Rail Heritage WA

31/08/2026

We are delighted to welcome Tracks & Timber to the Railway Museum at Bassendean. This is a special offering by a great new business and promises to be a wonderful partnership. The limited opportunities will fill fast, so don't miss out on something very special.

Welcome to Tracks & Timber.

After a great deal of planning, polishing, tasting and testing, we’re delighted to finally introduce…

The Stationmaster’s Afternoon Tea.

Step aboard our beautiful 1917 dining carriage at the Railway Museum in Bassendean and settle in for an afternoon tea experience with a difference.

Expect tiered stands, finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, beautiful sweets, loose-leaf teas and coffee, all served progressively at your table in the surrounds of a genuine heritage railway carriage.

And once afternoon tea is finished, your ticket includes entry to the Railway Museum, so you can spend the rest of your visit exploring one of Western Australia’s most fascinating railway collections.

🎟 $85 per person
🚂 Served aboard our 1917 dining carriage
🍰 A full Stationmaster’s Afternoon Tea
🏛 Railway Museum admission included
📍 Bassendean, Western Australia

Our website is now live and bookings are officially open.

We’ve been working on this for a long time, and we’re incredibly excited to finally welcome you aboard.

👉 Book now: www.tracksandtimber.com.au

We’ll see you in the dining car.

30/08/2026

Today marks 40 years since the Transperth brand was launched.

On 31 August 1986, the Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust (MTT), which managed suburban rail, bus and ferry services in Perth, was rebranded "Transperth". At the time, suburban rail services were operated under contract to Transperth by Westrail.

An implementation budget of $100,000 was allocated over five years to cover the design and production of a corporate identity manual, the application of the Transperth logo onto important signs that could not wait for change under the normal maintenance programme, the supply and installation of Transperth logos on the side of stainless steel railcars, and any fees or ancillary costs.

ADL 809 and ADC 859 were the first railcars to enter traffic with the new name and 'T' logo and received a one-off black, red and white livery. All other ADL railcars initially retained their original orange cab fronts and only received the red band and 'T' logo along the carside. ADK railcars did not initially receive a Transperth livery, though all stainless steel railcars received red and white cab fronts from 1988 onwards. The older ADG/ADH/ADX railcars retained their Westrail orange liveries up until they were retired.

In June 2003, a new green 'T' logo was adopted to coincide with the formation of the Public Transport Authority and the New MetroRail project. In October 2024, somewhat controversially, the Transport Minister announced that Transperth logos would be progressively phased out and replaced by the new Metronet 'M' logo on all station signage.

Wouldn't it be great to see a railcar sporting the original Transperth 'T' logo again?

29/08/2026

Just released, an exciting new book from John Dowson. Billed as “The first major work of the bicentenary”, John’s new book “Early Albany” is to the author’s usual wonderful standard. Whilst not primarily a railway book, it has amazing images from the very earliest days of European settlement in WA, and before, so we’re very pleased to have stock already. It is available at the Railway Museum shop (you can come to the shop without paying to enter the museum) and will shortly be available on line through our website for $75.

28/08/2026

A good opportunity to experience the great work being done by the Machinery Preservation Club of WA.

Save the date 📅 13th September!

Railway Museum at Bassendean
Rail Heritage WA
Nineteen O' Four Blacksmith Artisans"
Hand Tool Preservation Society of West Australia
CWA Midland Branch
Midland and Districts Historical Society Inc.
Steve Catania MLA
Cr Rashelle Predovnik - City of Swan
Cr Cate McCullough-City of Swan
Michelle Roberts

24/08/2026

We look forward to making Leschenault Lady even better than she already is.

Leschenault Lady left today for a short holiday to enable her to receive some TLC including heavy maintenance and addressing of minor issues after 5 years in service. We care about this 128 year old loco too much not to give her the best treatment. This means a trip to Rail Heritage WA in Bassendean where the work will be undertaken and she will be back in Boyanup again for the next steam season.
The fact that over 400 people enjoyed a ride behind Leschenault Lady yesterday just shows how much she is loved in the south-west. Thank you all for your support.
In November our vintage diesel will again be running train trips - more information to come.
Thanks to our volunteers, Capel Cranes and Tiltandtow for taking such care today with the lift and move.

22/08/2026

18/08/2026

Our latest Rail Heritage WA collector pin has arrived! This time we are featuring AB 1535, a locomotive that is part of the Rail Heritage WA collection, and we’re doing something a little different for its release.

The new pin will go on sale for the first time this weekend at the South-West Rail and Heritage Centre at Boyanup, Rail Heritage WA’s home in the South West. Pins are $15 each, and visitors to Boyanup will have the first opportunity to pick one up!

If you haven’t been to the South-West Rail and Heritage Centre before, this weekend is a particularly good time to discover it. The Leschenault Lady will be in steam, celebrating five years since her return to steam, with steam train rides operating during the day. Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/DOGHP

But there’s much more to the Centre than trains. The Boyanup precinct brings together a range of local heritage groups and activities, including the blacksmiths, historic machinery, Men’s Shed and model railway, along with railway exhibits, and of course we can’t forget the Picnic Van.

For our followers who haven’t ventured down before, Boyanup is very achievable as a day trip from Perth, and there’s plenty happening in the South West this weekend to make a day of it. The Boyanup Farmers Market is on Sunday, while the Balingup Medieval Carnivale is also happening this weekend, so there are plenty of reasons to head south and include a visit to the Centre along the way.

So whether you’re chasing the newest pin, coming for a steam train ride, interested in machinery and traditional trades, or simply curious to see what happens at Boyanup, we’d love to see you there!

17/08/2026

Railway housing has generally not been considered anything special. For many years some railway construction and track maintenance workers, including new migrants after World War 2, were housed in tents. Old carriages were also used as 'mobile homes' for track gangs, but were rarely used as stationary accommodation. An exception was in Jennacubbine in the 1950s where the track gang was based and lived in a group of houses with wooden cabins and a grounded AT Class suburban carriage.

15/08/2026

Why not come to the South-West Rail and Heritage Centre in Boyanup next Sunday 23 August and enjoy the open day? The Leschenault Lady will be in steam, plus lots of other activities in the area too, from the Boyanup Farmers Market to the Balingup Medieval Carnivale. Make a weekend of it. Don't miss out!

15/08/2026

Today 15 August, is the anniversary of VJ (or VP) Day marking victory in the Pacific and the end of World War II.

Tomorrow Sunday 16 August, we would like to share stories about items in our collection that played a role in wartime activities in WA. There will be two guided tours at 1:30pm and 3pm which will be available for visitors to the Railway Museum at Bassendean at no extra cost. WA's war effort was substantial, at home as well as overseas. Hear about the Ambulance Train, transporting internees, feeding the troops, a train load of bombs that caught fire and so much more. Part of the tour will include access to the Vice-Regal carriage.

Admission fees to the Museum are $13 adults, $11 concession and $5 children 4 and over. Don't miss this rare opportunity!