New railway takes shape

He said work has been slow going because it is being completed entirely by volunteers, who are also reliant on donations to get the project finished.

Mr Hallinan said a number of local businesses have already pledged support, which has helped with the earthworks done to date.

Two volunteers — Mr Hallinan and David Lay — were chipping away at the project when the Pastoral Times stopped by on Sunday.

The completed track will be similar to the one already servicing families at Deniliquin’s Memorial Park, but larger.

‘‘The current track is about 300m long and the new one will be 500m,’’ Mr Hallinan said.

‘‘We have had to make some alterations to our originally approved design because of work that has taken place at Memorial Park since, including the new walking path.

‘‘It is our aim to have the track open by Easter.’’

Mr Hallinan said for the group to reach its goal, and to ensure the sustainability of the miniature railway in to the future, ERSME would need more help.

He said anyone interested in assisting is asked to become a member of the group.

The existing miniature railway track took its first passengers in April 2015.

It took 10 years for the project to come to fruition, and was always intended to be a temporary track until a larger one could be built.

The miniature railway runs the first Sunday of each month, except in October. Instead of clashing with the Deniliquin Ute Muster weekend, the October run is held in the last week of September.

For more information on joining ERSME, please call Mr Hallinan on 0427 632 762.