Push to get 'Riverina Express' vintage DEB diesel train restored at Junee for Wagga events

The not-for-profit rail heritage organisation Lachlan Valley Railway is looking to secure grant funding so it can restore a DEB Set diesel train at Junee and run it across the Riverina.

Railway member and Junee resident Ross Jackson said there was a "distinct lack of heritage rail tourism in the Riverina".

"For instance, there's the Puffing Billy outside Melbourne on its own network but here we have an incredibly vast rail network and we're not captive to anywhere as long as we have the rolling stock to do it," he said.

"The concept for the Riverina Express is to use ex-NSW Railway cars that are designed for long-distance comfort and buffets, and to reintroduce those and operate them around the Riverina to support local events and tourism ventures."

The DEB Sets carried passengers on the Riverina Express from Sydney to Albury and Griffith from 1973 until 1982, when both the service and and the trains were replaced with the current XPT.

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Mr Jackson said a revived Riverina Express could provide services for events such as the Henty Field Days, race meets at Wagga and Albury and Leeton's Art Deco Festival.

"Places like Wagga could be the hub and people could transport themselves to Wagga to catch the services," Mr Jackson said.

The Lachlan Valley Railway has run two 'Southern Aurora' style trains through the Riverina, bringing 260 tourists to the region.

The 3801 steam locomotive also brought hundreds of visitors to Wagga early in April for its stopover during a tour of NSW after 12 years of restoration work.

"We want to do [the Riverina Express] in partnership with the Junee Railway Workshops and make it a community project so people who want to learn about railway heritage can get involved," Mr Jackson said.

Junee Railway Workshops director Wayne Robinson said the proposal would see the rail motors stored at their facility and use part of their roundhouse to restore one of the rail cars.

"I think it would be a great thing for the Riverina to have; they used to run here when I has a boy so to have them back running trips back and forth would be a great tourist attraction," he said.

"You just have to look at the 3801 over the Easter period and how many people poured into the Riverina area.

"Tourism would also provide a bit more work in the town in terms of accommodation and the like."

Mr Robinson said Lachlan Valley Railway had a set of four 900-class DEB rail motors, in storage that required "a fairly substantial overhaul" that could take 18 months, depending on grant funding and volunteer support.

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