Commuters have given way to crooners at Australia's largest railway station as a kaleidoscope of rock'n'roll kings sets off for the famous Elvis Festival in Parkes.
The annual pilgrimage to the central west NSW town kicked off in earnest on Thursday, a day after what would have been the King of Rock'n'Roll's 90th birthday.
Scores of Elvis and Priscilla Presley fans and impersonators danced their way onto the annual Elvis Express train from Sydney's Central station for the seven-hour journey west, complete with themed carriages and on-board performances.
Taurean K Mill grinned excitedly at the chance to rub shoulders with other Elvis tribute artists, having taken out New Zealand's Elvis Down Under contest in October.
That set the 20-year-old on a path to the Parkes leg of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and potentially a trip to Graceland.
"I love anything music .. and I grew up with Elvis and it's great to listen to and sing his music," the first-time festival goer told AAP.
"I'm expecting it will be insanely packed. I'm quite excited for that."
From under a light-blue bejewelled jumpsuit, Stewart Munro was cautious about describing himself as an Elvis fan, despite travelling from Scotland to attend the festival with friend Kyle Cummings.
But the pair knew those making the trip Can't Help Falling in Love with the King.
"I think after this weekend, we'll be much more Elvis fans," Mr Cummings told AAP.
The 32nd year of the Parkes Elvis Festival is themed around Presley's 1967 film Easy Come, Easy Go.
Beginning in 1993, the festival has grown significantly, recently attracting more than 20,000 people, swelling the Parkes population of roughly 11,000, and injecting more than $11 million into the local economy.
Attendees can compete in the Elvis and Priscilla Presley lookalike competitions, alongside other events including busking, rock'n'roll dancing, and tribute performance contests.
Making her eighth appearance, Jenny Dollin proudly played up for the cameras at Central, twirling her Good Luck Charm, a flowing cape made from scarves collected from various Elvis concerts.
But the festival is not the only time of the year she dons her blue suede shoes.
"I'm a teacher, so I can sneak it into school. The kids love it," she told AAP.
Train driver Peter White is marking his third year at the helm of the Elvis Express and told AAP in December it's a "party train".
"The actual route is the same but obviously the passengers are very different," Mr White said.
"It's quite a spectacle, once the train is loaded up ... then it's singing and dancing all the way to Parkes."
NSW Tourism and Arts Minister John Graham wished all the "hound dogs" a great trip.
“The Parkes Elvis Festival is a cracking example of a NSW regional town doing its own thing and creating a multi-decade success story that attracts thousands of visitors from around Australia and the world," Mr Graham said.
The five-day festival runs until Sunday.
