the new tourist railway was launched to provide visitors with the opportunity of travelling through one of Queensland’s most beautiful landscapes.
The Rattler’s 46-kilometre round trip starts at Gympie and after crossing over the Mary River, chugs its way rhythmically around an abundance of curves, across bridges and numerous gentle hills.
The journey passes through Dagun, home to a beautiful heritage station before continuing to the quaint community of Amamoor, where the train is turned on the restored turntable.
Passengers on board the Australia Day service have the opportunity of meeting the drivers, and taking in the history of Gympie Station, one of the largest and most stylish examples of timber railway architecture.
There’s a gift shop too, along with Rusty Rails Cafe offering dine in or takeaway options that can be consumed aboard the Rattler.
In addition to cafe and local shop offerings in Amamoor a trolley with light refreshments will be making its way through the carriages for on board purchases.
Perfect for the whole family, ticket prices for the Australia Day service are $65 for an adult, $35 for a child, with a special family ticket covering two adults and two children available for $175. A first-class carriage is also available with premium-service options. The Rattler is wheelchair accessible and passengers have the opportunity to bring their pet aboard as well.
Bookings and further details: (07) 5482 2750 or maryvalleyrattler.com.au
