3-5 November: The Grainlander to Quambatook's Silo Cinema and the spectacular Mallee Silo Art Trail

Experience the elegance of a bygone era as the Grainlander ventures along the Robinvale Line to Korong Vale, Boort and Quambatook. Experience a screening of the famous Silo Cinema, tour the much acclaimed Spanner Man Art Exhibition, visit some of Victoria's most spectacular Silo Art Installations and relax for a day of slow rail travel along freight exclusive railways with alight and explore historic towns all while enjoying the hosted fully inclusive Grainlander service.

Fares range from $800 to $1,345 per person.

All Slow Rail Journey weekend tours are fully hosted and inclusive of all meals and excursions. All passengers travel in restored sleeping carriages with everything needed for the weekend and have access to the train's lounge, bar and other carriages.

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itinerary

Step back in time onboard The Grainlander and enjoy a weekend of slow rail travel, venturing along the Robinvale Line into the Mallee visiting Barraport and Quambatook, attending a showing of the famous Quambatook Silo Cinema, touring some of Victoria's most spectacular Silo Art Installations and visiting the acclaimed Spanner Man Gallery.

Friday 3-November

Your Slow Rail Journey will commence with a bon-voyage dinner at the historic Savoy Hotel (where we will check-in guests and provide cabin allocations for the weekend) before our friendly volunteers escort you to the train.

Entering Melbourne's busy Southern Cross Station, you will immediately notice our heritage diesel locomotives and our moving museum of carriages juxtaposing the modernity and hustle surrounding. From the moment you board, you'll instantly relax, enjoying the elegance of a bygone era.

At 8:50 pm, The Grainlander will wake the station as the whistle sounded, announcing our departure. Join your fellow travellers and tour organisers in one of two luxury Club Carriages with a welcome aboard drink and evening supper as we head south to Geelong before venturing along the freight-only line to Ballarat.

Saturday 4-November

Just after midnight, the Grainlander will pull into platform two at Ballarat's historic railway station, where we will stop briefly, and you can step off the train. Departing Ballarat, the Grainlander disappears into the night, passing Maryborough and crossing the Ironbark forests of the Victorian Goldfields.

Awake to a spectacular Mallee sunrise in Barraport, home to the much acclaimed Spanner Man.

On arrival in Barraport, guests disembark to experience what is likely to be one of the highlights of the weekend - an opportunity to tour the Spanner Man gallery.

John Piccoli, better known as the Spanner Man, was one of Australia's most unique artists. His sculpture is built entirely from spanners, which he purchased at swap meets or in bulk from his local hardware. It is estimated that over 100,000 spanners in sculpture form, are on display at the gallery.

John's work included, amongst other things, sculptures of mermaids, marlin, and even a whole horse and wagon. Sadly, John passed away in 2021.

Rejoining the train, we continue north to Quambatook, our most northerly destination. Quambatook is home to approximately 250 residents and was settled after the Victorian gold rush; Quambatook quickly became one of the state's leading wheat and sheep producers. The town has been recognised as the tractor-pulling capital of Australia with an annual competition, the Australian Tractor Pulling Championships, held every Easter.

After arriving in Quambatook, guests transfer to coaches for a short tour of some of the region's most spectacular Silo Art Installations.

The first stop on our tour will be for lunch at the iconic Woomelang Hotel. Woomelang might be the best-kept secret in North-western Victoria! Enjoy the gardens and the hospitality of this quintessential country pub.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Lascelles, where renowned Melbourne Street Artist "Rone" has painted the images of a local couple, Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, on the silos at Lascelles in the Wimmera-Mallee Victoria.

If time permits, we will travel to the shore of the pink-salt-crusted inland sea of Lake Tyrrell, where you'll have a chance to walk along the uniquely shaped boardwalk to admire the spectacle of the lake.

Our next stop will be at the spectacularly painted Sea Lake Silo. The GrainCorp Silos at Sea Lake were painted by Joel Fergie, aka The Zookeeper and Travis Vinson, aka Drapl, in October 2019. The artwork depicts a young girl swinging from a Mallee eucalyptus tree and gazing out over the endless vista that is Lake Tyrrell. A mighty Wedge Tail Eagle saws above the girl, and an emu runs into the night.

Our final stop will be at the ornately painted silo at Nullawil. In Nullawil, the renowned street artist Smug has depicted a frontier Kelpie, Jimmy, who often makes a cameo appearance.

After a food-truck-style dinner catered by several local organisations in Quambatook, find a seat and settle in for a second highlight of the day - a screening of the famous Silo Cinema. The Silo Cinema, run by the local community, is one of Victoria's most unique attractions - movies are projected onto the side of the historic silo. At the same time, an audience gathers under the stars to enjoy the screening.

After the Silo Cinema, return to one of the train's lounge cars for a nightcap before enjoying a motionless rest in your private sleeping cabin.

Sunday 5-November

As guests in the early meal sitting enjoy breakfast, the Grainlander will slip out of Quambatook to begin its journey south.

Guests in the second breakfast sitting will be invited to the dining car as the Grainlander passes through Boort and Korong Vale. After breakfast, settle in and relax, perhaps enjoy a barista-made coffee, chat with new friends or gaze at the scenery outside the windows as the Grainlander continues south.

Departing Korong Vale, we bid farewell to the flat plains of the Mallee and enter the Loddon Valley. The historic town of Wedderburn, which the railway skirts to the east, is the agricultural valley's commercial hub. Continuing south, the railway line parallels the Calder Highway as the line side vegetation noticeably increases.

After enjoying a morning onboard the Grainlander, enjoying the slow rail travel experience, and a gourmet lunch served in the onboard dining car, the Grainlander will arrive at Dunolly.

After an off-train experience in the fascinating town of Dunolly, it's time to rebound the train as we make our way through Maryborough, famous for hosting one of Australia's most ornate country railway stations; Maryborough is a central commercial hub for the Goldfields.

Continuing south into the afternoon through the heart of the Goldfields. Towns including Clunes, Talbot and Creswick will flash by the windows as many guests make their way to the bar to chat with new friends made onboard.

Mid-afternoon, the Grainlander will pause briefly in Ballarat before continuing toward Melbourne.

After departing Ballarat, the train races over the dividing range and through Bacchus Marsh, offering a spectacular view of Melbourne's lights as afternoon tea is served in the dining car.

It's not long before the open vistas outside are once again replaced with Melbourne's suburbs, and all too soon, the train arrives back into the modern world at Southern Cross Station, right on time.