Established in the 1970's, the Zig Zag Railway is one of the true success stories of railway preservation in NSW. Located a little way out of Lithgow, the Zig Zag Railway run former Queensland Railways locomotives and rolling stock from Clarence to the bottom of the Lithgow Valley, over the Zig Zag formation of the former NSWGR Main Western Line.

A slight divergence from the NSWGR-
There is little that can be said that hasen't been already with regards to Puffing Billy. It is simply THE definitive preservation operation in Australia and would no doubt rank fairly highly throughout the rest of the world as well.

Located at the former terminus of the Yass Tramway, the Yass Railway Museum charts the history of the tramway and features a small collection of rollingstock indigenous to the tramway.

Queanbeyan yard on the Canberra branch is one of the last in NSW to be controlled by lower quadrant signaling on the electric staff system of safeworking. With the news that it is to be rationalised in early 2008, this series of pictures is to record one of the last throwbacks to the steam era on the NSW Rail network.

On the behalf of 3112s new owner, the ARHS ACT put on a double 30 class trip to Tarago, using tank version 3112 and superheated tender model 3016.

3016 ran a two car private charter to Tarago's Loaded Dog Hotel on the 18th of August. Here are some lineside photos from a great day out

Occasionally, the ARHS ACT Div. operates longer distance trips to country or interstate locations. These trains are normally made up of the societys ex-Southern Aurora and Brisbane Express rollingstock, hauled by vintage diesel traction.

2 years and 3 months after departing Canberra for repairs and reassembly, locomotive 3016 returned in style on April the first. A special ARHS members train ran from Canberra to Goulburn and return as a gesture of thanks to those who had donated time and resources to returning it to steam

ARHS ACTs 3016 and NSWRTMs 3801 travelled to Sydney of the weekend of the 17th\18th of March to operate a series of shuttle trips to commerate the 75th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, utilising the line to Lavender Bay.

Based out of the former Station and yard precinct in the Snowy Mountains town of Cooma, the Cooma Monaro Railway is a shining example of what a small but determined group of volunteers can do. The group run CPH Railmotors (Which have been restored to an extremely high standard) between Cooma and Chakola on the former Bombala branch of the NSWGR and could well lay claim to being one of NSW Rail Preservations most successful stories, if not the most succesful. For more information on their operations, go to http://www.cmrailway.org.au/.

The 38 Class were the final form in the development of the express passenger locomotive in NSW. Each day, from the mid-1940s to the early 1970s, the lines North, South and West out of Sydney resounded to their thunderous beat as they wheeled the major trains to their destinations.

Of the 30 built, 4 survive in varying conditions. The Alpha, 3801, is currently undergoing a major overhaul (including a brand new replacement boiler) at the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. Sister 3820 also resides at the museum, abiet quietly waiting for restoration. The surviving Cardiff built locomotive, 3813 is stored in a disassembled at the Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum whilst the Omega of the tribe, 3830 is also preserved in an operation condition by the Powerhouse Museum.

The NSWRTM once again put on a massed display of NSW Rail Heritage in action. Blessed with glorious weather, punters were treated to a mixed train hauled by 2705 and ARHS ACTs 3016, (superbly restored by the RTM and on its first public appearence) 3526 on the immaculate Pullman train, the beautifully rebuilt CPH 18 (Also making its first public runs) and the Thirlmere Flyer from Sydney hauled by legendary express passenger locomotive 3830.

On the last weekend of April, ARHS ACT ran a tour train to Junee to make use of the drop pit facilities in the roundhouse to repair loco 7315. Whilst the train was mostly made up of private carriages, this was also the first mainline outing for recently acquired Southern Aurora sleeping car, NAM 2341.

Without these committed handful, we wouldn't have rail heritage in NSW as we know it today.

Photos of various past and present maintenance works on the ARHS Loco fleet.
Loco Status List:
1210- In Storage
3016- In Traffic
3102- In Storage\Dismantled
6029- Under Restoration\Boiler cradle removed, engine units seperated
2413- On display at Junee Roundhouse
4807- In Traffic
7315- In Traffic
7319- Out of traffic\Stored
D25- In traffic

NSWs premier gathering of mainline steam locomotives once again brought thousands to the small villiage south of Sydney. In attendance this year were NSWRTM's two star performers 3526 and 2705, the superbly presented 3112 and of course the two 38's.

Photos that don't really fit in anywhere else are in here!

