Bathurst Rail Museum in Bathurst, New South Wales | Arts and entertainment

Bathurst Rail Museum

Locality: Bathurst, New South Wales

Phone: +61 2 6338 2850

Address: 126 Havannah Street 2795 Bathurst, NSW, Australia

Website: https://www.museumsbathurst.com.au/

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25.01.2022 It’s National Dinosaur Day and our friends at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst have been celebrating all day. We thought we would share the post from the The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich who actually have a dinosaur dig on their layout. #nationaldinosaurday... #museumsbathurst #openforbusinessbutdifferently #bathurstdinosaurday See more

25.01.2022 Bathurst Rail Museum will be open 6 days per week during school holidays. Hours of operation are 9am - 4.30pm Friday to Wednesday, closed Thursday. Bookings are recommended for Kids Central, the Museum’s Brio gallery. This children’s play space is at full COVIDSafe capacity most mornings. There is no need to book for the rest of the museum, but if you would like to book into one of the Kids Central play sessions:... call the Rail Museum on 02 6338 2850 or book ahead online at https://book.bookeasy.com/museums-bathurst/tours/100702 #museumsbathurst #visitbathurst #bathurstnsw

24.01.2022 Sometimes our visitors ask 'how fast can a steam engine really go?' We think 100mph (160km/h) is pretty fast!

23.01.2022 Commemorative plaques on display at the Rail Museum, see our website for details on how to order: https://museumsbathurst.com.au/ba/rail-museum-rail-plaques/

23.01.2022 WINNER ANNOUNCED The winner of the "Remember the good old times" competition for Museums Bathurst, Bathurst Regional Council is TONY PURDON with his photo and comments about the Bathurst Rail Museum. "The displays were fabulous, the immeasurable pride exuded from the man. Thinking about my childhood steam engine rides with Dad also made me extremely proud."... Please contact us via inbox to claim your prize, a Buy Local Gift Card #BathurstTogether #MuseumsBathurst #Openforbusinessbutdifferently #bathurstnsw #takeamoment

23.01.2022 Thanks to the team Blue Mountains Life magazine for the great article.

23.01.2022 Easter rail journey continued Stay home this Easter. Take a short virtual rail journey courtesy of the Bathurst Rail Museum instead. Bathurst Rail Museum celebrates the history of rail and the people of the railway community in Bathurst. ... #bathurstrailmuseum www.museumsbathurst.com.au #museumsbathurst #openforbusinessbutdifferently #visitbathurst #bathurstnsw #takeamoment #museum #railhistory #trains #rail #railmuseum #bathurstrailwaystation #museumfromhome #railjourney

23.01.2022 Thanks everyone for entering the draw to win a double-pass to the museum of your choice this Valentine’s Day. The Mayor and VIP visitor, U.S. Consulate General Sydney Ms Sharon Hudson-Dean happened to be at one of our museums this morning and conducted the draw for us. The lucky winner is Cindy Bulmer!... We can’t wait to see Cindy and date at their chosen museum on Sunday 14 Feb 2021. Get involved! Visit your favourite museum on Sunday 14 Feb and post a selfie of you and your date with the hashtag #loveyourmuseum

23.01.2022 Did you know the carriage outside the Rail Museum was once the studio office for the producers of Happy Feet 2? CBA 547 was one of a group of passenger carriages built in hundreds for service in the pre-electrified Sydney suburban network. Following the electrification of the suburban network those carriages were re-deployed to tourist services in Wollongong, Blue Mountains and Newcastle. This carriage was acquired about 2009 by the Dr D film animation studio (a partnership between Kennedy Miller Mitchell producers of Mad Max, Babe and Happy Feet movies and Omnilab Media), renovated and installed at the studio’s office at the Old Carriage Works site at Redfern. In 2013 the production company vacated the Redfern site disbursing much of its equipment including the CBA 547 which is now located out the front of the Bathurst Rail Museum!

23.01.2022 Kids Central has proven to be a big hit with visitors to the Rail Museum, to the point where many days it is at full COVIDSafe capacity most mornings. To make sure everyone gets best value from their entry fee, and a fair turn in Kids Central, we're introducing a booking system for each of the four sessions throughout the day. You can either call the Rail Museum on 02 6338 2850 or book ahead online at ... https://book.bookeasy.com/museums-bathurst/tours/100702 See more

23.01.2022 Who remembers using a register like this? #museumsbathurst #bathurstrailmuseum #openforbusinessbutdifferently

21.01.2022 Red over red signals means STOP! We're closed today, Thursday for our weekly maintenance; but will be back tomorrow from 9am. Catch you then!

