An initiative inspired by Cruise Express, will see three historic steam and diesel trains embarking on a five-day return tour between Sydney and Victoria, carrying 150 passengers.

The collection of heritage locomotives includes trains and carriages that were once used to carry King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on their Australian Royal Tour in 1927 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1951.

Ballarat will be treated to a restored A2 986, a 104-year-old steam locomotive, which will touch down for more than an hour, before later departing back to Melbourne via Bacchus Marsh.

The return trip marks the first time in 56 years an A2-class steam locomotive has brought a train from Ballarat to Melbourne.

The demand for heritage rail journeys across Australia continue to soar, with Cruise Express rail product manager, Richard Boyce, believing passengers are attracted to the romance and nostalgia associated with a form of travel synonymous to past generations.

"The biggest thing passengers tell me is they have a memory or moment in their childhood where they're travelling on trains similar to these, so they have some memory tie-ins with the trains we're running," said Mr Boyce.

"We're also taking them to destinations where they wouldn't normally go by themselves and using freight only lines, they're really getting to see countrysides they just can't see any other way."

The historic A2-class steam locomotive will be arriving at Ballarat Railway Station at approximately 6.02 pm to 7.50pm, on Saturday July 20.

For more information on heritage rail tours, visit cruiseexpress.com.au.

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