As Tara Toomey co-directs her seventh annual Seasons of New England, she is more excited than ever about this year's event as it draws closer, due to commence in Uralla's Hampden Park from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, March 28.
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Tara said it would something very special when the 1948 Blue Zephyr train set pulled in and dropped off its passengers at Uralla and Armidale and tickets are on sale now.
"The train will set off from Broadmeadow on March 27 and travel to Armidale station," she said.
"It's really a stylish and social way to travel.
"It has two sitting cars with full reclining seats, air-conditioned with nice table between chairs, and two lounge cars, which have a small food service area, so there will be New England product there for people to eat and drink."
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Tara said there was a dining car in the middle with a full galley kitchen.
"We have a local chef coming on board to cook some local product. We've got lamb, trout and dishes that people can choose," she said.
"At the bar we will have some local non-alcoholic drinks and some local wines and beers and things like that too.
"To get the train from Broadmeadow to Uralla and return will cost $295, and to Armidale will be $315. That includes a main meal and a drink on each leg of the journey, both up and back, and people will be served both in the dining car or in their seat."
Tara described the train as beautiful with old style comfortable airline seats.
"Coming up will take about seven-and-a-half hours and the return journey, I think, is slightly longer at eight-and-a-half hours," she said.
"It should get into Uralla at about 6pm on Friday and Armidale at about 6:45pm.
"It will be a heritage diesel engine called "Chump", not a steam engine."
She said this year was shaping up to be a big event when compared to previous years.
"We've got a full complement of stallholders, the sites are all well loaded with some really talented people from right across the region," Tara said.
"You can't really stress enough how important the opportunity to be discovered is, particularly at the moment.
"Everyone faces difficult challenges, whether it's drought, the bushfires or the logistics of managing really tight water restrictions. No matter what it is, the opportunity to be discovered and hopefully export a bit of the New England is really crucial."
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