Frequency Annual Inaugurated 19–20 April 1986 | Years active 30 | |
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Begins 8 April 2017 (2017-04-08) Ends 9 April 2017 (2017-04-09) Location(s) | ||
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. Held over two days in April, it is usually attended by steam locomotives from the Canberra Railway Museum, Powerhouse Museum and Trainworks Railway Museum and railmotors from the Rail Motor Society.
Contents
History
The first Hunter Valley Steamfest was held in April 1986 to commemorate the days of steam, three years after steam operations on the South Maitland Railway ceased. Steamfest attracts over 70,000 visitors and has had 22 locomotives attend in its 30 years.
Locomotives
Hunter Valley Steamfest has seen different locomotives from over six different preservation organisations within New South Wales and even one from the United Kingdom. This list contains the locomotives that have attended the Hunter Valley Steamfest:
Local area of Maitland
Richmond Vale Railway
Ex New South Wales Government Railways
United Kingdom
Excursions
During the Steamfest, trips to Broadmeadow, Branxton, Singleton, Paterson and Dungog are operated by both steam and preserved rail motor. The Sunday Barrington Bullet travels to Dungog, then to Stroud Road loop and return. In 2015, a new trip to Port Waratah was introduced.
In the early years of the festival, steam hauled charters brought passengers to the event but this is no longer the case with the locomotives and rolling stock moving to the festival empty. In 1986 two trips from Sydney Central and another from Blacktown operated. In 2013 and 2014 passengers were able to travel on the stock movement from Picton to Maitland, albeit on the Friday before and Monday after the festival.
The Great Race
One of the excursions involves a race between one or more steam locomotives and one or more de Havilland Tiger Moth. In 2010 a triple parallel of 3265, 3642 and 3526 was organised taking months of planning. The locomotives raced against three Tiger Moths and winner of the race was the oldest loco in the race, 3265. A Tiger Moth eventually won the race for the first time in 2012. In 2016, the race will be between four train and four Tiger Moths.
Related events
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 Museum 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.
As part of Steamfest, the Richmond Vale Railway Museum south of Kurri Kurri is open to the public with tours provided on the museum's own operational steam locomotive and with other steam related machines on site.