Rail Heritage WA

17/10/2026

At 1:45pm on 17 October 1917 the last length of rail for the 1693km Trans-Australian Railway was secured with a dog spike by the WA team of platelayers. Despite the track being built from both the Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie end of the line, by the time the two sections met near Ooldea very little adjustment was required to join them up. A holiday was declared the next day for the approximately 1000 men at the railhead and a sports meeting with horse and camel races took place. Everything else about the completion was relatively low key due to the casualties being experienced in World War 1.

The completion of the construction of the Trans-Australian Railway between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta was a major feat. Warly proponents of the idea, surveyors and those who worked on the actual construction, would all have been very proud of this nation-building achievement.

Over the course of construction, twenty men were killed in accidents, many less than othe cross-continental lines built elsewhere in the world, but still tragic for those families. The worst single accident was on 5 January 1915 when a brakevan derailed and four men, all based at Coonana, were killed. They were Thomas Broderick, Patrick Hall, Thomas Kearney and James McKeown. A couple of months later two navvies, Cecil Mallon and Michael O’Sullivan, fell from a train and were killed. Like all railways of that era shunting and collisions involving track maintenance trolleys were not unusual accidents.

At the Railway Museum at Bassendean we have several Trans-Australian Railway items dating back to the time of construction. These include a BAS ballast hopper and an original 1917 dining car, D 20, which was built on an underframe from a stores car used in the Kalgoorlie construction train. Both items are on display in the public area of the Museum.

On 29 November we will be once again hosting Devonshire Teas in D 20. Keep a look out at the beginning of November for the opening of bookings.

Simone McGurk MLA

16/10/2026

Something strange is happening at the Railway Museum this Halloween... The trains are stirring, the railway staff are behaving rather oddly, and a few unexpected characters have been spotted wandering amongst the carriages!

Halloween at the Railway Museum is on Saturday 31 October. Join us for a family-friendly afternoon and evening of steam, spooky surprises and a little railway mischief.

🚂 Steam train rides - Climb aboard for a passenger ride behind our visiting steam locomotive, Leschenault Lady. Five departures are available throughout the afternoon, with your train ride included in your entry ticket. When booking, you'll be asked to select a time. This is the departure time for your steam train ride, NOT your Museum entry time. Please come at least 15 mins earlier than your train ride time to make sure you don’t miss it.

👻 Meet our mysterious railway characters - Keep an eye out for some rather unusual railway staff who have taken up residence around the Museum. They may have a story to tell, a question to ask or a surprise waiting for you!

🍬 Follow the Halloween Trail - Explore the historic locomotives, carriages and buildings as you follow a trail of clues and collect treats along the way.

🌙 The Ghost Train - As daylight fades, things take a slightly spookier turn. Watch the Leschenault Lady return in ghostly fashion for special evening steam demonstrations, accompanied by some of our mysterious characters. The Ghost Train is a demonstration only, with no passengers aboard.

🎃 Explore the Museum after hours - Wander amongst Western Australia's railway history as the Museum takes on an entirely different atmosphere. Costumes are very welcome!

Your ticket includes:
- Entry to the Railway Museum from 4pm until 8:00pm
- One passenger steam train ride at your selected departure time
- The Halloween character and trick-or-treat trail
- Access to the evening Ghost Train demonstrations and Halloween activities

You're welcome to arrive from 4pm, explore the Museum before your train ride and stay until closing at 8:00pm.

Special events fares 18 years and over are $30, under 18s are $15. Children under 2 are free but must be carried on an adult's lap during the train ride. If a seat is occupied, then a ticket must be purchased. Bookings are essential via TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/DQQZZ

13/10/2026

Halloween comes to the Railway Museum! 👻🎃🕸

An afternoon steam train ride, an evening ghost train experience, spooky surprises and a halloween treasure hunt with special treats. Keep an eye out for some rather unusual railway staff who have taken up residence around the Museum. They may have a story to tell, a question to ask or a surprise waiting for you!

