Our All-New brochures are available now!
Take a journey through time with SteamRanger as our trains traverse the historic Victor Harbor branch line, with various rail experiences stretching from the Adelaide Hills town of Mount Barker to Strathalbyn, through Finniss, to Goolwa, Middleton, Port Elliot and Victor Harbor!
The Southern Encounter returns for another season, featuring steam* hauled travel from Mount Barker to Victor Harbor. The Southern Encounter operates on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month, May through to November. Bookings are essential. Note services in May are likely to be diesel hauled due to fire danger.
The Murray River Connector, a new experience featuring steam* hauled travel from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn, then on to Goolwa. Part travel, i.e. Mount Barker to Strathalbyn or Strathalbyn to Goolwa is available! The Murray River Connector operates on the 2nd Sunday of each month, May to November. Bookings are essential. Note services in May are likely to be diesel hauled due to fire danger.
The Bugle Ranger returns for 2022, although this year, two separate journeys will feature departing Mount Barker at 1pm and 2.15pm. A popular short trip aboard our heritage railcar from Mount Barker station through to the small location of Bugle Ranges. The Bugle Ranger operates on the 4th Sunday of the month, June to November. Tickets are available on the day of travel.
The ever-popular Hills Encounter will operate steam* hauled from Victor Harbor to Mount Barker! The Hills Encounter will operate on July 9th and October 1st. Keep an eye out for added dates throughout the year. Bookings are essential.
An all new StrathLink to Finniss and Strathalbyn will operate on Wednesdays during the April, July, and October school holidays! Operated by our heritage railcars, travel from Goolwa to Strathalbyn, alternatively travel to Finniss for lunch and board the StrathLink upon its return to Goolwa! Bookings are required.
Our ever-popular experiences are back for 2022, including Christmas in July and The Ghost Train! New experiences in 2022 will include an all-new New Year’s Eve Special as well as the Christmas Illuminated Train – more information on these later in the year!
Of course, our family favourite, The Cockle Train will continue to operate per our published timetable, featuring steam* hauled services during SA school holidays and on most long weekends. Outside of these times, our heritage railcars and diesel locomotives will operate, keep an eye on our website running program to see which is running for the day. No pre booking required, tickets are available on the day of travel from the South Coast stations!
Please note that bookings for services in May are now open via our booking office on 1300 655 991. Seats on some services are limited, so get in quick. Note that services in May from Mount Barker may be diesel hauled due to fire danger. Check out our website for further information!
*SteamRanger reserves the right to change motive power, vary schedules or fares if for unforeseen circumstances, it is deemed necessary.
*Loco Scheduling: Cockle Train services are scheduled to be steam hauled Easter, most SA School Holidays and Southern Encounter days. At other times, the Cockle Train is operated by heritage Railcars or diesel locos hauling historic carriages.
*Services will not operate if forecast for Victor Harbor is greater than 35 degrees or more. Railcar or Diesel will substitute steam services when a TOTAL FIRE BAN is declared for the Mount Lofty Ranges.
