Hunter Valley Steamfest
Encyclopedia
The Hunter Valley Steamfest is one of the major events in the New South Wales
steam locomotive season and also one of the major events held in Maitland
, in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia
. It is usually attended by locomotives from all over New South Wales.
Local area
Richmond Vale Railway
NSW
Others
, Branxton
, Paterson
and Dungog
are conducted during Steamfest.
The Barrington Bullet is one of the special train trips that has been in operation during Steamfest for a few years. The trip goes to Dungog
where people get out to see the town for a few hours. 3642 will be at the head of the train during 2011 Steamfest.
. In 2010 three trains raced three Tiger Moths. The winner of the race was 3265, the oldest loco in the race, by a photo finish against 3642.
For 2011, 3526 won the racing against 3265 and the Tiger Moths which was having problems.
displays.
Maitland Park plays host for the "Show 'n Shine car expo" where over 700 vintage, veteran and classic cars are on display. The car expo is held on the Sunday during Steamfest.
. During the year, the area is open as a free public reserve, with barbecues, picnics areas, a playground, walking trails and a 7 1/4 inch gauge toy train that runs on Sundays. The reservoir and surrounding plant life make it a unique environment for birds and animals in the area.
at North Rothbury
, about 27 km (17 mi) from Maitland, includes a wide selection of rolling stock and locomotives and is open to the public during Steamfest in the late 1990s.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
steam locomotive season and also one of the major events held in Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
, in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is usually attended by locomotives from all over New South Wales.
History
Hunter Valley Steamfest began in 1985 to remember the days of steam, two years after the last commercial steam service in Australia ended on the South Maitland Railway. Since then Steamfest has had over 17 different Loco attend over the 25 years and has attracted over 70,000 people annually and still rising.Locomotives
Hunter Valley Steamfest has seen different locomotives from all over New South Wales and even one loco from London during its 25 year existence. Some of these locos are:Local area
- SMR 10
- SMR 17
- SMR 18
- SMR 25 – before being moved to Richmond Vale Railway
Richmond Vale Railway
- Marjorie
- SMR 24
- SMR 25
- SMR 30
NSW
- 3001 - NSW Rail Transport Museum 1986, 1988
- 3026 – Lachlan Valley RailwayLachlan Valley RailwayThe Lachlan Valley Railway Society Cooperative Limited is a non-profit rail preservation society based in the NSW Central Western town of Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. The museum's ex-NSWGR fleet ranges from their operational steam and diesel locomotives, to the fleet of heritage passenger...
1986 - 3112 – 1988-89, 1992, 1994–96, 2002–07
- 3237 – Lachlan Valley Railway 2009
- 3265 - Powerhouse MuseumPowerhouse MuseumThe Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory...
2010-11 - 3526 – NSW Rail Transport Museum 2007-11
- 3642 – NSW Rail Transport Museum 1986-87, 1990–92, 2008–11
- 3801 – 3801 Limited3801 Limited3801 Limited is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. It was incorporated on 5 June 1985; A.C.N. 002 951 671. The registered office of the company is at Australian Technology Park.- Establishment :...
1987, 1989–2006, NSW Rail Transport Museum 2007 - 3830 – Powerhouse MuseumPowerhouse MuseumThe Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory...
1998-2009 - 5910 – NSW Rail Transport Museum 1986-88
- 5917 – Lachlan Valley Railway 1986, 2009
Others
- LNER 4472 Flying ScotsmanLNER Class A3 4472 Flying ScotsmanThe LNER Class A3 Pacific locomotive No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley...
– 1989
Excursions
Train trips to various places such as NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Branxton
Branxton, New South Wales
Branxton is a town in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. Branxton is north of Sydney via the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway and New England Highway.Branxton is located mostly in Cessnock City Council, but part of it is in Singleton Shire...
, Paterson
Paterson, New South Wales
Paterson is a small township in the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. Located within Dungog Shire it is situated on the Paterson River. At the 2006 census, Paterson had a population of 345 people...
and Dungog
Dungog, New South Wales
Dungog is a country town on the Williams River in the upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia. Located in the middle of dairy and timber country, it is the centre of the Dungog Shire Local Government Area and at the 2006 census it had a population of 2,102 people. The area includes the...
are conducted during Steamfest.
The Barrington Bullet is one of the special train trips that has been in operation during Steamfest for a few years. The trip goes to Dungog
Dungog, New South Wales
Dungog is a country town on the Williams River in the upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia. Located in the middle of dairy and timber country, it is the centre of the Dungog Shire Local Government Area and at the 2006 census it had a population of 2,102 people. The area includes the...
where people get out to see the town for a few hours. 3642 will be at the head of the train during 2011 Steamfest.
The Great Race
One of the excursions involves a race between a steam train and a Tiger MothDe Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
. In 2010 three trains raced three Tiger Moths. The winner of the race was 3265, the oldest loco in the race, by a photo finish against 3642.
For 2011, 3526 won the racing against 3265 and the Tiger Moths which was having problems.
Around Maitland station
In 2004, Hunter Valley Steamfest received its own ground where Steam traction engines are stored and run around a small track plus over Maitland. The ground is called Steamfest Rally Ground and events and displays include traction engines, road steam equipment, mini train rides (provided by the Lake Macquarie Live Steam group), vintage machinery, interpretive tours and Powerhouse MuseumPowerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, the other being the historic Sydney Observatory...
displays.
Maitland Park plays host for the "Show 'n Shine car expo" where over 700 vintage, veteran and classic cars are on display. The car expo is held on the Sunday during Steamfest.
Walka Water Works
During Steamfest bus shuttles are provided from Steamfest to the Walka Water WorksWalka Water Works
Walka Water Works is a 19th century pumping station located near Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Originally built in 1887 to supply water to Newcastle and the lower Hunter Valley, it has since been restored and preserved and is part of Maitland City Council's Walka Recreation and Wildlife...
. During the year, the area is open as a free public reserve, with barbecues, picnics areas, a playground, walking trails and a 7 1/4 inch gauge toy train that runs on Sundays. The reservoir and surrounding plant life make it a unique environment for birds and animals in the area.
South Maitland Railway Yards
The old South Maitland Railway workshop is now home to the Hunter Valley Training Company.Richmond Vale Railway and Mining Museum
The old J&A Brown mining colliery plays home to a collection of old ex NSWGR rolling stock. During Steamfest the museum is open to the public with tours provided on the museum's own operational steam locomotive and with other steam related machines on site. The train runs to the old Pelaw Main colliery and to the old Hexham line that stops at Leggetts Drive with the locomotives "Marjorie", BHP 34 and a small green diseslHunter Valley Railway Trust
The Hunter Valley Railway TrustHunter Valley Railway Trust
The Hunter Valley Railway Trust is a railway museum located in North Rothbury, New South Wales Australia on the site of the Rothbury Riot...
at North Rothbury
North Rothbury, New South Wales
North Rothbury is a small town located in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. It is 19 km from Cessnock.The town is home to a small population of the critically endangered North Rothbury Persoonia ....
, about 27 km (17 mi) from Maitland, includes a wide selection of rolling stock and locomotives and is open to the public during Steamfest in the late 1990s.