Trains & Railways in Victoria

The list splits two ways. At one end sit the heritage lines. Puffing Billy out of Belgrave, which RACV calls one of Victoria's most famous heritage railways, runs open carriages where kids dangle their legs for two to three hours, with coal smoke settling on clothes and a layover at Emerald Lake Park via the Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre. Bellarine Railway at Queenscliff gives lake and swan views from the platform-opposite side and, per RACV, hosts a Thomas the Tank Engine day. Mornington Railway at Moorooduc runs the restored K163 steam locomotive RACV highlights, swapped for a diesel on hot days, and welcomes dogs at some events. Daylesford Spa Country Railway takes a 1930s railmotor through forest on Sundays, the same day as the town market.

At the other end are the volunteer miniature railways, most running a single Sunday a month. Diamond Valley Railway in Eltham is the exception, running every Sunday through tunnels and shaded reserve in adult-sized carriages. Altona Miniature Railway, Bulla Hill Miniature Railway with dinosaurs along the track, Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway Society, Springvale Live Steamers and Cobden Miniature Railway all take the third Sunday; Mooroolbark Miniature Railway the fourth. Rides are short and children want to go again, so day passes matter.

Trams and boats round it out. Bendigo Tramways and Ballarat Tramway Museum work as hop-on-hop-off day passes linking attractions, with a tram driver simulator and tram-cat scavenger hunt at Ballarat. Portland Cable Trams follow the foreshore, with koalas occasionally spotted. Murray River Paddlesteamers Echuca offers a one-hour PS Canberra cruise for younger kids and overnight Emmylou voyages for tweens. Alexandra Timber Tramway lets dogs ride the train.