Featured

Fun at Easter

Thanks to Courtney Beaton for sending us this fabulous instagram reel of their group’s ride along the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail over the 2023 Easter weekend.

It just goes to show how much fun the rail trail is for all ages!

We’d love to know how you heard about us?

How did you hear about our rail trail? Did you see it on social media, or in print somewhere or from word of mouth? We’d be interested to hear from you.

If you have visited us at all, we’d love to hear your thoughts in a survey we’ve got running for our birthday month of April. If you’d like a copy of the survey you can download it or send us an email to TumbarumbaShireRailTrail@gmail.com and we’ll forward it to you to complete and send back to us. Or you can simply answer the questions and send them to us in an email.

tumbarumba-to-rosewood-rail-trail-surveyDownload

Happy riding/walking/running/pushing a pram – however you use our rail trail!

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail team (volunteers)

You can read more here:

Rail Trail Beginnings

About us

A Guide to Riding the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

You can find us here:

https://facebook.com/TumbarumbaRailTrail

Instagram: @Tumbarumbarailtrail

Email: TumbarumbaShireRailTrail@gmail.com

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Featured

Huge Milestone for Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

Huge milestone reached along Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

Congratulations to Ray Davies, the 50000th person to go past the Tumbarumba counter on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail on Sunday 5 February 2023.

Ray had ridden 45km from his home at Courabyra, on roads and along the rail trail, and had another 15km to get home when he was stopped by committee members Cathy Fitzgerald and Debbie Harris, to be told that he was the 50000th person to go past the counter. He was amazed, saying he’d never ‘won’ anything before.

Ray Davies 50000th person on the trail
Ray Davies 50000th person on the trail

Ray is almost 80, rides a Trek e-bike and the committee couldn’t be happier to have Ray be the special 50000th person.  In the early days of the rail trail, Ray was on the committee but over the years with age and bushfires wiping out his home, he hasn’t been involved so much.  In many ways he was a very fitting person to be the 50000th and a local as well. Ray is often seen riding around the area and is well known at the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed.

The committee knew that the 50000th was imminent and were constantly checking the counter over the weekend to try and work out when it would happen.  They planned an impromptu gathering at Figures Street trail head with friends and supporters, to enjoy the lovely Sunday afternoon atmosphere with a picnic dinner. Ray appeared on the trail before the gathering was underway but stayed around to enjoy the celebrations and congratulations and was happy to receive a gift of a rail trail mug and magnet in front of the crowd.  He also cut the cake, which was made by Cathy Fitzgerald, and shared with all those present.

50000th cake

Shortly afterwards a family group of six, including grandparents from Scotland and grandchildren aged 3 and 6, rode by and were invited to join in the celebrations.  They all loved the rail trail experience with the 6-year-old riding all the way from Rosewood to Tumbarumba under her own steam! They were happy to enjoy some cake after all that exercise.

Debbie, Cathy and Ray
Debbie, Cathy and Ray

The counters went in shortly after the official opening in April 2020. The Rosewood counter will pass this milestone in coming months, and we wonder who that person will be?

The triobike had a run too
The triobike had a run too

This is a wonderful achievement for the rail trail committee, supporters, local tourism operators and users like – thanks to you if you’ve been counted in that 50000.

The impromptu gathering
The impromptu gathering

How did you hear about us?

How did you hear about our rail trail? Did you see it on social media, or in print somewhere or from word of mouth? We’d be interested to hear from you.

Happy riding/walking/running/pushing a pram – however you use our rail trail!

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail team (volunteers)

You can read more here:

Rail Trail Beginnings

About us

A Guide to Riding the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

You can find us here:

https://facebook.com/TumbarumbaRailTrail

Instagram: @Tumbarumbarailtrail

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Featured

Where to eat and drink in Tumbarumba and Rosewood?

How many cafes are there in Tumbarumba and Rosewood?

We have lots of fabulous places to eat and drink around our area – let’s count them!

