SteamRanger Heritage Railway

SteamRanger Heritage Railway runs between Mount Barker and Victor Harbor, traveling through Adelaide Hills and coastal areas with trains operating on around 140 days each year. The line uses restored steam and diesel locomotives that once served South Australia's earlier railway networks.

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.

Local volunteers from the Australian Railway Historical Society maintain the steam and diesel locomotives, tracks, and carriages while sharing their railway knowledge with visitors during their journeys.

The main station is at Mount Barker, about 20 minutes by car from Adelaide, and tickets can be purchased at stations along the route. Visitors should allow time for the full journey and be prepared for changing weather as you travel through hills and toward the coast.

On the Cockle Train service, the locomotive is turned on a 30-meter electric turntable at Victor Harbor, allowing it to head back in the opposite direction. This rare mechanical operation fascinates visitors and reveals how railways functioned before modern infrastructure.