Departing Newport, Southern Cross, Flinders Street, Caulfield, Dandenong or Pakenham stations, the train will steam from the heart of Melbourne through to the rapidly expanding southeastern suburbs. Reminiscent of the glory days of ‘The Gippslander’ an express run will be had towards through forests and farms, arriving into the city of Bairnsdale at midday, some 275 kilometres from Melbourne.

Explore Bairnsdale and find lunch at your leisure while the team prepares the train for the return journey. It is encouraged to book ahead for lunch in Bairnsdale.

Departing Bairnsdale in the evening, they will head for a brief stop in Traralgon to reattach the steam locomotive for the spirited run home towards Melbourne, off into the sunset towards the lights of the city. A history making day of rail travel culminates with the sights and sounds of steam over the Flinders Street Viaduct, skirting one of Victoria’s most iconic waterways, the Yarra River, marking the end of our journey.