Nagambie Senior Citizens Club members enjoyed the Q Train experience from Drysdale to Queenscliff on Friday, September 11.
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Nagambie Senior Citizens Club organised a Bellarine Peninsula historic Q Train trip for members and guests on Friday, September 11.
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The spring sunshine and blue skies made it a glorious spring day for an old-fashioned train ride on Australia’s famous rail restaurant.
Attendees were taken by bus under the capable driving of Matt from Seymour Passenger Services.
He gave the passengers a treat en-route to their destination by going along Eastern beach Rd in Geelong, where they admired the picturesque waterfront and calm waters of the bay before heading to Drysdale Station.
At Drysdale vintage railway station, close to 100 tourist passengers stepped into decommissioned Sunlander carriages from Queensland which were restored from 2016.
They were pulled by a restored steam locomotive 3620 that was transported from Queensland in 2020.
The locomotive was originally made in Glasgow and was worked by the South African Railways until being moved to Australia.
Passengers enjoyed learning about the history of the locomotive.
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Since 2020, it has found a new home and vintage train enthusiasts have been able to enjoy this old style rail experience thanks to the engineers and crew of the vintage railway.
Passengers enjoyed being on board the restored carriages that sparked off nostalgic memories of romance and endless charm.
The rail route showed off the spring countryside and met up with the waters of Port Philip Bay at Queenscliff.
The leisurely culinary journey featured a five-course gourmet delights menu, cooked on board by the chefs, and the seniors were impressed by the delicious variety and tastes of the courses.
They also enjoyed the exemplary hospitality of the hosts, restaurant crew and staff who made the journey warm, welcoming and memorable.
The rail enthusiasts found out that, for many decades, volunteers from the Bellarine Peninsula Railway have maintained locomotives, carriages and infrastructure, ensuring the railway’s survival as a tourist attraction, and heritage after it was closed as a public railway.
The dream of one of the presidents from Bellarine Peninsula Railway was to have a tourist railway and restaurant.
After years of hard work by him, his experienced railway supporters and creative restaurant members of his family, the dream became a reality.
The history of this restoration is well recorded along the route of the railway.
After a short break at Queenscliff Station, the locomotive moved to the other end of the train to lead the return journey back to Drysdale.
This gave the passengers the chance to see the steam locomotive up close and personal. It was like history in motion.
This relaxed trip with sensational food, brilliant staff service and some of Victoria’s scenic beauty, made it a pleasurable journey for those who came along, who would recommend the Q Train restaurant ride to anyone.
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