NSW Train Tour Booked Out
By Don Mahoney
As reported in the Mudgee Guardian
Reprinted with permission
Friday 16 November 2001, Mudgee
At the best dressed "table" on Saturday's dinner express to Gulgong chosen by Cr Mike Sweeney were (l to r) Barbie and Peter Donald and Tim and Sandra Stewart.
A full load of 150 diners from Mudgee took the historical train journey from Mudgee to Gulgong return on Saturday when the Canberra Rail Historical Society train visited Mudgee.
With a two-week waiting list to get a booking for this - the first such dining-out evening on the train outside the Canberra area - many local people missed out.
Commenting on the tour, Cr Mike Sweeney, who was on board on Saturday night, said the evening was an outstanding success.
"Everyone I spoke to said how much they enjoyed the evening, with many people using it as a social outing and at least one Mudgee business had its staff Christmas party on the trip," Cr Sweeney said.
"The train is staffed by volunteers and the standard of the meal, given the limitations of the kitchen facilities, was excellent.
"On Saturday night's dinner tour, two local volunteers, Mick Hayes and Gary Mitchell, drove the train.
The train Manager, Derek Russell from Canberra, said he was very pleased with response of Mudgee people to the visit and that he would be happy to bring the train back here if a viable payload was booked.
The train brought 120 visitors from Canberra and Sydney to Mudgee for the weekend with resulting benefits to local motels, restaurants and wineries.
Three local buses were used to transport the visitors while in Mudgee.
Cr Sweeney said he had already commenced negotiations to bring the train back to Mudgee.
"I'm hoping it will be here for the field days and other important times such as the Wine Celebration and Easter," Cr Sweeney said.
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