Listed in no particular order – updated October 2021

Proudly supporting local businesses

Click on the links for more info:

We came up with 10, have we missed anyone? We’d love to hear about your favourite tea/coffee/food provider in the area.

If you’re visiting, always make sure you say you’re here to ride the rail trail, so the local businesses know how you found them. Tumbarumba Chamber of Commerce

What about pubs, restaurants and cellar doors?

More places to discover – pubs, clubs and cellar doors around the area – again in no particular order. Make sure you tell them the rail trail sent you!

What about other businesses in the area?

What other businesses are there in Tumbarumba? Well we’re glad you asked.

Thanks to Bucycle NSW, Rail Trails Australia, Rail Trails for NSW for producing this video

Plus we have doctors, a hospital, police, forestry, ambulance, schools, childcare facilities, council, library, museum, post office, logging contractors, builders – it’s a great place and we love living here! Help keep us all safe and follow COVID-19 regulations.

Hope you can visit us one day and support these local businesses.

Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Team

Read: A Guide to Riding the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

Post updated 13/10/2021

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Running a marathon on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

The first marathon event

Our Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail had a special event recently – the first marathon was run using the 21km rail trail. It’s now an accredited marathon course!

The full marathon runners went out to Rosewood and came back to town, totalling 42km; the half marathon runners were driven out to Rosewood and ran back for 21km; the 10km runners and walkers ran out 5km and turned around. It was a great day!

All the results can be found here – Marathon results

Starting at the finish line
Early morning start 6.30am

Now for full disclosure our volunteer rail trail committee wasn’t involved in the organisation of it but we were used as volunteers at one of the drink stations, and our chairperson was one of the two ‘sweepers’ on bikes coming in behind all the runners and making sure everyone was OK. They had the slowest rides of their lives but enjoyed the social aspects of it all.

Starting at the finish line

Those ‘running’ the event were experienced in this type of thing and did it all smoothly and easily. They usually organise a Hume and Hovell Ultra which is either a 50km or 100km run on the local Hume and Hovell Track. The event had to be cancelled in recent years due to bushfire damage of the track, so the marathon was put on in its place using the rail trail. Many are hoping the marathon becomes an annual event but that will depend on having people to help out, especially those with experience at running this sort of event.

It was an event to celebrate – the dedicated runners, the volunteers, the weather and the local community, all did a fantastic job!

The early morning fog was breathtaking but it was a bit chilly to start.

The marathon runners started at 7am, all were grateful and insisted on thanking the volunteers as they ran by.

The local Rotary Club had a sausage sizzle running and all competitors and volunteers were entitled to a free sausage sandwich.

Marathon Sweepers at the finish
Marathon Sweepers at the finish

The weather was perfect, the vibe was amazing and everyone was happy.

Huge congratulations to the organisers and helpers – these events take a lot of work and everyone did a great job, whether they were paid or volunteers.

Those who entered are amazing – for their dedication and fortitude!

What a great event to hold on our Rail Trail!

The medal was awesome – organised by SVC staff

How did you hear about us?

How did you hear about our rail trail? Did you see it on social media, or in print somewhere or from word of mouth? We’d be interested to hear from you.

Happy riding/walking/running/pushing a pram – however you use our rail trail!

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail team (volunteers)

You can read more here:

Rail Trail Beginnings

About us

You can find us here:

A Guide to Riding the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

https://facebook.com/TumbarumbaRailTrail

Instagram: @Tumbarumbarailtrail

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Mile markers are a piece of history

Blue Markers

Let’s talk about markers.

As Australia uses the metric system, the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail is a total of 21km from start to finish each way, so a 42km round trip.

(By the way did you know there is a marathon happening along the rail trail soon? More information can be found here Hume and Hovell Ultra).

These blue markers are placed at every kilometre along the trail, together with the latitude/location, making it easy for emergency service personnel to find you if needed. This one indicates it’s 19km to Rosewood.

