From Thursday April 6 to Saturday April 8, Rundle Mall will be alive with the sights and sounds of steam, as South Australia’s Heritage Railways combine forces to bring a full sized steam engine into the Mall.

In conjunction with the South Australian Tourism Commission, the National Railway Museum, Pichi Richi Railway and SteamRanger have joined in this STATE OF STEAM promotion to celebrate the era of steam, and bring it to the city public.

The Minister for Tourism, the Hon Jane Llomax Smith MP will launch the promotion at 12.15pm, and Channel 9 personality Keith Conlon will MC.

Peronne at PRRPS Quorn workshops

For the first time anywhere in Australia, an 18 ton steam engine—Peronne from the National Rail Museum—will be placed on a large low loader and transported to the Mall, by the Gawler Place Canopy, for the duration of the event. It will then be fired up—at a low level—so passers by can enjoy the sights and sounds of live steam.

There will be displays from the various organisations around the state, including Peterborough, St Kilda and Cobdogla, and “enginecam” playing on TV screens. Passers by will be able to have a chat to steam train drivers, and enter the draw for great daily prizes of Flinders Ranges holiday packages, function hire at the National Rail Museum and SteamRanger holiday packages, as well as a grand prize of a trip on the Indian Pacific to Perth. (Details attached overleaf)

It all happens on from 8am-6pm Thursday April 6, 8am-9pm Friday April 7, and 8am-5pm on Saturday April 8, in the Gawler Place canopy, Rundle Mall.

For further information please contact Cathy Smythe, Write Away Public Relations, 8388 2348, or 0429 033 934.

Grand Prize (drawn at the end of the promotion): Trip for two on the Indian Pacific to Perth donated by Great Southern Railway, 2 Qantas economy airfares return to Adelaide donated by Phil Hoffmann Travel.

Daily Prizes (one of each drawn at lunchtime each day of the promotion)

Pichi Richi Railway Flinders Ranges Package
Family pass on the Pichi Richi Railway’s Afghan Express, 3 days car hire from Koala Car Rentals value, 2 nights cabin accommodation for family of four at Rawnsley Park Station.

SteamRanger Southern Encounter Package
Prize will include family pass travel on Southern Encounter, and a double pass on a Murder Mystery trip.

National Rail Museum Function Venue Prize
Use of the Commonwealth Dining Car and Wegmann Lounge Car at the National Rail Museum Port Adelaide, for function up to 48 people.