General News
12 August, 2026
All aboard for Moomin
A NEW steam train journey will be launching from Herberton this month, heralding what could be a bold new tourism rail plan between Herberton and Atherton.
The Atherton Herberton Railway Society will be taking passengers on a journey in its restored steam locomotive and carriage to the site of the historic mining town of Moomin, which grew during the silver-lead mining boom of the late 19th century.
In a 10km round trip, the train will travel along the top of the range and cross three restored bridges as it makes its way to the abandoned station.
“We’ve had many volunteers and contractors working on this track upgrade and we’re lucky as Moomin still has its platform siding,” the society’s marketing and business development officer Gary Aylward said.
“Moomin was a tent city with a school and pubs and accommodation for track builders. I believe it also had market gardens.”
According to newspaper articles of the day, approval was given in 1909 for a Tent School on the Herberton range to accommodate “children of men engaged on the railway construction works”.
The earliest hotel in the area was the Oak Grove Hotel established in 1882.
Passengers will have time to explore while the train is prepared for the return journey.
Mr Aylward said the new rail trip was a great start to future rail developments.
The society oversees 22km of rail track between the Herberton Railway Station and the Atherton Platypus Park Railway Station and members and volunteers had been “working at both ends” to restore the full stretch of the historic line.
“It’s really exciting to see this progress; we want to be operational through to Atherton,” he said.
‘We have two rail motors being restored, like the Savannahlander, which are almost done, and then we need to have them certified.”
They would be used to traverse the full track between Herberton and Atherton.
“The project needs about $18 million but it’s doable,” Mr Aylward said.
“We keep chipping away as it would be a great regional tourist opportunity, as well as a paying transport service.
“Moomin is the start of something quite significant.”
The first journey to Moomin will take place on 22 August at 10am from Herberton and can carry 46 passengers.
Bookings need to be made through the Atherton-Herberton Historic Railway Inc. website.