19km marker heading to Rosewood

Keeping history alive

When the rail trail was constructed it was important to leave as much of the historical infrastructure in situ, and so it was that the ‘mile marker pegs’, measuring the distance from Sydney, were left in place.

Some have been refurbished by the local men’s Shed group and others are in their natural state. In those days Australia used the imperial system so miles it was.

399 mile marker on rail trail
Mile marker indicating it’s 399 miles from Sydney – this has been refurbished by the Men’s Shed and is located at Glenroy siding.

These markers were standard across the NSW rail system.

quarter mile marker on rail trail
quarter mile marker on rail trail
half mile marker on rail trailhalf mile marker on rail trail
half mile marker on rail trail
three quarter mile marker on rail trail
three quarter mile marker on rail trail

It’s interesting to note that opponents of the rail trail use the loss of rail history as an argument against rail trails. But to my mind this is preserving the history, as without the rail trail being built, these signs would be covered under weeds and blackberries and wouldn’t have seen the light of day ever again! Or they’d be in someone’s private collection.

Thanks to Debs-world.com for this information in her recent post and used with permission.

Hope to see you out on the trail one day soon.

How did you hear about us?

How did you hear about our rail trail? Did you see it on social media, or in print somewhere or from word of mouth? We’d be interested to hear from you.

Happy riding/walking/running/pushing a pram – however you use our rail trail!

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail team (volunteers)

You can read more here:

About us

A Guide to Riding the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail

You can find us here:

https://facebook.com/TumbarumbaRailTrail

Instagram: @Tumbarumbarailtrail

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Rail Trail Update as we welcome 2022

Update

We are pleased to report that our Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail is going well with visitor numbers rising, especially as border restrictions start to ease across the country. Also the warmer weather and school holidays have helped bring people to town in droves.

Remember we opened the Rail Trail in April 2020 during Covid lockdown so it had to be opened virtually. We finally had our delayed offical opening in April 2021 with a fabulous Family Fun Day

During the past year we have experienced significant rain events and the rail trail has suffered in places. The committee continues to work with Snowy Valleys Council staff to help rectify issues but due to weather and time constraints some of these are still waiting to be completed.

The volunteer committee continues to work hard as a group, planting hundreds of trees along the trail over the past year, working with various local groups such as the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed, Historical Society and helping with the Rotary Club’s Tumba Triobikes.

Santa and helper on their way in the triobikes
Santa and helper on their way in the triobikes

Counters on the trail

There are two Traker-Count counters recording trail usage. They are located around 2km from each end of the trail. They record that somebody has passed, not how they are travelling or which is the direction of travel. Hence, they only give an estimate of trail usage as not all users pass a counter if they are only doing a section of the trail, and those travelling side by side past a counter would only be counted as one.

Both counters have increased by around 17000 over 2021, ie. around 17000 journeys along the trail, which equates to around 1430 journeys a month. This is a fantastic result in a year where COVID 19 and weather events have had a great effect during the year.

weather along the trail
weather along the trail

Recent Articles and Interviews

A few recent articles and interviews have highlighted our trail to a wider audience than we can manage and we appreciate the opportunity to shine!

Andrew Bain from Traveller.com.au, interviewed committee members last year and his article appeared today online 4 January 2022 – you can read it here:

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail review

Andrew Bain SMH Traveller

ABC News featured our rail trail in late December 2021 after visiting and interviewing Owen Fitzgerald and Grant & Debbie Harris and filming on the trail.

Link here

Rail Trails Australia

We have been fortunate to have lots of support from Rail Trails Australia and they have been fantastic with promoting it for us. We are featured in their magazine on a regular basis and we are very thankful!

How did you hear about us?

How did you hear about our rail trail? Did you see it on social media, or in print somewhere or from word of mouth? We’d be interested to hear from you.

Happy riding/walking/running/pushing a pram – however you use our rail trail!

