In a major first for one of Canberra's most beloved family attractions, Cockington Green Gardens is set to double its miniature railway fun. For the first time in its 46-year history, the gardens will have two fully operational miniature steam engines, with the newest locomotive named in honour of the site's founder.
A New Chapter on the Tracks
The brand new half-sized replica of a Fowler steam locomotive, constructed in Wagga Wagga, will be officially launched on Saturday, December 6. This new engine, named the Douglas William after founder Doug Sarah, will join the existing steam engine, the Mighty Mike. General Manager Mark Sarah, Doug's son, expressed his excitement at this new capability for the iconic venue.
"We've never had the luxury of having two locomotives," Mr Sarah said. "It's exciting seeing it go around. It gives people a lot of pleasure." The plan is to run the locos on the existing track, operating one at a time as needed to meet visitor demand.
Golden Tickets and a Grand Launch
The launch of the Douglas William on December 6 will be a full-day community event. To mark the occasion, general admission to Cockington Green will be reduced by 20 percent, and train tickets will be just $2 after the inaugural journey. The day will feature Christmas-themed activities and fun from 10am until 2pm.
Adding a touch of magic, sixteen special adult tickets for the historic first trip are being sold for $100 each, with all proceeds directed to the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. Mr Sarah likened these premium tickets to "Willy Wonka's golden tickets" and expects them to be quickly snapped up. Purchasers will receive park entry, the inaugural train ride, a coffee, and time with the management team.
A Journey of Perseverance and Future Dreams
The arrival of the new locomotive concludes a challenging period for the attraction. In September 2023, carriages pulled by the existing Mighty Mike derailed, forcing the train out of service for over a year while new carriages were built and extensive testing was completed.
The project for the new loco was already underway, taking three years from design to its position on the track. To meet Australian standards, the Douglas William had to complete 500 rigorous laps of the Cockington Green track, a process Mr Sarah personally oversaw during night-time test runs. The ACT government supported the project with a $38,000 grant to help the tourism sector recover post-COVID.
Looking ahead, the team at Cockington Green is not resting. "Our big dream is to build a disability accessible carriage," Mr Sarah revealed. "That's our new project," signalling that more exciting developments are on the horizon for this Canberra icon.
