Australian Steam Railway Links

While steam no longer runs the rails as it once did, it still exists in Australia in the capable hands of enthusiasts, museums and tourist railways.

Here is a good selection of railways that still offer the sweet smell of burnt coal!

Lachlan Valley Railway - Cowra NSW

Located in Cowra, about 270kms south west of Sydney, the LVR runs occasional steam tours to various destinations in the south-west of the state.
LVR steam locos include 4-6-4 30-class 3013, 4-6-0 tender engine 3026, P-class 4-6-0 3237 and US-built 2-8-2 5917.
D53-class member 5367 is currently stuck at Cowra, barred from running on the Blayney-Harden branch because of its weight (which hasn't changed since it was built in 1914 and ran over the same rails for 50 years).
P-class 3237 steam for the first time in 35 years early in 2004 and looks set to make a welcome return to traffic in 2005.
C30-class 3026 is currently under-going axle-box repairs and tone-up while D59 No. 5917 is currently undergoing overhaul for return to steam, although completion dates of these two locos are unknown at this stage.

3801 Ltd - Sydney NSW

Operating out of Sydney, 3801 Ltd is a non-profit company set up by former SRA boss, David Hill, to maintain C38-class leaer 3801. The group also runs C38-class 3830 on behalf of the Powerhouse Museum.
Other locos used by 3801 Ltd tours include privately-owned C30-class 3112 and former South Maitland Railways (SMR) 10-class No.18

At present, 3801, 3830 and 3112 are operational.
SMR No.18 is out of action - no date has been given on its return to service however plans are to have it return to steam over the original rails it ran on for over 70 years - hauling passengers over the South Maitland Railway metals.
The Powerhouse Museum's 3265 is undergoing overhaul at a slow pace.

New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM) - Thirlmere, NSW

The NSWRTM was set up in 1963 to preserve the state's steam history and is now located at Thirlmere, about 70kms south-west of Sydney on the original Main Southern Railway just south of Picton.
The Museum has a wide range of locos although in recent times, operational steam locos have been reduced in number.
Currently, Z27-class 2705 and recently restored C35-class 3526 are in operational service.
The Museum now mostly runs diesel-only tours however 2705 still runs the Thirlmere Tourist Railway from Thirlmere to Picton, 6kms further north.
There is talk of 3642 being returned to service for 2005's 150th anniversary of Steam in NSW with D59 5910 receiving a tone-up overhaul after that.

Michelago Tourist Railway - Canberra, ACT

Located in Canberra, The Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS) ACT division operate this railway over 50 kms of the former Queenbeyan-to-Bombala railway to Michelago.
The Society has a number of locos include C30-class 4-6-0 tender 3016 and 3102 (static). It also has Z24-class 2-6-0 2419.
Two of its more prominant locos is AD60-class 4-8-4+4-8-4 garratt 6029, built in 1954 plus Z12-class 4-4-0 member 1210, the first loco to pull into Canberra station.
1210 is operational, 3016 is expected to return to service by the end of 2004 and a long-term appeal is running to help restore 6029 to operational service.

Zig Zag Railway - Lithgow NSW

Starved of suitable locos by the then State Government of NSW, the Zig Zag Railway Co-op was forced to look interstate for steam. In the end, a number of Queensland and South Australian locos made the journey to Lithgow, about 150kms west of Sydney.
Operational locos include BB18 1/4-class 1072 and DD17-class 4-6-4 tank 1049.
The railway operates over part of the original western railway restored between the Lithgow Zig Zag and Clarence each weekend of the year.

Glenreagh Mountain Railway Inc. - Glenreagh NSW

Developing the lower half of the Dorrigo railway line, this group has Z19-class 1919 in operational service with a view of running tourist services in the near future.

Links to Australian steam railways