21.01.2022 The best way to start your day! Don’t forget to stop in for your morning kick from our amazing Arthur & Co baristas that you know and love!! Open 9am-1pm

20.01.2022 Sometimes, we get asked about what happens when closed on Thursdays. Primarily, it's when the 'back of house' work gets done; for example, contractors can come in and do maintenance without disrupting our visitors. Also, we can undertake maintenance work on the model railway, test new equipment or upgrade parts that have been giving trouble.... Here's an image captured by one of our volunteers of a new train being tested. 6042 is a Eureka Models locomotive, towing a rake of the new Casula Hobbies GSV (sheep) and CW (cattle) 4-wheel wagons, passing some sheep coming into Kelso.

20.01.2022 We've really enjoyed having a number of schools visiting the Museum over the past few weeks. One of our visiting students was curious about women train drivers. See Simone in action in this video:... https://youtu.be/n0UPojsQwlA

19.01.2022 Here's something for the tech-heads #museumsbathurst #openforbusinessbutdifferently #bathurstrailmuseum

19.01.2022 Staying home for the Easter weekend? Take a short virtual train trip courtesy of the Bathurst Rail Museum Bathurst Rail Museum celebrates the history of rail and the people of the railway community in Bathurst. ... #bathurstrailmuseum www.museumsbathurst.com.au #museumsbathurst #openforbusinessbutdifferently #visitbathurst #bathurstnsw #takeamoment #museum #railhistory #trains #rail #railmuseum #bathurstrailwaystation #museumfromhome

18.01.2022 THE CENTRAL WEST EXPLORER Celebrate the advent of Autumn with a round trip of central NSW by private train. - 27 February - 3 March 2021 Exclusive use of the Ce...ntral West Explorer, your privately chartered vintage 1960’s Rail-Motor with plenty of extra seats for comfort and space. SYDNEY BATHURST ORANGE MUDGEE VIA THE BLUE MOUNTAINS CAPERTEE VALLEY THE GOLDEN WEST THE ORANA REGION THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGE AND THE CUDGEGONG, BYLONG AND HUNTER VALLEYS If you'd be interested in joining us on this fantastic railway adventure, please call the office for a brochure on 1300 800 977 or email us at [email protected]

17.01.2022 Red over red signals mean STOP! We'll be closed today for our weekly maintenance, and will be back tomorrow at 9am. See you then!

17.01.2022 Steam engines come in all shapes and sizes to do all sorts of work, but only one is the fastest: Mallard.

15.01.2022 Train Driver Ben helps with the local show If you are missing the giant BRIO set at the Bathurst Rail Museum, we have created a short animation for you to enjoy. Sunday funday ... Kids Central, Bathurst Rail Museum www.museumsbathurst.com.au #museumsbathurst #museum #bathurstrailmuseum #bathurstnsw #visitbathurst #briotrains #brio #brioplay #openforbusinessbutdifferently #stayhome #bathurst2795 #kids #sundayfunday #museumfromhome #museumathome

15.01.2022 ‘Remember the good old times? Let’s go back there.’ Show us one of your most memorable shots from our Museum, and tell us in 25 words or less why you love this Museum for a chance to win a Bathurst Buy Local gift card. How to enter:... 1. Post a photo to your page from one of our Museums on Facebook or Instagram 2. Tell us in 25 words or less in the same post why you love this Museum 3. For Facebook Tag National Motor Racing Museum, Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum or Bathurst Rail Museum and #Bathursttogether 4. For Instagram Tag @Bathurst_Council or @Museums_bathurst and #Bathursttogether Terms and conditions: - One of the above social media accounts MUST be tagged in your post to be entered into the competition (be mindful of privacy settings) - The buy local Gift Card is limited to participating stores in Bathurst only. If you live outside of Bathurst and win, please contact us for more info on how you can spend your gift card. - Facebook/Instagram is in no way affiliated with or a sponsor of this competition. Competition closes 11.59pm Sunday 3 May 2020. Winner announced Monday 4 May 2020. We cannot wait to see your pics and read your stories! #Bathursttogether #Openforbusinessbutdifferently See more

14.01.2022 Red over red means STOP! Today the Rail Museum is closed to the Public for our weekly maintenance day. We'll be back at 9am tomorrow, Friday. See you then!

