Formerly referred to as Train Works, the NSW Rail Museum is Thirlmere is an incredible destination choice for families wanting to explore the history of Sydney Trains.
NSW Rail Museum with Kids : Exploring Sydney Trains
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Established way back in 1975, the NSW Rail Museum has amassed over 100 rolling stock items and a plethora of heritage rail items. It is the largest collection in NSW. It’s a sight to behold and a museum well worth exploring with the option to climb in and on many of the carriages and engines.
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Exploring the Museum
Thirlmere Train Station
Just across from the museum is the Thirlmere Train station where you can catch a heritage train to Buxton on select Sunday’s and special days throughout the year. If you’re lucky it will be the week that they bring out the Steam Trains.
The Main Exhibition Building
The Main Exhibition Building within the NSW Rail Museum is just inside the entrance and is where the history of railways, how life on the lines looked, and the development of trains from steam to electric, is explained to visitors.
The showpieces include the Governor General’s Carriage, a true work of art and often referred to as a palace on wheels; a mail van which was used to transport mail, packages and newspapers across the state; a prison van and a number of steam locomotives which will remind the kids of Harry Potter.
Younger kids will love the activity tables where they can play with Thomas the Tank engines or do a little artwork with all the art supplies they needed provided at the tables.
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Worker’s Walk
Of course there are quite an array of jobs within NSW rail that kept all the trains running efficiently. The Worker’s Walk links the Main Exhibition Building to the Great Train Hall and explains the different jobs that have and do exist in the railways. A great section to give the kids an expanded perspective of what happens behind the scenes.
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The Great Train Hall
This is the point where the kids are likely to get crazy excited and want to climb and run through all the trains. Yes, the Great Train Hall boasts the biggest collection of rolling stock in Australia which much of it restored by the wealth of volunteers that donate their time (and skill) to the NSW Rail Museum.
Each member of the family had different facvourites within the Great Train Hall. I found the Rail Pay Bus super cool. It looks a little like a VW Kombi van but was the actual pay train that would go from station to station to pay the rail staff around the country. Incredible, right?
T and cousin DJ loved the red rattler which took them both right back to their high school days when they caught them to and from high school (I’d just like to mention that I am way to young to know or remember these!).
Sunshine was quite enamoured with the RS1962 Dining Car and spent a large portion of our time in the Great Train Hall role playing in here with her cousins. I could hear their laughter from outside as they poured *pretend* milkshakes and drank them from their stools at the bar.
Of course, Striker had difficulty choosing between the 6040 Garratt, the heaviest and most powerful steam locomotive to ever turn a wheel in Australia, and the Steam locomotive 1905, which was the first locomotive to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
I wonder, as you explore Sydney Trains at the NSW Rail Museum which will be your absolute favourite when you visit.
Roundhouse
Serviced by an incredible one of only three 105-foot turntables in NSW, the Roundhouse is where all the staff and volunteers work on the trains and maintain them to an industry standard. Whilst we couldn’t walk inside, we were able to peer through the door and see what was happening behind the scenes.
NSW Rail Museum Details
Address: 10 Barbour Road Thirlmere NSW 2572
Price: $35.00 per adult for museum + train ride; $12.50 per child for museum + train ride. Children under 4 free. No family pass options available.
Open: The NSW Rail Museum is open 7 days a week. Monday to Friday 10.00 am – 4.00 pm. Saturday and Sunday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Distance from Sydney CBD: 94.4 km from the Sydney CBD or approximately 1 hour 17 minutes by car
Parking: Street parking available.
Website: www.nswrailmuseum.com.au
