Australia Maximum Steam

Eight steam trains on five gauges including four steam charters, plus the special 25th year of the fabulous Maitland Steam Festival . Stay: Melbourne, Sydney and Wickham, for Maitland. (Choose to extend your stay if you wish.)

A comprehensive look at some of the best active steam preservation lines in New South Wales and Victoria, many featuring classic British-built locos on no less than five gauges. The four exclusive steam charters ensure daily action plus enjoy two days at Australia’s largest steam festival in Maitland.

This tour is now FULL; please contact us to register your interest in a similar tour to Australia in 2011.

Day 1 Lunchtime flight from London Heathrow to Melbourne. Day 2 Arrive Melbourne late afternoon and transfer to our hotel near Southern Cross station for four nights stay. (B) Day 3 By rail to Castlemaine for a special mixed train steam charter with a J or K class 2-8-0 over a typical Australian branch line, photo run-bys included – the 10 mile line to Maldon is ours for the day! (B) Day 4 By road to Queenscliff for the 3’6” gauge Bellarine Peninsula Railway. We have requested their ex-South Australian “T” class 4-8-0 to be in action. Opportunity to ride and lineside. En-route back to Melbourne we shall call in the see the extensive collection of broad gauge (5’3”) locos at the Williamstown Railway Museum. (B) Day 5 By local train to Belgrave for the 2’6” Puffing Billy Railway. They usually have three engines in steam including a Garratt. We shall ride the full length of the line to Gembrook before traveling by road to the Mornington Railway to see their attractive green liveried broad gauge K class 2-8-0 in action. (B) Day 6 By rail the 600 miles from Melbourne to Sydney by Australian-built HST. We stay four nights at our hotel just yards from Central Station. (B) Day 7 By rail to Picton where we have arranged a special steam charter on the steeply graded line to Thirlemere, run-bys en-route. Thirlmere is home to the huge New South Wales Rail Transport Museum featuring over 40 locomotives. Return later in the day to Picton using a 1926 vintage railmotor, then onward by local train back to Sydney. (B) Day 8 A rail journey into the scenic Blue Mountains for the 3’6” gauge Zig-Zag Railway and a ride behind steam over the original switchback line to Lithgow. (B) Day 9 By local train to the 610mm gauge Illawarra Light Railway for a special steam charter using two of their five steam locos. The collection features Baldwin, Hudswell Clark and Hawthorn Leslie locos. (B) Day 10 Travel by local train to Valley Heights for a special steaming of the amazing 1891 Sydney steam tram engine at the depot. After returning to Sydney we take a late afternoon train to Wickham near Newcastle for three night’s hotel accommodation just 35 minutes by diesel railcar from Maitland. (B) Day 11 2010 sees the 25th Anniversary of the Maitland Steamfest with even more action than ever before: at least four big engines in steam with regular runs to Newcastle, Paterson and a double header on the Sunday to Branxton. We have included two return steam rides in the tour cost. In addition there will be a vintage railmotor providing trips, traction engines in action, stands, exhibits and much more over the two day event. (B) Day 12 Sunday is also spent at the amazing Maitland Steam Festival. (B) Day 13 We hope to be able to ride behind steam from Maitland to either Cowra or Thirlmere. Details and cost will be advised as soon as we receive them; they will most likely be double headed as two locos from each location will be attending the festival. Alternatively, ride the regular train to Sydney with a day Sydney Pass to explore the city by rail, bus and ferry. (B) Day 14 Morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for the afternoon flight back to London Heathrow, arriving the following morning. (B) Holiday Inn on Flinders, Melbourne In the heart of Melbourne just yards from Southern Cross Station and the attractive waterfront of the Yarra River the hotel is on a quiet side street. Features include an outdoor pool, sauna, laundry facilities, rooms include tea/coffee maker, iron and ironing board, hairdryer and minibar. A full cooked buffet breakfast is included. The hotel’s Sirocco Bar and Restaurant is open daily while Melbourne’s many restaurants are within a short stroll. Marque Hotel, Sydney Recently completely renovated, this hotel is situated across the square from the main railway station and a few minutes walk from the lovely setting of Darling Harbour with its many restaurants. Buffet breakfast is included each morning in the hotels Script Restaurant. While across the road is a classic Australian Bistro offering very reasonably priced meals – always a favourite when our groups stay here. Rooms included tea/coffee maker and minibar or just relax around the rooftop swimming pool. Ibis Hotel, Newcastle (for Maitland) On the edge of the historic centre of Newcastle, New South Wales, this modern hotel is just metres from Wickham train station which offers direct service to Sydney and the Maitland. Rooms offer tea/coffee making facilities while the hotel has its own bar and bistro style restaurant where buffet breakfast is also served while just a short stroll away is the Honeysuckle Foreshore and Precinct with other restaurants.