Steam To the East / Steamrail Victoria's Gipplander Weekender

In early October 2023, Steamrail Victoria Ran their Gippslander Weekender from Melbourne to Sale and Bairnsdale.
This weekend saw A2 986 return to Sale and Bairnsdale since being withdrawn from service by VR during the 1960s
this Also R 761 revisit Sale along becoming the first of it's class to Venture beyond Sale to Bairnsdale the most eastern extent of Vlines mainline network and
While not the first heritage movement, the weekend also saw the first time a steam hauled train to cross the New Avon River bridge as since late 2020 the old bridge was disconnected and the new bridge was commissioned.
this is what allowed R761 to be able to finally venture the furthest east of any of it's class.
The video begins on Friday, with the A2 and R double heading from Melbourne to Sale with a stop in Traralgon to turn both engines.
Saturday saw the two engines run Shuttles between Sale and Munro and with two Shuttles out towards Rosedale.
Sunday saw the train continue further east to Bairnsdale and then running Shuttles out to Lindenow South.
And then On Monday the train made the return run to Melbourne with a number of stops made along the way allowing for more shots the captured than usual.
While it was a very big weekend it was still very enjoyable to be able to be lineside to capture the operations of 2 Steam engines revisiting old stomping grounds and grounds a new.