From the desk of your roaming editor

Alex Purcell, Cooroy Rag Roaming Editor

MY family and I recently played tourists in the Mary Valley.

We booked tickets to experience a historic rail journey on the restored vintage steam engine, the Mary Valley Rattler.

Even though I grew up in Cooroy and live in Pomona, I am ashamed to admit I hadn’t been on the Rattler before.

And I wish I had gone sooner.

It was fabulous.

From the moment we arrived, all the volunteers were helpful and friendly and oh-so-knowledgeable.

We loved rocking along with the windows wide open, waving to cars at the level crossings and getting a new perspective of the Mary Valley.

I used to ride my motorbike out that way regularly but being on the Rattler gave me a different view of the beautiful valley, villages and farms.

We found watching the steam engine being turned around at Amamoor fascinating and enjoyed a delicious lunch (pre-ordered from the train) on our return to Gympie at the Rattler’s Rusty Rails Cafe.

If you haven’t ridden the Rattler yet, I highly recommend it.