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Forty-four members of the Australian Railway Exploration Association (A.R.E.A.) arrived in Mildura on Saturday 23-7-1977 as passengers on "The Vinelander". A special train consisting of locomotive T371, three passenger cars and a brake van, was prepared for the group to travel from Mildura to Meringur and return. (Locomotive T371 was also used for the June 1975 "Back to the Millewa" special passenger train to Meringur). The special departed at 9.45 a.m. and returned at 6.30 p.m.
After staying overnight, the Association members travelled by coach on the morning of 24-7-1977 where they travelled on a special train to Kooloonong. The group returned to Swan Hill by special train then to Melbourne by the normal Swan Hill train.
T371 leads its special train for the Australian Railway Exploration Association (AREA) off the main line at Redcliffs and on to the branch line to Meringur. 23-7-1977. Photo: Bruce McLean
The AREA special train stopped at Werrimull to allow the enthusiast passengers time to inspect the facilities at the station. 23-7-1977. Photo: Bruce McLean
T371 at the head of the special train on arrival at Meringur. Loaded GY wagons were fouling No. 2 road preventing the locomotive from reversing around the carriages. 23-7-1977. Photo: Bruce McLean
T371 was required to shunt GY grain wagons to enable it to reverse around its passenger carriages. During the stop at Meringur an inspection was made of the site of the former locomotive reversing triangle and a bus was arranged to inspect the closed section of line between Meringur and Morkalla. Photo: Bruce McLean
A stop was made at Yarrara on the return journey to inspect the grain storage facilities. 23-7-1977. Photo: Bruce McLean
The AREA special at the site of Bambill on 23-7-1977. Bambill has closed about three months earlier on 12-4-1977. Photo: Bruce McLean
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