By Kath Gannaway
VISITORS to the Healesville Railway Heritage Festival took a step back – or several steps back for some of the younger ones – to less complicated times.
The Yarra Valley Railway (YVR) presented the event, which was launched last year.
Displays of local history, woodcarving, blacksmithing, classic cars and wool spinning – as well as regional food and wine marquees – found a home among a bygone era of steam road engines and rail transport.
Helicopter rides provided the alternative, and a bird’s-eye view of the festival.
In a return to its comparatively short heritage, Yarra Valley FM99.1 added to the atmosphere, broadcasting from a goods van at the rail siding. The community radio station’s first home almost 21 years ago, was at the disused railway station.
YVR president Brett Morton and secretary Dan O’Connor were delighted with the success of the event, which built up a good head of steam on Sunday after a bit of a slow chug due to the weather on the Saturday.
Mr O’Connor estimated a crowd of around 4000.
“People came from all over Yarra Ranges and Melbourne with lots of families involved,” he said.
Mr Morton said the railways’ Walker RM22 rail motor, which has been on the rails since July, was undoubtedly a highlight.
“We were overrun with people wanting to get on board,” Mr Morton said.
The railway will operate during the school holidays, with trolley rides from Wednesday to Friday and railmotor rides on the weekends.
