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Category: Vehicles

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Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland

Traction Engines Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland

Hunter Valley Steamfest is an annual event held at Maitland in the Hunter Valley. Although focused around steam trains it also includes a large number of stalls selling local produce. There were also plenty of options for refreshments from stalls and shops to pubs and restaurants. 

The main attractions are the steam locomotives 6029 “The Garrett” and 3642 along with the diesels Red Rattler and Tin Hare. During the event you can purchase tickets for a ride in the carriages. It is suggested that you purchase them beforehand so that you don’t miss out.

Red Rattler Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland
Red Rattler
Steam Locomotive 3642 Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland
Steam Locomotive 3642
Locomotive 6029 "The Garrett" Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland
Locomotive 6029 “The Garrett”

There is a large display of steam traction engines, which are down on a field next to the train station.  Several steam engines were driving around the outside of the arena. Seeing these huge machines driving past was a great experience. There were also a large number of stationary steam engines most if which were working. The engines were constantly tended by their owners to make sure they kept working properly.

Traction Engines Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland
Traction Engines

Near the traction engines was a steam powered car something we didn’t know existed until we saw this one. It was in immaculate condition and would have been great to see drive around, but unfortunately, not while we were there.

Steam Powered car at Hunter Valley Steamfest in Maitland

As a related interest there were a large number of steampunk cos-players attending which added a lot of character to the festival as they walked around. For those interested, they had stalls selling steampunk related merchandise which was interesting.

Steampunk Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland
Steampunk
Penny Farthing Steampunk Hunter Valley Steamfest Maitland
Penny Farthing Steampunk

A great day out at Hunter Valley Steamfest seeing steam locomotive history live. A great atmosphere from everyone attending as they were obviously enjoying themselves.

To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.

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New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere Sydney

D55 Class Locomotive 5595 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere

How to Get There

The New South Wales Rail Museum is located in Thirlmere which is near Picton to the west of Sydney. We drove there as part of a larger trip to the Illawarra which made it an excellent break from driving.

The New South Wales Rail Museum

The museum houses the majority of Transport Heritage NSW large collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock. The importance of this collection means that it is well protected and mostly housed under cover as well as having a modern display hall containing the most important items.

Parking is on the road outside of the museum in marked parking bays. Entry is via the new building where the staff will give you a map of the museum and answer any questions you may have.

The main building houses the historic E18 and E78 trains as well as the Governor’s train.

Oldest Loco E18 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Oldest Loco E18
Locomotive E78 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Locomotive E78

The majority of the collection is held outside under cover and away from the elements. This huge collection would take many hours to explore if you wanted to examine it all in detail. There are arrows painted on the walkways to make walking around the collection easier.

Old Carriages New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Old Carriages
Rail Pay Bus New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Rail Pay Bus
D55 Class Locomotive 5595 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
D55 Class Locomotive 5595

As well as the trains and rolling stock, there is other memorabilia at the museum.  As you walk around you will find old station clocks, time-table departure boars and baggage carts.

Old Departure Time Board New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Old Departure Time Board
New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Baggage Cart

Unfortunately the on site café was not working when we visited  but there are options available just a few minutes walk away at the Thirlmere shops.

Train Photographs

More photographs fro the NSW Rail Museum can be found here.

Thirlmere Station

While at the New South Wales Rail Museum have a look at the Thirlmere station and station master’s house as they are well maintained and make some great photos.

Thirlmere Station New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
Thirlmere Station
Boom Gates at Thirlmere New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere

The old boom gates where the road into Thirlmere crosses the rail tracks are also worth having a close look at.

The Mushroom Tunnel at Picton

If you are in the area it is worth stopping at Picton for another rail related visit. There is a disused rail tunnel  that you can visit called the Mushroom Tunnel. We missed the entrance the first time as it is quite small, so drove on into Piction and found somewhere to have a snack and drink. The dirt road into the tunnel can be rough so drive carefully. The tunnel itself is quite interesting,  having been re-purposed from a train tunnel to a mushroom farm (hence its name) and now a tourist attraction. We drove though then turned around and drove back before walking through it. Remember to take a torch.

Mushroom Tunnel Piction New South Wales
Mushroom Tunnel

A great place to explore if you are a rail enthusiast and a good break if you need somewhere to stop to relieve the driving boredom.

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Australian Motorlife Museum Wollongong

Rugby 1924 car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com

The Australian Motorlife Museum is in Kembla Grange near Wollongong. It is a member based organisation, dedicated to the preservation of motoring history in all forms. It is sponsored by the NRMA.

We arrived late in the afternoon and found the staff were all extremely friendly and helpful and went out of their way to explain the history of the cars on display.

The cars at the Australian Motorlife Museum are all very high quality and immaculately maintained. The collection ranges from the early 1900s to the 1970s, with most coming from the earlier days of car manufacturing.

Rolls Royce (5) car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Rolls Royce
Metz 22 car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Metz 22
Holden (1) car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Holden
Austin 6-16 Burnham (1) car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Austin 6-16 Burnham
Rover 9 25 1927 (1) car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Rover 9 25 1927
Summit Roadster 1923 car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Summit Roadster 1923
Minerva 1913 (6) car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Minerva 1913

Whether you want to see a Model T Ford, a 1913 Minerva or a Zeta Sports you will find it here.

Zeta Sports 1954 (2) Car Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Zeta Sports 1954 (2)

Among the car displays are a number of motorcycles also of high quality. 

Rudge (1) Motorcycle Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Rudge
Vincent Black Shadow 1934 motorcycle Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Vincent Black Shadow 1934
Douglas Motorcycle 1924 Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Douglas Motorcycle 1924
Rudge 1911 motorbike Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Rudge 1911

As well as motoring memorabilia they are a significant number of other items on display ranging from old telephones, record players and typewriters to tricycles. A fascinating collection worth a look at.

Telephone (1) Item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Telephone
Scales (3) Item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Scales
Record Player (3) Item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Record Player
Tricycle (8) Item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Tricycle
Pump (4) Item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Pump
Ediphone item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Ediphone
Gramophone item at Australian Motorlife Museum www.destinationsjourney,com
Gramophone

If you are a car enthusiast or just have a passing interest in automobile history, as well as yesteryear memorabilia you will love this museum.

If you are an NRMA member there is a discount on the entry fee to the Australian Motorlife Museum.

For more of our photographs from the museum, click here.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.