14.01.2022 Member for Bathurst Paul Toole MP took a moment to explain how significant the Museums Bathurst museums and collections are. Museums Bathurst are working behind the scenes to take care of the collections in the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, National Motor Racing Museum, Bathurst Rail Museum and Chifley Home and Education Centre. #takeamoment... #openforbusinessbutdifferently See more

14.01.2022 Another tour coming up!

13.01.2022 Bathurst Rail Museum - the 2020 recipient for the James Barnet Award! On Friday night, the Bathurst Rail Museum received the prestigious James Barnet Award fr...om the Australian Institute of Architects Country Division. The James Barnet Award is awarded for outstanding work by a NSW Country Division Member of the institute in any Category. The Bathurst Rail Museum also won the award in its category for Public Architecture. A special thank you to the Jury: Nicholas Brown, Ken Crosson, Paulo Macchia, Jasmine Richardson and Fenella Kernebone, and to the Institute for the commendation. Our deepest thanks to Bathurst Regional Council, whose team have been instrumental in the realisation of the project. Our Team: Tony McBurney, Paddy Williams, Paul Richards, Annalise Brown, Peter Deacon. Client: Bathurst Regional Council Engineers: EWFW Electrical, Mechanical) Calare Civil (Structural, Civil) Builder: Tablelands Builders Landscape: Living Edge Design #architecture #jamesbarnet #jamesbarnetaward # australianarchitecture #regional #regionalarchitecture #bathurstmuseums #bathurstrailmuseum #architectureaustralia #integrateddesigngroup #publicarchitecture See more

13.01.2022 Another excellent resource for young or old rail enthusiasts. The Peter’s Railway stories weave technical information into a series of rail adventures.

13.01.2022 As we reach the end of #VolunteersWeek, we are having a look back at our Layout Volunteers (and a couple of staff members) feeling tired, but chuffed as they reached the end of moving the layout into the new building. This was back in October last year and this dedicated group would spend another four months completing the renovation of this amazing artefact and end up putting 3000 hours into the project over 12 months. Well done, team!

13.01.2022 Looking for a great gift this Christmas? Our gift shop has you covered: from the tiniest Train Tragic to the grinch-iest Gunzel. And, in conjunction with our friends at Lachlan Valley Railway and mentioned on 2bs 95.1 FM you can even buy specially prepared lumps of coal from the North Pole:

13.01.2022 Wow! Kids Central has been sooo popular these school holidays; we've loved seeing how much fun everyone has been having. Please remember we're limited to 25 people at a time in this space, including adults. Mornings are our busiest time, so if you'd like to skip the rush a visit after lunch could be just the ticket.... We're keeping up our cleaning at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm and will ask everyone to step out briefly at these times. See you soon!

12.01.2022 How to move a railway carriage without an engine #museumsbathurst #bathurstrailmuseum #visitbathurst... #openforbusinessbutdiffeeently #bathurstnsw See more

12.01.2022 Raglan Station, as featured on the Main West model layout at the Museum. Today marks the 130th anniversary of the station in it’s current location. It was originally a little further down the hill (towards Bathurst) when opened in 1873 (147 years ago).

11.01.2022 See us on Ch7, Sunday evening at 5:30.

11.01.2022 Exciting news announcement. More details will be on our website on Monday www.museumsbathurst.com.au

11.01.2022 Christmas/New Year opening times: Thu 24 Dec (Christmas Eve): Museum Closed Fri 25 Dec (Christmas Day): Museum Closed Sat 26 Dec (Boxing Day): Museum Closed Sun 27 December: OPEN... Mon 28 December (Public Holiday): OPEN Tue 29 December: OPEN Wed 30 December: OPEN Thu 31 December: Museum Closed Fri 1 Jan 2021 (New Year’s Day): Museum Closed Sat 2 Jan 2021: OPEN See more

11.01.2022 Winter Festival is coming...check out this amazing activity being organised by the team from the Refreshment Room Bathurst

11.01.2022 Here's an interesting train-related tradition: http://ellenburrow.com//building-fun-traditions-everyone-/ What traditions do you have at home? Don't forget the Rail Museum shop has lots of great gift ideas for the upcoming season.

10.01.2022 Bathurst’s very own train driving Prime Minister, Ben Chifley lived in Busby Street, Bathurst and taught in the Railway Institute building in his railway days. Chifley Home and Education Centre is not currently open due to social distancing restrictions, but has created a page to share the story of Ben and Elizabeth Chifley.

