SteamRanger Heritage Railway, Heritage railway in Mount Barker, South Australia.
SteamRanger Heritage Railway is an 82-kilometre 1600 mm broad-gauge tourist line from Mount Barker to Victor Harbor via Strathalbyn, Goolwa and Port Elliot. It is operated by the South Australian Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society and uses restored steam and diesel locomotives, including the Red Hen railcars, on the former South Australian Railways Victor Harbor line.
The railway was established to preserve South Australia's rail transport history, featuring restored vehicles from the region's early railway development era. It documents a period when rail services formed the backbone of regional transportation and commerce.
The line is run by the not-for-profit South Australian Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society, formed in June 1952. By the 1960s the society was running up to 20 trains a year, and it took over locomotive maintenance when South Australian Railways ended steam in April 1966. Volunteers staff the trains and depot today.
Trains run from Mount Barker station, whose derelict building was renovated by the District Council of Mount Barker as SteamRanger's headquarters. The line continues through Strathalbyn, Goolwa, Port Elliot and Victor Harbor. Because the broad-gauge link to Adelaide's suburban network was cut in 1995, access is by road, so plan the journey around the drive rather than a city train connection.
The Cockle Train between Goolwa and Victor Harbor is an additional SteamRanger service. At Victor Harbor the locomotive is turned on a 30-metre electric turntable so it can lead the return trip, a manoeuvre passengers can watch from the platform.
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