An experience dating back over 70 years is headed for Wagga this June in the form of the Picnic Train.
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The old-world style steam train has undergone upgrades to get it back on the tracks in all its glory, and is scheduled to make its way through the city and surrounding towns for one weekend only.
Run by a group of volunteers, the Picnic Train has almost completed upgrades that train organiser Sam Roach said took a great deal of time, effort and money.
"Over the last couple of years we've been rebuilding the steam engine, and it was running on Kiama rails for a while but since then we had to rebuild it from the ground up," he said.
"We've put about $200,000 into it with the help of a $50,000 grant from Transport Heritage NSW."
Mr Roach said the Picnic Train is set to hit the tracks again soon before making its way to the Riverina.
"It's just about done, we're launching it on Mothers' Day in the Hunter Valley, then heading over to Junee with a charter group in June so we thought why not use our time here free to take Wagga guests around the area," he said.
With a capacity of 3,000 seats, Mr Roach said the trips will give the general public an historic experience that many would never get to enjoy, featuring classic open-style windows, throwing coals into the engine pit, and watching steam bellow past the carriages.
"It's all about the steam engine really, most young people haven't seen them and we make them short trips so it's kid friendly at a much more affordable rate," he said.
"They get to see what it was like 67 years ago, the steam engine is 70 years old dating back to 1952, and the carriages are about 90 years old - the train was actually one of the very last in Australia that went into service, with carriages imported from America."
The Picnic Train will run 10 trips out of Wagga over the weekend of June 1 and 2, travelling to Harefield and Uranquinty for hour-long journeys, plus a slightly longer ride out to Cootamundra.
Mr Roach said it was not an opportunity to pass up.
"It's looking to be a one-off trip that only came about because of the big charter group we're taking to Junee, so it was right place right time," he said.
"But if it's really popular, we'll consider coming back again - we've had a lot of interest already."
Tickets are on sale now through the Picnic Train website.
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