10.01.2022 One of the more unusual #archives in our collection is this red ribbon rosette. It was worn by train driver, Albert Arnold, who drove the first train over the S...ydney Harbour Bridge after opening on 19 March 1932. What a great honour! R479, [Item14] Of interest, is that we also found Albert Arnold's digitised Personal Railway History Card, via a quick name search in Collection Search. The card reveals that Albert was born in 1877 and started working for the railways as a "boy labourer" in 1896. Other positions listed are cleaner and fireman before becoming a train driver in 1909. A stamp dated 14 Aug 1917 states he was dismissed for taking part in the 1917 General Strike. By 1924 he is listed as Instructor and worked several more years before retiring in November 1939. NRS-12922-1-[11/16556]-[204] View in Collection Search > http://ow.ly/TwF750AifJC Finding railway cards in the collection is easy - use the search box on our homepage to find more railway history cards. We wonder if Albert might be in one of the two attached photos that show the first train test, carrying some privileged passengers, over the bridge on 19 January 1932. NRS-12685-1-[4/8733]-4/8733-95 View in Collection Search > http://ow.ly/Op9Z50AifKj

09.01.2022 Did you know that we have a family tent!!!! There’s still a few spots left so don’t forget to message us to book yours! PLUS we have live music this Friday and Sunday!!!

08.01.2022 Lovely day at Goulburn Locomotive Roundhouse for a bit of shunting. We turned Twinette NAM 2335 so that the Sydney end (the side door end) is pointed towards Sydney. 4 carriages ready and waiting to go on tour!

08.01.2022 Our friends over at Zig Zag Railway have had a big year!

08.01.2022 Locomotive 3300 was placed in Bathurst in 1933. It was named ‘Carillon City’ after Bathurst in order to attract visitors. The Carillon City engine was painted bright green with black and red lines, the first passenger engine in NSW to be painted in attractive colours. Local railway men described it as the prettiest engine running in any part of the world, even when compared to the coloured locomotives of the British Isles.... Sources: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159737191 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159733261 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159725563

08.01.2022 Today our friends at Zig Zag Railway have reached a milestone in their journey back to operations.

08.01.2022 Back on track....

07.01.2022 This week marks six years since the layout was dismantled in its original location. Often, even large home layouts are built as 'modules' for eventual transport. Not quite the case with Main West; it was built in-situ as one piece. When it came time to prepare the layout for relocation in November 2014, some heart-in-mouth decisions had to be made. Fortunately, it all came back together; thanks in no small part to the efforts of the group of volunteers who undertook the restoration.

07.01.2022 We recently were asked about the source for one of the images used in the Museum; here's Daphne Cusick (nee Russell) in the Refreshment Room in 1947. https://rosetta.recordsnsw.com.au/delivery/StreamGate

07.01.2022 Train Driver Ben helps deliver eggs Kids Central, Bathurst Rail Museum www.museumsbathurst.com.au... #museumsbathurst #museum #bathurstrailmuseum #bathurstnsw #visitbathurst #briotrains #brio #brioplay #takeamoment #openforbusinessbutdifferently #easter #eastereggs #stayhome

07.01.2022 Our engines are having a rest today while the Museum is closed. They’ll be ready to see you tomorrow from 9 o’clock.

07.01.2022 Rail departures for active service Bathurst citizens responded quickly to the call for volunteers for military service in August 1914. The first volunteers departed for training at Liverpool in Sydney on 13 August. They were farewelled by the Mayor, Alderman H.C. Beavis, and escorted to the railway station by the Bathurst Military Band and a large crowd of local people.... This story is told as a diorama in the Bathurst Rail Museum. A plaque commemorating the departures for active service is located on the platform at the Bathurst Railway Station courtesy of the Bathurst District Historical Society #museumsbathurst #bathurstrailmuseum #openforbusinessbutdifferently #anzac #lestweforget

07.01.2022 Kids Central in the Bathurst Rail Museum will be featured in Cabaret Kite this evening as a perfect backdrop for Smith and Jones. Smith & Jones #museumsbathurst

06.01.2022 Planning a road trip? Plan a stop in Bathurst and tick a few things off your bucket list in the Museums Bathurst venues. Visit NSW has some great road trips.... visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/bathurst-area visitnsw.com//drives-and-road-tr/tour-of-caves-and-fossils #museumsbathurst #visitbathurst #visitnsw #bathurstnsw #dinosaurs #carsofinstagram #trains #racecars #australianfossilandmineralmuseum #bathurstrailmuseum #nationalmotorracingmuseum

06.01.2022 #OnThisDay 13 July 1945 Ben Chifley became Prime Minister of Australia, taking office after John Curtin died earlier in the month. Chifley was born and raised i...n Bathurst and worked on the railways for many years. His digitised Personal Railway History Cards is available to view in Collection Search. Two of the cards list his work history while a third is a 'record of engine failures and casualties' and the delay caused. The cards show that Joseph Benedict Chifley born in 1885 and started working for the railways as a "shop-boy" in 1903. Other positions listed are cleaner, oiler and fireman before becoming a driver in 1913. A stamp dated 14 Aug 1917 states he was dismissed for taking part in the 1917 General Strike. He retired from the railways in 1928. Chifley was Prime Minister until 19 December 1949. https://www.records.nsw.gov.au//mag/onthisday/13-july-1945

05.01.2022 Further to the review in this month's AMRM Magazine of the amazing new colour prints by Data Sheets, here's an early example we've had framed. Thanks to Greg Edwards of Data Sheets, it's now part of the Chifley Gallery display.

