The former actor and TV star, now current full-time train enthusiast has led more than 40 train tours across almost 40 countries with Railway Adventures.

But for his latest adventure, he has decided to bring it back to his childhood home of Mudgee.

"Mudgee Weekend Escape" is a rare opportunity to travel on the retro-restored Capertee Valley Explorer across the normally-inaccessible Mudgee branch line to take place later in April.

The Capertee Explorer is a concept train which is made up of heritage carriages, including dining, club and sitting cars. It was designed and built by Mr McGregor in collaboration with a couple of heritage societies and fellow train aficionados.

"It's mostly made up of carriages that used to belong to the Newcastle Flyer. So they date from the late 1940s and they've been done up in more of a lounge, rail cruising style."

"I want to take people around the countryside by train and have a whole pile of experiences along the way, even stopping at country pubs. We pull the train into the Tarana Pub and we have dinner and we get back on the train."

Mr McGregor oversees the route planning of each trip and said the Mudgee Weekend Escape is designed to show off the best of the region.

"I want them to feel surprised and elated, but particularly surprised at how good the offerings are around here. Our service providers are so comfortable dealing with the general public and putting on a party, Mudgee is a natural and it's a well established destination."

The route takes passengers over the Blue Mountains, past the gorgeous Capertee Valley and to Rylstone, where passengers switch to coaches which take them to Mudgee.

Mr McGregor oversees the route planning of each trip and said the Mudgee Weekend Escape is designed to show off the best of the region.

It's easy to become entranced in the mesmerising rhythm of a steam locomotive, to feel invigorated with each loud bang they spew out. As they come and go from far-away places they seem like living, breathing things.

There's a sense of magic to them, so it's easy to see why most train enthusiasts often develop their locomotive fascination during childhood.

"I'm glad I was born when I was because if I'd been born any later I would have missed the steam era," Mr McGregor said.

"I still remember very clearly what these towns were like, at the height of steam. Orange was a junction town with five lines coming in and 400 people worked there and the Depo was frantic. There were 20 or 30 locomotives, all in steam at any one time doing different things.

His father was the manager of the Central Western Daily and the family worked closely with the railways.

"So it's quite nostalgic, and it's about the people."

The second night of the Mudgee Weekend Escape features a sunset cocktail reception at Mr McGregor's train-themed retreat, which he opened to the public back in 2005 for high-quality accommodation.

It feels like the backdrop of a surrealist painting, there are nine vintage train carriages perched high on a mountaintop in the Great Dividing Range.

"I love guests' reactions when they walk across that veranda and they look at this view down over the valley. They're so surprised, they don't know what they're getting themselves into and they go away 99% of the time just going 'that was the best weekend we've had in yonks'."

Mr McGregor bought the Cooks Gap property, which is just 32 kilometres north of Mudgee, initially with the idea of building a personal weekend retreat out of disused railway carriages.

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But his unbridled passion for locomotives took over, and he had quickly bought nine separate carriages from NSW Railways, after they decommissioned old rolling stock for scrap value.

"I started this 40 years ago and it's ongoing. I think being hands-on and being creative, just feeds back into the loop. Now that I can bring other people in groups to come and stay, when they show their appreciation, it feels like the applause I used to get as an actor."

The three stand-out carriages are the 1920s State Car, the 1890 Sydney Passenger Car and the 1899 Pullman Car, all of which have been converted into luxury time-capsules of a bygone era.

"I love the story of the railways. I love these carriages because they have such history, they carted all sorts of people over time, whether you had the money to ride in a Pullman car, a first class sleeping car, or whether you were in a dog box. And now we live in them."

The Mudgee Weekend Escape is a rare opportunity to travel by private train on the scenic, normally inaccessible Mudgee branch line.

"The scenery on the Mudgee line is astounding."

Local history: When the region rallied to retain and revive its railway

Mr McGregor said it was worth revisiting the Mudgee line and its potential revival.

"If you build it they will come. I think most people underestimate the tourist potential of that line."

"We need to recognise that around the world there's the second railway revolution happening, new trains are being launched, new lines are being opened. I think it's a no-brainer. There's a good reason to do this line, freight or not."

The Mudgee Weekend Escape takes place on April 24-26, 2021. More information, including pricing can be found at their website.

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