For this special event every ticket includes an afternoon train ride behind the Leschenault Lady, so numbers are limited. When booking, you'll be asked to select a time. This is the departure time for your steam train ride, NOT your Museum entry time. Please arrive at least 15 mins earlier than your train ride time to make sure you don’t miss it.

You're welcome to arrive any time from 4pm on Saturday 31 October, explore the Museum before your train ride and stay until closing at 8pm. Why not bring a picnic?

As daylight fades the ghost train will arrive. Watch Leschenault Lady return in ghostly fashion for special evening steam demonstrations, accompanied by some of our mysterious characters. The ghost train is a demonstration only with no passengers aboard.

Your ticket includes:
👻 Entry to the Railway Museum from 4pm until 8pm
👻 One passenger steam train ride at your selected departure time
👻 The Halloween treasure hunt and trick-or-treat trail
👻 Access to watch the evening ghost train demonstrations and halloween activities
👻 Usual Museum activities and attractions

Special event fares for 18 years and over are $30, and under 18s are $15. Children under 2 are free but must be carried on an adult's lap during the train ride. If a seat is occupied, then a ticket must be purchased. Tickets available via TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/DQQZZ

13/10/2026

The Trans-Australian dining car in our collection, Commonwealth Railways D 20, was built in 1917, but its underframe dates back to 1913. The frame was built at Westralia Ironworks in Rocky Bay and was originally used as a stores car on the construction train based at the western end of the Trans-Australian Railway.

Now we're on track! 🚂

In October 1917, work on the trans-Australian railway was finally completed linking Western Australia with the eastern states.

The line from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia stretched for 1,693 kilometres across some of Australia’s driest and most isolated terrain.

In 1969, this line was extended as a continuous standard gauge track, linking Sydney to Perth.

The train that now runs along that line is – you guessed it – the Indian-Pacific!

Learn more about this Defining Moment: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/trans-australian-railway

12/10/2026

Railfest 2026 - what a day!

A big thank you to everyone who came along and participated in our biggest event ever. It included the first time we have offered passenger train rides at Bassendean, which we were fortunate to have hauled by our visiting 1898-built steam locomotive Leschenault Lady.

The photos below show some things you may have already seen, but we apologise for the shortage of photos of the day as our 50+ volunteers were very busy! Please share your favourite photos of the day in the comments below.

11/10/2026

RAILFEST 2026 is on until 4pm today!

Get down to see the Leschenault Lady in steam and the huge amount of stalls, displays, and other attractions. General entry tickets are still available at the gate.

10/10/2026

Trains are the order of the day at RAILFEST 2026 tomorrow Sunday 11 October 10am to 4pm.

There will be a full-size steam engine in steam and opportunities to have a miniature train ride (enclosed footwear required). Also model railways, visiting diesel locomotives, GM 1's 75th birthday, a railwayana swap meet, a silent auction for the 'Raise the Roof' campaign, food and drink stalls, and a display by the Public Transport Authority (bring your questions!).

All this at the Railway Museum, 136 Railway Parade, Bassendean. Some online tickets for general entry are still available via TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/DPKPI. Please note that all online tickets for train rides behind Leschenault Lady are now sold out. You can also buy a ticket at the gate for general entry between 10am and 4pm.

Make sure you take advantage of the free Sunday public transport and come by train. The closest station is Ashfield, which is just a short walk to the Museum.

See you then!

08/10/2026

RAILFEST 2026 is this Sunday 10am to 4pm!

You can bring a picnic or visit our food suppliers. The WA Model Railway Club will be doing a sausage sizzle, Rail Heritage WA will have railway pies and sausage rolls along with cakes and teas, and we will have a coffee van until at least 1pm. For the many volunteers and exhibitors coming along the coffee van will open at 9am to get you ready for a big day!

Online tickets are still available, though train rides behind the Leschenault Lady are only now available for the 3pm session. There will also be miniature train rides all day provided by the Northern Districts Model Engineering Society. Pre-booked tickets are available through Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/DPKPI. Some walk-up tickets will be available on the day.

Parking is limited so please extend your rail experience and come by train (it's free travel on Sundays). The nearest station is Ashfield on the Midland Line. The Railway Museum is located at 136 Railway Parade, Bassendean.