Destination's Journey

Tag: train

  • Yass Railway Museum

    Yass Railway Museum

    Yass Railway Museum

    Located in the old Yass Town railway station, the Yass Railway Museum displays some of the old rolling stock that used to work here. The main rail line passes four kilometres to the north of Yass, because two river crossing would have been needed to bring it through town. Because of this, Yass lobbied for a light tramway into the main town. Opened in 1892, but never operating at a profit, it was closed in 1988.

    The old railway station building houses a small giftshop, railway memorabilia and a model railway. All the main exhibits are outside on the old tracks.

    The main attraction is the 1307 steam locomotive. This coal fired steam locomotive operated at Yass from 1910 to 1964. On leaving Yass, it worked around several of Sydney’s train workshops, including Eveleigh and Clyde. When finally retired, it had operated for 94 years. Fortunately sent to Thirlmere Railway Museum for preservation, 1307 relocated to Yass in 1999.

    Sitting on the tracks just passed 1307, a line of rolling stock includes a freight wagon, a covered wagon, fuel truck and brake van. At the head of the line-up is X203 diesel locomotive. Although usually employed for shunting trains around stations, at Yass it was the sole locomotive from 1964 to 1972. Scrapped in 1989 the Yass diesel locomotive was actually X202, but X203 stands in for it at the museum.

    Awaiting restoration, an open carriage and brake van sit outside the goods shed. As with all the displays, you are able to enter them.

    What Did We Think?

    With only a few displays, it doesn’t take long to look around, but it was a fun visit, and we were pleased we went. Plenty of parking makes access easy.

    Yass Railway Museum
    Yass Town Railway Station – Now a Museum
    Yass Railway Museum
    Old Yass Railway Station
    1307 Steam Locomotive Yass Railway Museum
    1307 Steam Locomotive
    1307 Steam Locomotive
    1307 Steam Locomotive
    X203 Diesel Locomotive
    X203 Diesel Locomotive
    X203 Diesel Locomotive Yass Railway Museum
    X203 Diesel Locomotive
    Open End Carriage No. 1259 Yass Railway Museum
    Open End Carriage No. 1259
    Model Railway Yass Railway Museum
    Model Railway

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

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  • Kandos The Town That Built Sydney

    Kandos The Town That Built Sydney

    Kandos The Town That Built Sydney

    Established in the early 1900s for the NSW Cement, Lime and Coal Co Ltd, Kandos produced cement until the plant’s closure in 2011. Taken from the initials of the founding company directors: Campbell, Angus, Noyes, McDonald, Oakden and Stephen. The first letter was later changed to a K rather than a C at the insistence of the Postmaster General. He thought it was too close to Chandos in South Australia.

    Cement produced here was used all over New South Wales, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the Central to St James underground railway, leading to the town branding itself “The Town That Built Sydney”.

    Located 234 km north-west of Sydney, for a three and a quarter hour trip, or a 64 km, one-hour trip south-east of Mudgee, Kandos is a great place to visit. Not only does the town offer interesting things to do, but nearby is Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park.

    On entering town, an old railway wagon proudly displays a load of Kandos Cement, making you aware of the town’s heritage.

    Some interesting sights include the old railway station and nearby hotel, along with some interesting sculptures nearby. We also found an old underground loading unit sitting on the side of a road near the museum, which was an interesting discovery.

    • Kandos Cement Wagon
      Cement Wagon
    • Old Rail Wagons
      Old Rail Wagons
    • Kandos Town Sign
      Kandos Town Sign
    • Kandos Railway Station
      The Railway Station
    • Train Sculpture at a Kandos Railway Station
      Train Sculpture at a the Railway Station
    • Sculpture at a Kandos Railway Station
      Sculpture at the Railway Station
    • St Laurence’s Anglican Church
    • Railway Hotel
      Railway Hotel
    • Underground Loader
      Underground Loader

    Kandos Museum

    Specialising in Kandos and the surrounding towns, the museum has a wonderful collection of historical items. A large section is dedicated to the cement works and their impact on the town.

    Outside displays provide access to several large displays of cement works equipment, including skips from the aerial ropeway that brought limestone from the quarry to the cement works.

    The volunteer staff were exceptional, full of local knowledge and more than happy to answer our questions. They really made the visit even more enjoyable.

    Kandos Museum
    Kandos Museum

    Kandos Cement Works

    Walking inside the museum’s entrance, you are greeting by the immaculate 1930 Nash Ambulance. This vehicle is surrounded by cement works artefacts, detailing the workings of the factory that kept Kandos ticking for nearly 100 years.

