New Tourist Rail

["David R. Moyle" <bigtree@optusnet.com.au>]

RAIL NEWS

The "Stringybark Express".

Despite plans to turn the  Springhurst -Wahgunyah line  into a major
interstate  rail access and by-pass route, it is still hoped that  a local
tourist rail initiative can be placed.

Plans have included   a Restaurant  Service  (like Melbourne’s and Bendigo’s
tramcar restaurant operations), purpose-built  open touring carriages,
classic road vehicles "on rail", and even horse-drawn   rail trams.

The   tourist rail  initiative would operate partly  by including
accredited franchisee  owner/operators as service providers.

As the line  has also been ear-marked for a rail trail placement,  the
operators had hoped to include that facility along with a re-greening
program.

Allowing that the  major proposals come about, the  "Stringybark Express"
operatives hope that some track running of the  tourist infrastructure would
be possible, but point  out  that  a new standard gauge  line would allow
for the resumption of the old "Rutherglen Red" wine buffs special,  visiting
steam outings, and other private ownership  passenger and tourist specials
from anywhere on the interstate network.

May 1999

INFORMATION, OFFERS OF  INTEREST:

Stringybark Express - bigtreeco@telstra.easymail.com.au