What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

NSW Rail Museum

Name: NSW Rail Museum
Address: 10 Barbour Road, Thirlmere, NSW, 2572, AU
Telephone: +611300115599
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.7

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NSW Rail Museum

Explore Australia’s premier rail heritage experience at the NSW Rail Museum in South West Sydney.
(1102)

Perfect for families, history buffs, and rail enthusiasts, with heritage train rides along the historic Loop Line available year-round.

23/06/2026

👀 If you've visited the NSW Rail Museum recently, you may have caught a glimpse of a legend of steam!

🚂 Locomotive 3801 has been busy completing a series of trials ahead of its return to service. These have included load testing along the Loop Line and main line trials.

🤩 Keep an eye out over the coming weeks - you might be lucky enough to spot this legendary locomotive as trials continue!

🎥 Cooper Chapman

16/06/2026

🚸 Pedestrian level crossings are being installed along the Loop Line as part of the Loop Line Upgrade Project.

🚧 Work has commenced on the Pedestrian Crossing at Gordon Street, Thirlmere. Track has been cut to make way for the new track panel and associated works.

🏗️ Meanwhile, construction of the pedestrian crossings at Balmoral and Hill Top is well underway, with concrete pads and maze fencing due to be installed at Balmoral by the end of this week.

🛤️ These pedestrian crossings will provide the local community with a safe way to cross at key locations along the line. Stay tuned for more updates on these soon!

05/06/2026

🚂 Looking for something to do this long weekend? We've got you covered: our steam train rides are running Saturday, Sunday AND Monday!

🛤 Hop aboard and experience history as steam locomotive 3001 heads along the historic Loop Line with 40-minute heritage train rides from Thirlmere Station.

🎫 Grab your tickets and plan your visit at nswrailmuseum.com.au/tickets

📸 Thanks to Jason Eddy for this stunning shot of 3001 passing through Couridjah Station!

03/06/2026

⚡On this day in 1984, the first electric train reached Newcastle!

📜 Electrification of the line to Gosford was completed in January 1960. However, it took another 24 years before electrification made it Newcastle, and cost $112 million - that's $409,680,000 today!

🚋 The very first electric service, operated by the now-retired V sets, rolled into Newcastle Station at 2:45pm - horns blaring, crowds cheering, and history being made.

📸 THNSW life member Graham Ahern

01/06/2026

🎂 Our oldest steam locomotive at the museum – locomotive E18 – has turned 160 years old!

📜 Locomotive E18 started life as a member of the 17 class, build by Robert Stephenson & Company in England. These locomotives were needed for goods trains on the steep grades south of Picton, along what is now our Loop Line, as well as up the Blue Mountains beyond Valley Heights.

🚂 The locomotive operated for the NSW Railways until 1897, where it took on a new life hauling coal trains for the Corrimal Coal and Coke Company on the South Coast. It continued working there until late 1963 – almost a century after it was first introduced!

🛠 The locomotive was rescued a year later by volunteers of the former NSW Rail Transport Museum, and thanks to the support of the NSW Government at the time, the locomotive was repaired for static display.

29/05/2026

🚂 Missed out on joining us for the Festival of Steam? Don't fret - our steam train rides are back this weekend!

🤩 Join us for a 40-minute steam train ride from historic Thirlmere Station, along the original Great Southern Railway to Buxton and return. Plus, enjoy spending time exploring Australia's largest collection of heritage trains and rollingstock.

🎫 Get set for a great weekend adventure - book your ride now at nswrailmuseum.com.au/tickets

📸 Jason Eddy

27/05/2026

What a way to wrap up two huge weekends of steam in Thirlmere! 🚂🔥

Following last weekend’s Huff ’n’ Puff and steam train rides, the 2026 Thirlmere Festival of Steam has officially become the biggest on record, helping deliver record visitation to the NSW Rail Museum across the two weekends.

From heritage train rides and live entertainment to Festival After Dark and the unforgettable triple-header steam spectacular, it was fantastic to see thousands of people enjoying the magic of steam once again.

Thank you to our volunteers, staff, partners, Wollondilly Shire Council, Transport Heritage NSW and everyone who joined us.

Until next time! 🚂✨

20/05/2026

🏃 Think you can outrun a steam train? Find out this weekend in the Huff ‘n’ Puff Road Race & Family Fun Run!

🚂 On sunday 24 May, board at Thirlmere Station for a leisurely steam train ride to your choice of Couridjah Station for the family fun run, or continue to Buxton for the 6.7km road race.

🏅 All participants receive a race bib, timing chip, medallion, and certificate. Plus, finish your day with FREE entry to the NSW Rail Museum afterwards.

🎟️ Limited seats remain, so book your tickets before you miss out at www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au/

17/05/2026

🎡 And that’s a wrap! Thanks for joining us at our biggest and best Thirlmere Festival of Steam yet!

🏃‍♂️ The fun isn’t entirely over just yet - join us next weekend for the Huff ‘n’ Puff Road Race and Family Fun Run, and see if you can outrun a steam train! Tickets available now at www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au/

16/05/2026

🚂🚂🚂 The fun continues! Huge crowds this evening for our triple header steam train rides at the Thirlmere Festival of Steam, featuring locomotives 3001, 3265 and 3526!

‼️ Limited tickets remain for this evening’s train rides, and tomorrow. Avoid disappointment and book online at www.thirlmerefestivalofsteam.com.au

Address

10 Barbour Road
Thirlmere, NSW
2572

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300115599

Website

http://www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/

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