    • Kandos Cement Works 1930 Nash Ambulance
      Kandos Cement Works 1930 Nash Ambulance
    • The Mine's Old Safety Sign
      The Old Safety Sign
    • Gauges From the Cement Factory
      Gauges From the Cement Factory
    • The Many Used for an Old Cement Bag
      The Many Used for an Old Cement Bag

    Local History

    The local history of Kandos and surrounding villages makes up a large display in a second room, detailing local life.

    • Local Towns and Villages Sign at the Museum
      Local Towns and Villages Sign at the Museum
    • Gas Powered Fridge
      Gas Powered Fridge
    • Gramophone Collection
      Gramophone Collection
    • Gas Light
      Gas Light
    • Old Telephones and Cinema Sign
      Old Telephones and Cinema Sign
    • Kandos Museum
      Main Museum Display Room
    • Old Farm Tools
      Old Farm Tools

    Outside Displays

    Large pieces of equipment displayed outside the museum include part of the aerial ropeway, steam engines and crushers provide a glimpse of the limestone quarry’s operation.

    • Old Equipment at the Museum
      Old Equipment at the Museum
    • Mill From the Kandos Cement Factory
      Mill From the Cement Factory
    • Overhead Skip
      Aerial Ropeway Skip

    What Did We Think?

    Kandos is a great town to visit, with a lot of history crammed into 100 years, as well as the wonderful Wollemi National Park to visit close by.

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

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Newcastle Museum New South Wales

    Newcastle Museum New South Wales

    Newcastle Museum

    Founded in 1988 and relocated to its current building in 2011, Newcastle Museum preserves the history of Newcastle. Situated in Honeysuckle and occupying old railway workshops, the museum opens Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays, except in school holidays, the museum is a great place to visit There is no cost to visit the museum.

    How To Get There

    Car parks on Wright lane and Honeysuckle Drive provide a convenient place to leave the car. These are pay-for-use parks, with ticket machines to buy tickets from. IF you are using light rail, the closest station is Civic.

    Newcastle Museum Displays

    Outside Displays

    Several of the Museum’s displays are located outside the main building. They are easy to find, one being a camel sculpture and another a huge dragline bucket. The building itself has historical importance, previously used as a railway workshop.

    Camel Sculpture Outside the Museum
    Camel Sculpture Outside the Museum

    Link Gallery

    Located between the old Boiler Shop and Erecting Shed, the Link Gallery holds some of the larger exhibits in the museum’s collection. These include “The Buck” an 1870 J&A Brown Locomotive No4 and the 1890 pipe organ formerly installed in St Augustine’s Church, Merewether.

    The Buck an 0-6-0 Saddle Tank
    The Buck an 0-6-0 Saddle Tank
    The Buck an 0-6-0 Saddle Tank
    The Buck an 0-6-0 Saddle Tank

    Fire and Earth

    Illustrating Newcastle’s industrial past, this gallery has exhibits from the old BHP Steel Works and coal mines. The multi-level displays allow you to view them from different angles and appreciate these industries and the people who worked them.

    Coal Loader (Jeffrey 44dd)
    Coal Loader (Jeffrey 44dd)

    Supernova

    Founded by Professor Tim Roberts in the late 1970s, Supernova is a hands-on science experience for kids and interested adults. This area explores different aspects of science, allowing you to experiment and understand them with easy activities. An excellent place to learn about science while having fun.

    The Globe in Supernova
    The Globe in Supernova

    A Newcastle Story

    This area of the museum explores how Newcastle changed over time, from the original Aboriginal inhabitants, to the World War 2 shelling by a Japanese submarine to the earthquake of 1989.

    Dedicated to the George and Richard Owens Collection, one room is full of colourful boxes and containers. This beautiful collection shows how brands were sold and presented in the past.

    Newcastle Tram 284
    Newcastle Tram 284
    George and Richard Owens Collection
    George and Richard Owens Collection
    World War One Uniforms Newcastle Museum
    World War One Uniforms
    Axe Heads and Hammer Stone
    Axe Heads and Hammer Stone
    Fossilized Backbone Newcastle Museum
    Fossilized Backbone

    Model T Ford

    Illustrating a problem many museums have is a rusty Model T Ford. Should it be left as found, or restored to its original condition? Would restoring it destroy its history and possibly lose important data?

    Model T Ford Newcastle Museum
    Model T Ford

    What Did We Think?

    We were surprised by the quality of the exhibits and had a great walking through the galleries. Anyone visiting Newcastle should visit the museum to help appreciate the city’s past. Well worth the visit!

    Our photos are available for purchase on

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