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail team (volunteers)

Read more here:

About us

A Guide to Riding the Rail Trail

You can find us here:

https://facebook.com/TumbarumbaRailTrail

Instagram: @Tumbarumbarailtrail

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

The Unofficial Official Opening and 1st birthday celebrations

We are happy to report our long awaited Family Fun Day and 1st birthday celebrations of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail actually went ahead as planned on Saturday 10 April 2021.

As you know it was our third attempt at running an opening celebration, each previous one thwarted by Covid restrictions. Last year on 3 April 2020 we ‘virtually’ opened the first rail trail on government owned land with pre-recorded videos and footage on Facebook.

This year though it was able to go ahead with a crowd and we had a very full schedule of fun events along the rail trail 🙂

Cutting the ribbon with kids
Greg and Owen
Greg and Owen
Group cutting the ribbon

Letter to the Editor of the local paper from the organisers:

To the Editor

On behalf of the hard-working Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail volunteer committee we would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone for their involvement and support, for making the Family Fun Day and first birthday celebrations on 10 April 2021, such a successful day.  This event was organised and run by volunteers, with the assistance of Karly Fynn from Turnstyle Events, partly funded by the Dunn’s Road Fire Recovery Grant and our sponsors.

It’s been a long time coming and our third attempt at an opening, but we did it!

Thanks to our dedicated team of volunteer helpers – Cathy and Owen Fitzgerald, Debbie and Grant Harris, Tony and Susie a’Beckett, Ros and Bob Gay, Ron and Cath Frew, Noelene Haslett,  Jackie Lauder, Karen Doyle, Judy Szymoniczek, MaryAnne Marshall, Bernadette and Bruce Alleyn, Emma Ernst, Serena Matto, Jenny Murfett, Julie Giddings, Julia Ham – with the amazing sponsorship from many local businesses, we are thrilled to have celebrated the first birthday and a belated opening event in such a fun way. We would also like to acknowledge the Tumbarumba SVC staff for their support of the event.

All the events along the rail trail were well received and enjoyed by all ages. It worked out just as we had planned it, maybe apart from the coolish weather!

Thanks to Serena at the Rosewood General Store for her efforts in arranging the band in the park, the jumping castle, face painting, the Rosewood School P&C stall raising funds for the local school and for having food available all day!

Jenny at Gone Barny had a great market setup with music, Vin Bar and food and drinks available all day – so many cars and people there all day, Rosewood was really jumping all afternoon!

The free displays of old bikes and train memorabilia at Rosewood were also very popular. Thanks to Karen Doyle and Judy Szymoniczek for organising these displays and liaising with Serena and Jenny.

At Glenroy Hills Road, Kearsley’s was popular with the petting zoo and animal demonstrations, with hot drinks and food available to ward of the chilly temperatures. Thanks to Lauren for her setup, it was a much-appreciated break along the trail.

We had deliberately planned for Glenroy station to have activities for the young ones and those young at heart, with puppet shows, face painting, a photo booth, ice creams, warm waffles and coffee van, plus the stunt bike rider on the smallest bike imaginable. It was a great place to stop with the kids.

One of the highlights of the day were the two Cycling Without Age trikes which took 31 senior citizens for rides along parts of the trail all day, thanks to Woden Rotary and Pedal Power Canberra for loaning us these two trikes.  It really put the ‘family’ into the Family Fun Day when all ages were catered for in this way.  The stories and smiles from the seniors were pure joy to see. The pilots, Jeff Ibbotson from Canberra and locals Grant Harris and Rob Golgini, enjoyed their ride almost as much as their passengers did and they had smiles from ear to ear at the end of a big day of riding! Thanks to Christine Cameron, Amanda Lewis, Garry McClelland and the community transport bus drivers for helping on the day to make it happen.

The ‘Unofficial Official Opening’ at Figures St was a great sight for the committee, the crowds, the families, the visitors, the locals, the politicians, everyone enjoying the fact that our rail trail is the newest rail trail in NSW and is doing so well, with positive feedback from all areas.

