We’re often asked by people who have never ridden The Blues Train before, what do I need to know? What is it like? What can I expect? Especially when one of your mates has booked a carriage on The Blues Train for their 40th, 50th, 60th, or even their 70th birthday.
Assuming that you’re free on the date in question, what is The Blues Train? And why should you go?
The Blues Train has been rocking the rails from Queenscliff to Drysdale return on the Bellarine Heritage Railway for 25 years. It’s fair to say that we know a thing or two about unique musical experiences.
If you have experienced The Blues Train at QMF, you have had a small taste of what it’s like to ride.
The difference between The Blues Train at QMF and the legendary Blues Train is this: we are 18+ only and we operate at night from around 6:30pm to approximately 11:30pm.
Think of it as a mini-music festival, where you’ll see four acts in four carriages. In one carriage you’ll see a band, in another a solo, a duo, or a trio. You’ll be in each carriage for around 30 minutes – which gives you time to either a. catch up with said mates, b. dance or c. relax and enjoy a line-up of some of the best in Australian blues music.
You eat a meal before the train leaves Queenscliff at around 8pm, stopping at Suma Park before heading to Drysdale. Then at Drysdale the train ‘turns around’ (actually, the engine is uncoupled from one end and shunted to the other end) meaning you’ll be heading back to stop again at Suma Park before arriving back into Queenscliff at around 11:30pm.
At each stop, the bar is wheeled out onto the platform and is stocked with local wines, beers, cider, mixed spirits and soft drinks.
One last piece of advice – don’t wear white. Why? Because white clothes are a magnet for red wine! The Train is a heritage train, on an old train line. It rocks & rolls (geddit??) and sometimes the rocking & the rolling causes drinks to spill or splash.
It’s not easy describing the feel of the night. But what you do need is to be open to having a great experience. It’s what you bring to the night that will make or break it for you.
