The sights and sounds of a bygone era steamed into Ballarat on Wednesday.
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As part of a "Southern Steam Spectacular" itinerary, passengers embarked on an unusual journey from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, then travelled via the Moorabool Viaduct just north of Geelong.
They then turned north, following the relatively little used Geelong-Ballarat railway.
Pausing in Ballarat for change of locomotives, where the steam train's presence was heard by many in the CBD, rail aficionados began on the next leg of their journey towards Maryborough Station.
The itinerary then continued onto railway lines that are not used by regular passenger trains, finishing in Sea Lake. Ad material suggests this was the first time a Victorian K class locomotive - which ran on the state's railways from the 1920s to 1979 - had been to the destination for more than 50 years.
The itinerary is scheduled to return via Ballarat from Maryborough today ,with passenger carriages due to hauled into the city by three locomotives.
These are due to stop in the city for another hour, giving another chance for stream travel fans to see them up close.
The itinerary continues until next Monday, taking in the goldfields towns of Castlemaine, Maldon and Bendigo. The final leg goes to Echuca on an A2 class locomotive, before a return to Southern Cross.
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