Group finally realises dream

For the past 25 years, the Kojonup Tourist Railway Group has had a dream to transport passengers along its track to the Farra Reserve, and on October 30, that dream came true.

The initiative started in about 1989 when the group was provided two corridors of land, where members were able to construct a track and run tours from Kojonup to the small site of Denny.

Through fundraising, about 34,000 man hours dedicated by volunteers, and 3800 sleepers, the group has slowly added to the line, rebuilding the 10km track bit by bit, all the way out to the reserve.

Passengers enjoyed the scenic two-hour trip for the first time a few weeks ago and Kojonup Tourist Railway president Ned Bradford said after the trip was complete, he felt elated and relieved.

"Once we started this whole thing, we were thrown with a lot of 'this will not happen,' and 'it can't be done'," he said.

"Even the Government said 'you can't do it', and that was the point we were going to prove."

The train and its tours have been a popular visitor attraction for a number of years and Mr Radford said it was now worth about $2.3 million in assets.

"We only travel at 15km/h, so you have time to see something, the bush, the bridges, the farming," he said.

"It's just quiet and peaceful, away from everything and away from the noise - just the click of the wheels, which is all gone now in modern rail."

With the success of the Tourist Railway Group's tours, Farra Reserve could now be re-established as a major tourist attraction for Kojonup, Mr Radford said.

Plans are in place for the reserve and the dam to be fenced off and maintained as a nature and wildlife park.