Horses hop on steam train for unique ride through Flinders Ranges

It is not unusual to see South Australia's oldest operating heritage railway full of tourists, but rather rare to see horses among its passengers.Based in Quorn in the Flinders Ranges, the volunteer-run Pichi Richi Railway recently opened its carriages to more than 30 four-legged guests.Horses were loaded onto the train. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)It was the third time horses had boarded the train since the once-regular service ceased in 2008.Jenni Reschke and her horses used to be regular passengers."It's been a while, and I just always thought about it," Ms Reschke said.Jenni Reschke initially reached out to a few friends to come on her first ride in 2022. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)Ms Reschke got in touch with some of the Pichi Richi Railway train drivers a few years ago to see what it would take to bring back the horse rides.She reached out to some friends to gauge interest, and in 2022 she organised the train ride of a lifetime for about 13 people and their horses."It was really great, so I said, 'That's so fun, I'll do it again,'" Ms Reschke said.The horse passengers seemed pretty chuffed with their scenic train ride. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)Since then, she has run the event every two years."I ended up asking a few more friends, so last time [in 2024] I reckon we had about 23 people," she said."I just bring them up here to our beautiful country and I love showing them around. I'm a bit of a show-off."The Pichi Richi route is surrounded by colourful wildflowers. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)When it came time to continue the event this year, there was even more interest."The word sort of got out a bit more … and we've ended up with 32 horses," she said.Hold your horsesPichi Richi volunteer Senga Reed said the extra cargo attracted a lot of interest."It's an unusual experience, and it's good for the passengers," she said.Senga Reed says passengers are always excited to find out they will be joined by horses. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)"They love it when they find out that they've got the horses on board, it's extra special."She said the heritage railway experience was always "very popular", horses or not.The area has blossomed with wildflowers. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)"We get people from all over the world coming to travel on the train, and we get a lot of repeaters as well," she said."It's fantastic when you get to see people coming back, and they come a few times, then they start volunteering themselves."Jenni Reschke brought a couple of her horses along for the ride. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)After heavy rain, this year's ride among fields of wildflowers was a far cry from the last."Two years ago we were in a very heavy drought, very solid. It was so dry," Ms Reschke said."The land is still beautiful, but it's very, very harsh. "And this year we've just been so blessed, it's so, so different."The group rode through the flourishing ranges after their scenic train ride. (ABC Rural: Isabella Kelly)