Canberra Railway Museum is run by the ACT division of the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS)[1]. The museum houses displays of historic locomotives, passenger cars, freight vehicles, track machinery and railway memorabilia. The museum precinct also serves as a base for the society's rail operations. The Society preserves railway history, particularly that of Canberra and the southern districts of New South Wales, for the enjoyment and enlightenment of present and future generations. Members work toward this goal by: collecting and restoring locomotives, other rolling-stock and items of railway memorabilia; preserving and recording railway history; and operating trains with restored rolling-stock.
The Canberra Railway Museum is the home to Australia's oldest operating steam locomotive, built in 1878, and also the heaviest, the 265 tonnes Beyer-Garratt steam locomotive.[1][2]
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The ARHS ACT division runs frequent tours year-round including trips on the Bungendore branch and many themed train such as a Santa's Train, a Tulip time express and school holiday rail discovery events.
Because the Society is a working railway, the exhibits on display can change if there are trains running. However the collection usually includes these exhibits:
| Number | Configuration | Built | Remarks[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 530 | 0-6-0 | 1879 | Vulcan engine and an original work horse for trains on the Yass Tramway.
Currently, the unrestored remains of 530 are on display at the Yass Railway Museum.[4] The boiler of a sister locomotive of the same class survived scrapping, being used at a sawmill. This boiler has since been purchased and placed onto the remains of 530.[5] |
| 1210 | 4-4-0 | 1878 | Canberra's most important historical locomotive, restored to working order in 1988.
This locomotive hauled the first train into Canberra in 1914. |
| 1307 | 4-4-2 | 1877 | Built as a locomotive with a tender, but converted to a tank engine for Sydney suburban service.
Now restored as a static exhibit at Yass Railway Museum. |
| 2413 | 2-6-0 | 1891 | Built for general rail haulage in NSW.
Transferred to Bunnerong Power Station work in the 1960s. Retired in 1975 and now on display at Junee. |
| 3016 | 4-6-0 | 1903 | Built as a tank engine for Sydney suburban work.
Converted and given a tender in 1930. Currently the main working steam locomotive for the Society. |
| 3102 | 4-6-0 | 1914 | Built originally as a tank engine for Sydney suburban service.
Retired 1986 and currently awaiting refurbishment. |
| 6029 | 4-8-4 + 4-8-4 | 1953 | At 265 tonnes the heaviest locomotive class to run in Australia.
Currently undergoing a major restoration to operational condition[6]. The Beyer-Garratt steam locomotive 6029 is currently undergoing restoration and so at present is not part of the display. |
| 3112 | - | - | As a note C30 class number 3112 is also located here.
This locomotive is privately owned and although in operational condition will not be used in the near future. |
4807, diesel-electric, 1050 hp Co-Co engine, built 1959, was one of 165 units which made up the NSW Railways 48 class which began service late in 1959, replacing steam locomotives, particularly on country branch lines.
D25, diesel-electric, 400 hp Bo-Bo, built 1958, formerly owned by Australian Iron and Steel, is the yard shunter at the Society's Canberra Railway Museum and workshop at Kingston.
X 203, diesel, 260 hp Bo, built 1964, former NSWGR light engine now part of the Yass Railway Museum exhibits.
The Society also has three CPH railmotor units at Canberra Railway Museum (CPH 13, CPH 27 and CPH 37), and one other (CPH 2) on loan to another organisation. CPH 13 is destined to be transferred to the Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway.
Carriages include end platform cars, sleeping cars and special purpose passenger vehicles.