We had great speeches from our Patron Greg Aplin, MP Justin Clancy, Mayor James Hayes, Owen Fitzgerald, Alistair Ferguson CEO of Bicycle NSW, Damian McCrohan President of Rail Trails Australia and all were ably led by Councillor Julia Ham as MC. Owen and Greg proudly cut the ribbon stretched across the railway gates and declared the rail trail open – finally!

Our very own Pipes and Drums Band made the ceremony even more special, as when the train station opened all those years ago in Tumbarumba, the Pipe Band played then too!

The winners of the colouring in and decorated bike competitions were announced with some great entries and prize money won. Luke Sweeney took out the first prize in the high school category in the decorated bikes with a red train, numbered 2653, attached to his bike, with Charlie Southwell winning with his decorated balance bike, and siblings Patricia Marriott winning the pre-school section and Max Marriott winning the Primary school section. Congratulations to all those who participated. 

Several displays were set up from Rail Trails Australia, Bicycle NSW, SVC and Ride Tumba. Lots of giveaways and information were given out on the day. Several penny farthings were a welcome mobile exhibit along the trail, plus tandems, baby trailers, tag-alongs, motorised wheelchairs, scooters, recumbents and walkers. Thanks to members of the Historical Society for helping out at the Wagga road crossing and to Rotary for their help as parking attendants.

Our birthday cupcakes went down a treat, together with Rotary and Lions cooking egg and bacon rolls for an early breakfast.  Our free slap bands were well received, and the Scavenger Hunt will be fun for those undertaking the trail in the future.  These are available at the Visitor Info centre, Ride Tumba, Bikes and Blooms, Gone Barny and Rosewood General Store.

The addition of two free shuttles buses from Goodes Coaches, with bike trailers, were welcomed by many as they battled the cool temperatures and allowed everyone to enjoy the day without wearing themselves out, particularly those with kids riding. Our official photographer was Peter McDade.

All in all, we are happy with the celebrations and thank everyone again, for their unwavering support.

Regards.

Debbie and Cathy

The Queens of the Rail Trail
happy and bright cycling without age trike
Cycling Without Age trike meets penny farthing
rail trail opening
on the trail with cycling without age trikes

We are thrilled to have finally had an ‘opening celebration’ and will now continue to promote our rail trail far and wide!

Rail Trail Committee Volunteers 🙂

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Happy and Bright – and square!

What a great way of involving our Senior citizens in the Rail Trail! Cycling Without Age trikes are a fabulous idea aren’t they?

Deb's World

Bright Squares

Happy and bright is the theme for my #brightsquare post today.

How can you not smile at the happy and bright faces of these senior citizens?

They were taken for a ride on our Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail in the Cycling Without Age trikes on our Family Fun Day on Saturday.

Cycling Without Age is a wonderful concept bringing joy and freedom to senior citizens who can no longer manage to ride a bike.

Cycling Without Age is a not-for-profit charity that provides a community service by connecting those no longer able to ride for themselves with their community and the outdoors by giving them free rides on trishaw ebikes, piloted by volunteer cyclists.

Source

on the trail with cycling without age trikes
rail trail opening
trike and penny farthing
happy and bright cycling without age trike

The average age of those in these photos is about 90 years old, with Ailsa Cottam in the bottom photo (on the left hand side) aged 98! Just look at her…

View original post 436 more words

Rail Trail Family Fun Day – 1st birthday celebrations

Finally our long awaited Family Fun Day and 1st birthday celebrations of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail are almost ready to happen – it’s all going ahead this coming Saturday 10 April 2021.

It’s our third attempt at running an opening celebration, each previous one thwarted by Covid restrictions. Luckily though each previous attempt had dreadful weather on the day, so we are kind of happy we had to wait! It will be cooler on Saturday than it has been these past few weeks but so far no rain is forecast!

