'Australia's biggest' miniature railway opens to the public in the central Victorian town of Harcourt
The local community had a sneak peek at the railway in action in November. (ABC News: Sarah Lawrence)
In short:
A central Victorian hobby club is opening what they say is "Australia's biggest" miniature railway.
The club has worked for a decade to build the station, trains and 2.7km track all to scale at its Harcourt property.
What's next?
The Victorian Miniature Railway is celebrating its opening weekend on December 6 and 7 and plans to continue expanding over its 26-hectare site.
A hobby club in central Victoria has spent a decade building what they claim is "Australia's biggest" miniature railway.
It was a 2012 visit to the world's pinnacle of miniature railway, Train Mountain in Portland, Oregon, that set the wheels in motion.
Andrew Mierisch, a lifelong enthusiast, and a group of friends had shipped over three engines they'd built, wanting to take them on a run on the American track.
After the six-hour miniature train ride Andrew had made up his mind — "Australia needs one of these".
Andrew Mierisch says the miniature railway station is modelled on Maryborough's train station. (ABC News: Anna McGuinness)
Thirteen years later and the Victorian Miniature Railway is officially opening to the public this weekend.
The 2.7-kilometre track is nestled on the slopes of a former paddock in Harcourt, central Victoria.
While just a fraction of Train Mountain's 523 kilometres, the 26-hectare Harcourt site means there's plenty of room to grow.
Family passion
Andrew has been around miniature railways his whole life.
His father, Colin Mierisch, was involved in the Diamond Valley Railway at Eltham, on the outskirts of Melbourne, for decades.
Andrew and Colin Mierisch take in the view from the overpass. (ABC News: Anna McGuinness)
"I've always been my dad's shadow, I was that little budding apprentice beside his father," Andrew said.
He remembers pushing a matchbox around in the dirt and then getting to drive the trains himself as he got older.
Colin is a toolmaker by trade and said his passion began when his own father bought him a steam engine when he was 7 years old.
"The thing I do enjoy the most is the passengers," Colin said.
"The little kids jumping on the train with such excitement and taking them for an enjoyable ride on the train."
Colin Mierisch on the train platform. (ABC News: Anna McGuinness)
The father and son are just a small part of the Victorian Miniature Railway club, home to more than 50 members all dedicating their passion, skill and time to the project.
So much so that Andrew estimates 95 per cent of the work has been done by the club members.
"It's such a massive feat, to fund it wouldn't be financially possible or viable. It's only a hobby and a club at the end of the day," he said.
Many are "genuine train nuts", but others are there to tinker and make things or put their green thumb towards transforming the old paddock.
And nothing about the railway is an accident.
One of the model trains ready to take passengers for a ride. (ABC News: Anna McGuinness)
From the station — modelled on the 130-year-old train station at Maryborough, 50 kilometres west of Harcourt — to the tracks, diesel and steam engine trains.
"We are fanatical modellers,"Andrew said.
"We aim for every detail — the door handle, the horns, windows, the glass, we put everything on there we possibly can."
The scale, 2.5 inches to every foot, is strictly adhered to — apart from carriage seats to allow for a comfortable ride.
Opening at last
Andrew said it's been a "really hard" decade of work after hitting unexpected granite and rock on the site and being stalled for two years by COVID.
He said the whole club is eager to let the public in and share their work, for more than one reason.
"It can get pretty boring just driving around in circles by yourself," Andrew said.
Members of the Victorian Miniature Railway during the build. (Supplied: Victorian Miniature Railway)
The railway's opening weekend, December 6 and 7, is just another milestone for the club.
"It's a bit like restoring a car — you're always going to want to make something a bit better, add, or get the next thing,"Andrew said.
The tickets, at $5 a ride, are a "peppercorn rate" to cover the bills for the club, which will open to the public each Sunday going forward.
As for Harcourt, a town of about 1,000 people known for its apple cider and scenic bush backyard, Andrew said he is confident it's about to make a splash on the global miniature railway scene.