At a glance
- When
- Sunday 15 November 2026; first train 11am, last train just before 4pm
- Where
- Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway, corner Elgar and Belmore Roads, Mont Albert North
- Tickets
- $5 a single ride (about 10 minutes); 20 Ride Pass $80; children under 2 free; paper tickets at the ticket office
- Next dates
- Public running days are the third Sunday of each month, and the second Sunday in December (13 December 2026)
- Who it’s for
- Families with young children and anyone who likes trains, from Whitehorse and the inner east
- What to do now
- Plan for the afternoon if you want shorter queues, wear closed-toe shoes, and bring a picnic rug
- Last checked
- Saturday 31 October 2026, against the railway society’s website and the Whitehorse City Council event page
- Not yet confirmed
- Which locomotives will run on the day; steam may not operate if fire restrictions apply or volunteers are short
The Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway runs its November public running day on Sunday 15 November 2026, with the first train leaving at 11am and the last just before 4pm. A single ride costs $5 and takes about ten minutes, and children under two ride free.
The railway is run by the Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway Society, a volunteer, not-for-profit group. This guide uses the society’s website and the Whitehorse City Council event listing, both checked on 31 October 2026.
When is the next public running day?
The society opens the railway to the public on the third Sunday of each month, and on the second Sunday in December. Hours are 11am to 4pm. Its calendar shows these two days coming up.
| Day | Date | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 15 November 2026 | 11am to 4pm | November public running day, $5 |
| Sunday | 13 December 2026 | 11am to 4pm | December public running day and memorial day to past members |
The council listing adds that queues are shorter from 1pm to 4pm, so an afternoon visit means a more relaxed ride.
How much are the tickets, and how do I pay?
| Ticket | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 2 | Free | Ride with an adult; no ticket needed |
| Single ride | $5 | About a 10-minute trip around the railway |
| 20 Ride Pass | $80 | Suits families and regular visitors |
The society uses paper tickets, not a touch-on card. You buy them at the ticket office just outside the station entrance. The office, staffed by volunteers, normally opens 10 minutes before the first train.
Tickets can also be pre-booked online and collected from the ticket office on the day. The society says to bring the booking confirmation to the office before you board, because the confirmation is not a valid ticket on its own.
Card is the preferred payment, with most major cards accepted and no surcharge. Cash is also accepted, but only the correct amount, because no change is available.
What will I ride, and could the steam trains be off?
The society says its trains use steam, internal combustion engines and batteries, and that it aims to offer a variety. Its steam locomotives burn real coal. The society runs a dual-gauge track, for 5 inch and 7 1/4 inch gauge trains.
The society warns that steam locomotives may not run at all times, because of operational requirements, fire restrictions and volunteer availability. If a steam ride matters to you, check the society’s Facebook page or phone (03) 9898 2671 on the morning.
The main track is 1.2 kilometres long and winds through Elgar Park. The layout is a folded double figure of eight, so your train passes other trains, crosses bridges, goes through cuttings and rolls past working signals. The society says it often sees tawny frogmouths along the line.
Who runs the railway, and which locomotives might I see?
The society formed in October 1981, began work on the site in March 1983 and opened the railway to the public in October 1985. Its members work as volunteers, and money from fares goes to running and maintaining the railway and to charity groups, mainly in the City of Whitehorse.
The society’s website describes the locomotives that regularly run on public days. They include NSWGR 5711, a steam engine based on the New South Wales 57 class and built by members over about 6,000 hours, and Casey, a steam locomotive of the Heidi class. Among the diesel and electric engines it lists G520, based on the Victorian G class, and T400, based on the T class. S318, called Spirit of Rotary, is the society’s first solar-powered locomotive and runs on most public days. The website does not say which of these will run on 15 November.
What are the safety rules for riders?
The society lists a few simple rules, which are worth reading before you take young children.
- Closed-toe footwear is required at all times. Bare feet, thongs and sandals are not allowed.
- Sit facing forwards, keep your hands and feet inside the carriage and sit up straight.
- A responsible adult must ride in each carriage with children of kindergarten age and below.
- No food or drink on the trains, and no alcohol anywhere in the grounds.
- Steam engines are hot, and they give off smoke, steam and sometimes cinders.
Can I eat and picnic there?
On public running days there is normally a food van next to the ticket office, serving hot food, tea and barista coffee. The society also encourages a picnic in the parkland beside the railway, and there are picnic tables at the western end of the park. They cannot be booked, so arrive early if you want one.
Public toilets are at the western end of the station car park, next to the kiosk. A railway-themed playground in the same park has slides, swings and climbing areas.
How do I get to the railway?
By car, the society says the railway is just off the Eastern Freeway (M3). Coming from the city, exit at Elgar Road, turn right at the top of the ramp, turn right at the traffic lights at Belmore Road, and the railway is on your right. Coming from the east, exit at Tram Road and Station Street instead and follow Woodhouse Grove to Elgar Road, as the society’s directions describe.
By public transport, take the train to Box Hill Station on the Belgrave or Lilydale line, then a bus. The society lists routes 281 (Deakin University to Templestowe via Box Hill Station), 293 (Box Hill Station to Greensborough), 302 (Box Hill Station to City) and 304 (Doncaster SC to City) as stopping within walking distance. It does not give walking times, so check the Public Transport Victoria journey planner for your stop.
Where do I park?
The society says parking is available on and off the street, and that it is in high demand at peak times. Marked spaces, including a disability space for permit holders, are in the car park outside the station precinct, reached from Belmore Road. More parking is in the Elgar Park football field precinct, reached from Elgar Road.
Street parking is available on Belmore Road, Box Hill Crescent and Morris Avenue, with signs to check. Do not park over driveways or on private property. Keep children close in the car parks, as the society asks.
What does the council say about access?
The council listing marks the event as having disabled access and as accessible by public transport. It gives no further detail, so for a wheelchair or pram, phone the society before you go.
Sources
- Whitehorse City Council: Public Running Day at Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway (date, first and last train, queue times; checked 31 October 2026)
- Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway Society: Public Running Days
- Society: Tickets, Parking, Location, Refreshments and Facilities
- Society: Our Track and Our Trains and Our History
- Society: November Public Running Day
Featured image: a 7 1/4 inch gauge miniature train on a night run, photographed in New Zealand, not at Box Hill (photo: TomMort1 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Box Hill Miniature Steam Railway Society or Whitehorse City Council. Event details can change; check the society’s website before you go.