We have a very full schedule of fun events across the rail trail and Tumbarumba and Rosewood.

1st birthday celebrations
1st birthday celebrations
Glenroy station
Glenroy station
Kearsleys activities
Kearsleys activities
Wolseley Park and Gone Barny
Wolseley Park and Gone Barny
Rosewood Park
Rosewood Park

It’s going to be the ‘Unofficial Official Opening’ and will be a fun day for all ages!

Here is a summary of the events taken from the program.

We also have a free shuttle bus running all day with bike trailers!

Tumbarumba to Rosewood Family Fun Day Saturday 10th April 2021

8.30am – 10am Figures Street, Tumbarumba Birthday Celebration Ceremony Birthday cupcakes Food and drink available 8am-10am Tumbarumba Pipes & Drums Displays 

– Ride Tumbarumba 

– Cycling Without Age (also arranging rides) 

– Penny Farthings 

9.30am – 1pm: Glenroy Station Free Activities Puppet shows Photo booth Face painting Roving performer Ice Cream & Coffee vans 

Kearsleys Function Centre Coffee and refreshments from 9am Bar open from 12pm 2pm-4pm – Petting zoo 2pm – Horsemanship demonstration 2:30pm – Pony cart demonstration 3pm – Dog Trial Expo 

11am – 3pm: Wolseley Park Rail Trails Australia Munday’s Catering pre order collection 

9am: Gone Barny, Rosewood Boutique Markets from 10am Ollie & Scuzzi performing from midday VinBar from midday 

10am – 4pm: Pioneer Park, Rosewood Never Mind The Damage performing from 12pm Coffee and food available at Rosewood General Store Anzac biscuits stall Historical bikes and train displays Jumping castle and face painting 

Other activities along the trail on the day will include: Instagram and Facebook frames Scavenger hunt & Geocaching Cycling Without Age trikes Pioneer Women’s Hut will be open at Glenroy, access only available by vehicle or bus – there is no direct access from the Rail Trail.

Rail Trail map from Australian Geographic story
Rail Trail map from Australian Geographic story

We hope to see you there. But if you can’t make us, please wish us well!

Rail Trail Committee Volunteers 🙂

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Calling all Rail Trail enthusiasts

Media Release for the upcoming Family Fun Day and 1st birthday celebrations of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail on Saturday 10 April 2021.

Hope to see you there.

Rail Trail Committee Volunteers

Copyright © 2023 Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee and Debbie Harris – All rights reserved

Rail Trail Forum in Tumbarumba on 9 April 2021

NSW Rail Trail Forum – Friday 9 April

Keen to know more about the newest rail trail in NSW?

Come to Tumbarumba in April and get excited.

• Hear about the success of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail one year on from its opening.
• Listen to representatives from other rail trail committees around NSW share their stories.
• Participate in a round table discussion about the way forward.
• Learn from some experts on the nuts and bolts of Rail Trail development and construction.

Costs will be $40 for the one day event including morning and afternoon tea and lunch.

An optional dinner (additional $40) will be held at the Bowling Club on the Friday night.

See here for full program.

Registration is through Trybooking:

For the forum:
https://www.trybooking.com/BPBQA

For the dinner:
https://www.trybooking.com/BPBQG

For more information on the Forum contact
Dennis Puniard – Forum Convenor
Email: puniard@grapevine.com.au
Ph: 0407 220 885

Sponsored by:
Rail Trails Australia
Snowy Valleys Council
The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Committee

Information shared from Rail Trails Australia

Family Fun Day 10 April 2021

On the following day Saturday 10 April, join the celebrations at the family fun day on Saturday 10 April and ride the 21 km trail to Rosewood. This is the third attempt at holding an opening event since the trail opened on 3 April 2020, during the pandemic. It had to be opened virtually due to restrictions.

Hope to see you in Tumbarumba and Rosewood!

Rail Trail Committee (volunteers)

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