Limestone Coast Railway: Lisa McAskill visits the Limestone Coast region in the South East of South Australia
On a cloudy overcast day a forty tonne piece of railway history pulls into the station. For many Adelaideans it brings back memories of waiting at the platform for the morning run into the city. The difference here is that Adelaide's four hundred and fifty kilometres away and these passengers aren't bound for another stressful day at work. They are ready to relax on a trip from Mount Gambier to Tantanoola.
Volunteers in an organisation known as the Limestone Coast Railway run the train. It began in 1998 running trips from Mount Gambier through the vineyards of the Coonawarra to Penola. It recently branched out on another spur line through lush green pasture country from the Mount to Tantanoola.
The railway uses 300 and 400 Class rail cars affectionately known as “Red Hens”. They were built at Islington between 1958 and 1971 used to run on Adelaide’s suburban lines.
The cars making up our train are numbers 405 and 334 and they used to run to places like Gawler, Noarlunga Centre and Bridgewater - when the line was still in use. Today they rock and roll their way through dairy country where the Friesian cows lead an idyllic life - only occasionally interrupted by a quick blast on the train horn.
The driver on our service is Bill Towner, one of the original volunteers. And it’s clear, Bill has as much fun as his passengers.
“It's been in my blood for many years,” said Bill with a smile. “As a passenger it's so relaxing. You don't have to worry about concentrating on driving a motor vehicle on the road with all the traffic.”
“And as a driver it's quite a thrill actually to be able to operate such a big powerful machine. There is a lot of safety involved and we are very much aware of that.
The trip to Tantanoola gives you some idea of what makes the region tick. The forestry industry began here back in the early 1880s when the early forestry pioneers discovered pinus radiata did particularly well in South Australian soil. It's been a major industry in the State's southeast ever since.
At the turn of last century there was a narrow gauge passenger service running from the Mount to Tantanoola and onto Beachport on the coast. Fifty years ago it was replaced with broad gauge freight line carrying in wood from the timber yards and dairy products.
Our fellow passengers relax as we roll through the pines, patches of scrub and seemingly endless paddocks. Most comment on how green things are - and so it should be with an average annual rainfall of 790 millimetres (about 32 inches). And while much of it's been soaked up by a carpet of forest and green fields millions of litres are locked away beneath the Limestone Coast.
“Years ago most of these paddocks would have been underwater,” explained railway volunteer, David Branstone. “There was water everywhere. But it usually runs off pretty well because there's a lot of caves around here. It runs underground.”
Soon we're passing one of the region's latest industries - the Lake Bonney Wind Farm. Not long after we arrive at a sweet little rail siding at our destination, Tantanoola. It’s time to hop off and head to the local pub for lunch with its famous talking point - the Tantanoola Tiger. After that, we re-board and take the return journey to Mount Gambier.
The Limestone Coast Railway runs two trains a month to Tantanoola. For details contact the Lady Nelson Visitor and Discovery Centre on 1800 087 187.
Limestone Coast Railway
Two services to Tantanoola per month
Details: Lady Nelson Visitor & Discovery Centre
Ph: 1800 087 187