On September 26th, 1855, The NSW Railways began operations. Now, 150 years on, a celebration was held to mark the historic and significant part the Railways played in the development of NSW. Over the weekend of the 24th/25th, a display of Historic rolling stock and traction was presented at Central Station, made up from the collections of the NSWRTM and the ARHS ACT and featuring steam locos 1210, 1709 and 3642. 3801, 3830, 3526 and 3112 worked shuttle trips to Hurstville and return and on the Monday, a commerative train hauled by 1210 and 1709 travelled to Paramatta to mark the exact date. The event was a tribute to all involved, especially those who planned, organised and executed it without problem

On the 17th of September, the NSWRTM ran what was sure to be one of the most spectacular preserved steam trips ever. FIVE steam locomotives (1709, 1210, 2705, 3112 and 3526) hauled the Commissioners cars, NSWRTMs superbly presented vintage Pullman cars and the Southern Aurora resturant train from Picton to Moss Vale and return. An unforgetable experience and a credit to all involved. The following day featured 2705, 3526 working shuttles to Picton and back and 1210 and 1709 on the Buxton run

This collection focuses on the preserved NSWGR Diesels operated by heritage operators such as ARHS ACT and NSWRTM.

On Thursday the 15th, 1210 left Canberra bound for Thirlmere to participate in the upcoming NSW 150th celebrations. Here are some photos from the trip

Locomotive 1210 (4-4-0) is Australia's oldest operating standard gauge steam locomotive. Built in 1878 by Beyer Peacock as an Express Passenger locomotive, 1210 had the honour of hauling the first train to the site of the nations capital, Canberra, in 1914. As such, when she officially retired from service with the NSWGR, she was presented to the City of Canberra and from 1962 til 1983, she was displayed on a plinth outside Canberra Railway Station. A custody arrangement was reached in that year between the government and the ARHS ACT to have the engine removed and restored to service. In 1988, following a complete restoration she returned to traffic as the flagship locomotive for the ARHS, a role she still carries today.

Locomotive 3016 (4-6-0) was built by Beyer Peacock and Co. in 1903 as a suburban tank locomotive for the NSWGR. As electrification spread in Sydney, the need for such engines became redundant the 3016 was rebuilt into a tender engine and sent to work country branches. 3016 holds the distinction of being the most traveled 30 class locomotive, steaming just over 3 million kilometres before retirement. Upon retirement, the loco was donated to a Sydney Rotary Club before being purchased by the ARHS ACT in 1973. It was completely restored over a period of 3 years in the mid to late 80s and was the Society's main steam motive power for much of the 1990's. Following a period under overhaul at the RTM in Thirlmere, 3016 has once again taken on this role.

Photos from the NSWRTMS Vintage and Steam Train Sundays. These normally occur on the first and third Sunday of each month and feature restored NSWGR locomotives 2705 and 3526. Some of these days operate in conjunction with the "Thirlmere Flyer", NSWRTMs regular mainline steam hauled train. Details are available on the NSWRTMs Heritage Express website.

The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney owns several pieces of Heritage NSW rolling stock, including Australia's oldest surving locomotive, No.1. Also on display is 1243 and the AC state car.

Powerhouse Museum also own and maintain operational steam locomotive 3830 to an extremely high professional standard and are currently restoring locomotive 3265 to the same standard.

Pics from the monthly ARHS ACT steam hauled picnic trains. These trains run either to Royalla on the Michelago Tourist Railway or ocassionally to Bugendore on the Canberra line. For more info, see the ARHS ACT website on the links menu

Pictures containing the initials AC in their filename were taken by Alan Christensen and are represented here with permission

Pics taken from around the ARHS ACT Kingston depot of the locos, rolling stock and various other activities

Photos from NSW\'s premier steam event, the Thirlmere Festival of Steam held on March the 6th and featuring all 6 of NSW's operating mainline steam locos

Located near Picton in the Southern Highlands, south of Sydney, the New Sout Wales Rail Transport Museum is the premier Rail Heritage group in the state. As well as an extensive collection of static exhibits from a bygone era, the Museum maintains the Thirlmere Heritage Railway which runs from Picton to Buxton and operates locomotives and rolling stock from the collection on it. The museum also operates mainline tours (Utilising both steam and vintage diesel traction) through its tour business, Heritage Express. Links to both sites can be found on the links section.

This series of photo's were taken in late March of 2004 when 127 year old steam locomotive 1210 returned to Canberra, assisted by the NSWRTM's heritage diesel 4490, after taking part in the annual Thirlmere Festival of Steam