12 February - Walhalla

I hadn't planned to ride today, after a decent ride yesterday, but the Honda needed a run to charge the battery, and it was a mild, still day I decided to take a quick run into Walhalla, a little gold mining ghost town about 50km away. This is a short but very nice run along mountain roads through state forests. I stopped for a couple of photos of one of the Walhalla Goldfields Railway's loco's sitting at the Walhalla station.

This railway which began construction in 1904 between Moe and Walhalla (via Erica) was built to support the mining operations in Walhalla, but unfortunately by the time construction was complete, mining had all but ceased and the Walhalla had started a steady decline in activity and population. The line fell into disuse and disrepair but in the early 90's a task force of volunteers managed to restore the bridges and line required to commence a regular tourist run between the Thomson River and Walhalla. This modern incarnation is incorporated as the Walhalla Goldfields Railway.

It is hoped that the funds can be raised to restore the line all the way back to Erica which would require a station and maintenance facilities to be established there.

Information about the railway and its history and current operation can found here.

A nice short ride of 110 km.