Saturday, 15 July 2023

New Story for Quorn Silo Light Show, Celebrating Pichi Richi Heritage Railway

Exciting News for visitors to Quorn: Quorn Silo Light Show helps celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the volunteer support team of one of Australia’s most loved heritage railways.

Premiering on the Quorn Silo Light Show on the 22nd of July 2023 and then displaying throughout July and August, a brand-new story celebrating the volunteer run Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society and its accomplishments, is being displayed on the Silo each night. Visitors to Quorn are able to view the ten-minute story playing in the first part of the show each night which starts at 6:15PM in July, after the Countdown and Welcome to Country. This new story is followed by other favourites such as ‘A Step Back In Time’ and ‘The Rush of Steam’.

Pichi Richi Railway has been completely and continually run by volunteers since it was established 5 decades ago, and their contribution to heritage rail and South Australia’s regional tourism, is an outstanding achievement. The Society’s volunteers completely operate the entire organisation and are totally committed to conservation, restoration, maintenance and running the authentic heritage Pichi Richi Railway.

The new story shows the effort made by the original lobbyists to raise attention, and the commitment and dedication of hundreds of people over half a century, to save and restore the buildings, bridges, tracks and rolling-stock. The story shows some of the history and wonderful volunteering achievements, that have created a unique internationally renowned heritage tourism attraction established in Quorn and connecting with Port Augusta.

In addition, a new segment featuring photographs and historic films has been added to the community exhibition section that plays each night after the main story segment completes. The photographs by members and volunteers capture behind the scenes of work on the tracks, special events, and community projects.

If this isn’t enough to whet the appetite of train enthusiasts, then definitely come and take a ride on one of the heritage trains on the Pichi Richi Railway. On Sunday 23 July a Pichi Richi Explorer train departed Quorn at 10am to Woolshed Flat and return. Tickets for the Pichi Richi service can be purchased via the PRRPS website or at the FRVIC. Timetables for future trains are listed on the PRRPS website.

We recommend visitors allow a few days to explore this unique regional town in outback Australia, a comfortable 4 hours’ drive from Adelaide . Over the past 50 years the Pichi Richi Railway in Quorn has become a key tourist destination in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia and in 2021 Pichi Richi Railway was awarded the Winner of the SA Tourism Award for Tourist Attraction. In 2022 the township of Quorn was announced the Winner of the SA Tourism’s Tiny Tourism Town, and the Quorn Silo Light Show is the Gold winner of Best Mega Mural in the 2022 Australian Street Art Awards.

In mid-2024 Pichi Richi Railway will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Society’s FIRST train which ran on part of the volunteer-restored “Old Ghan” line. The restored section of old narrow gauge Central Australia Railway between Quorn and Summit line was reopened by Sir Mark Oliphant in 1974. This anniversary event will be marked with a steam festival, open to the public and be widely publicised.

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