Join the team aboard The Vintage Train as you travel via the Golden Plains to Ballarat, returning 'up the straight' with an R class steam locomotive. Explore the historic Goldrush city on your visit to Ballarat. Departing from Southern Cross Station, the train will pick up speed through the Western Suburbs, through the towns of Little River and Lara and skirt Port Phillip Bay on the edge of the city of Geelong. From here, their R class steam locomotive will work hard with their 7 carriage train to climb the hills of the Golden Plains, travelling along the original mainline between Ballarat and Geelong from 1862. The train will then arrive into the historic gold mining town of Ballarat. With the CBD only a few minutes stroll from the station, there are endless cafes, restaurants and attractions to keep everyone well fed and entertained. More things to do in the heart of Ballarat can be found on the website. The train will return to Melbourne via Ballan, descending the famous 1 in 48 Ingliston Bank, providing spectacular views back towards Melbourne and across the Werribee Gorge State Park and passing over the iconic 357-metre Melton Viaduct, built in 1885 to traverse the Werribee River, before arriving back at Southern Cross Station.