05.01.2022 If your young or old rail enthusiast is looking for something to do have a look at the resources at the NSW Rail Museum.

04.01.2022 Bathurst Rail Museum wins Arts and Culture Award Bathurst Rail Museum has won the LG NSW Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award for the adaptive reuse of an historic building. The prestigious award celebrates the outstanding achievement by local government organisations in strategic planning for arts and culture.... Mayor Bobby Bourke said the award was an honour and congratulated staff and the community for working together to create this world class facility. The Bathurst Rail Museum has been designed to attract international, national and local visitors adding to the suite of museums operated by Bathurst Regional Council including the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, National Motor Racing Museum and Chifley Home & Education Centre, he said. Local Government NSW #Councilsdo #lgweek2020 #visitbathurst #museumsbathurst

04.01.2022 We’ve got 2! (Green lights, that is) We are happy to announce that following a scheduling delay due to COVD-19 restrictions, we can resume our timetable of being open 6 days per week from 9-4:30 (closed Thursday).... Our first day open will be this Friday (5 June). When you come to visit, the entry process will take a little longer as we will ask you to complete a health questionnaire before entry. Once inside, please help us by maintaining social distancing and visitor limits in designated areas. Kids Central can only have 25 people at a time and we will be closing the area at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm for additional cleaning. Additionally, we can only have 5 people at a time in the ticketed gallery. For now, the Chifley Gallery and Refreshment Room Café will remain closed; we will review this next week. If in doubt, please feel free to ring ahead on 02 6338 2850.

03.01.2022 Happy 165th Birthday Railways in NSW! To celebrate, we're borrowing some information from our friends over at Powerhouse Museum from a couple of years ago. https://maas.museum//26/happy-160th-birthday-sydney-trains/

03.01.2022 Bathurst's integratedDESIGNgroup has won a major architectural award for its work on the new Bathurst Rail Museum Bathurst Regional Council Calare Civil Pty Ltd The Australian Institute of Architects

03.01.2022 The Rail Museum family extends condolences to the Ezzy family. Wal will be missed.

02.01.2022 The team from Marathon Health recently made use of our venue hire option for their Senior Leadership Team Meeting. What a unique place to hold staff training/meetings! Under our COVIDSafe plan, we can safely fit 35 people in this space, call or email to check availability.

02.01.2022 Celebrate your family rail story with a plaque at the Bathurst Rail Museum. The Bathurst Rail Museum celebrates the history of rail and the people of the railway community in Bathurst. It could be a unique gift for Mother’s Day or to mark a significant occasion.... #museumsbathurst #bathurstrailmuseum #openforbusunessbutdifferently #bathurstnsw

01.01.2022 Museums Bathurst Update Museums Bathurst Staff are working behind the scenes whilst closed

01.01.2022 If the words Bathurst history make you think of the gold rush and motor sports, it might be time to refresh your acquaintance with the story of this terrific town and Visit Bathurst NSW... for more information, head to our website: https://sydneyweekender.com.au/bathurst-past-present

01.01.2022 Ben at Home This interview with an actor celebrates the 75th anniversary of Ben Chifley becoming Australia’s 16th Prime Minister. Museums Bathurst has been work...ing with the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre, talented local actors, local historian Sam Malloy and Ribbon Gang Advertising Agency to bring the Chifley story to life. This episode of Ben at Home is the first in a series about Ben and Elizabeth Chifley. Written by David Hay, we present local man Vince Melton as 'Chif' telling the story. Sit back and enjoy the presentation. Visit Bathurst NSW

01.01.2022 Shout out to the team at SDS Models for their generous support with a donation of some rollingstock such as this NR25. These models cover 2500 metres a day, six days per week, so it will get a good workout.

01.01.2022 Bathurst Rail Museum reopens 9am Friday 5 June 2020 Open 6 days per week from 9-4:30 (closed Thursday). Please help us by maintaining social distancing and visitor limits and stay in designated areas. Kids Central can only have 25 people at a time and we will be closing the area at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm for additional cleaning. Additionally, we can only have 5 people at a time in the ticketed gallery.... For now, the Chifley Gallery and Refreshment Room Café will remain closed; we will review this next week. If in doubt, please feel free to ring ahead on 02 6338 2850.

01.01.2022 Vote for our Museum!