The 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, NSW Rail Museum and East Coast Heritage Rail (3801 Ltd) and railmotors from the Rail Motor Society.
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.[1][2] In 2017, Steamfest attracted 50,000 visitors.[3]
The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2022 event was cancelled due to flooding at Maitland.[4][5][6][7]
Locomotivesedit
Hunter Valley Steamfest has seen different locomotives from over six different preservation organisations within New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, including one from the United Kingdom.
This list contains the locomotives that have attended the Hunter Valley Steamfest:
During the Steamfest, trips to Broadmeadow, Branxton, Singleton, Paterson, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange have been operated by steam and/or preserved rail motors.[9][10] The Sunday Barrington Bullet used to travel to Dungog, then to Stroud Road loop and return. In 2015, a new trip to Port Waratah, using the balloon loop there, was introduced.[11] A trip to and round the colliery loading balloon loop at Camberwell had been added by 2023.
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.[12] In recent years passengers have able to travel on the stock movement from Picton to Maitland, albeit on the Friday before and Monday after the festival.[13][14]
The Great Train Raceedit
The Great Race 2016 - LeadersThe Great Race 2016 - Outsiders
One of the excursions involves a race between one or more steam locomotives and one or more de Havilland Tiger Moths. In 2010, a triple parallel of 3265, 3642 and 3526 was organised taking months of planning. The locomotives raced against three Tiger Moths[15] and winner of the race was the oldest locomotive in the race, 3265.[16] A Tiger Moth eventually won the race for the first time in 2012.[17] In 2016, the race was between four trains and four Tiger Moths.[18][19] In 2023, the quadruple parallel run was held again to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Steamfest.[20][21]
Related eventsedit
In 2004, Hunter Valley Steamfest received its own ground at the intersection of Church Street and the New England Highway adjacent to Maitland station. The ground is called Maitland Steamfest Rally Ground and is managed by Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association. Steam traction engines and portable steam appliances are stored, maintained and refurbished by volunteers on site. Traction engines are also run onsite and driven on local roads in the Maitland area. Events and displays provided by the association have included traction engines, portable steam appliances and equipment, road steam equipment, mini train rides (provided by the Lake Macquarie Live Steam group), vintage machinery, interpretive tours and static displays. Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association also provide event management and catering at Hunter Valley Steamfest and other events hosted at the Maitland Steamfest Rally Ground including Maitland Motor Heritage and Steam Fair and the Annual Postie Bike Rally.[22]
Maitland Park plays host for the "Show 'n Shine car expo" where hundreds of vintage, veteran and classic cars are on display. The car expo is held on the Sunday during Steamfest.[23][24]
As part of Steamfest, the Richmond Vale Railway Museum south of Kurri Kurri used to be (but no longer is) open to the public with tours provided on the museum's own operational steam locomotive and with other steam related machines on site.[25]
Media related to Hunter Valley Steamfest at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
hunter, valley, steamfest, major, events, south, wales, steam, locomotive, season, also, major, events, held, maitland, hunter, region, held, over, days, april, usually, attended, steam, locomotives, from, canberra, railway, museum, rail, museum, east, coast, . The 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 NSW Rail Museum and East Coast Heritage Rail 3801 Ltd and railmotors from the Rail Motor Society Hunter Valley Steamfest3237 at Maitland station in April 2009Begins13 April 2024Ends14 April 2024FrequencyAnnualLocation s Maitland New South WalesYears active35Inaugurated19 20 April 1986Most recent29 30 April 2023Attendance50 000 2017 Websitewww steamfest com au Contents 1 History 2 Locomotives 3 Excursions 4 The Great Train Race 5 Related events 6 References 7 External linksHistory edit nbsp SMR 10 at Maitland station in April 2005 nbsp 3265 at Maitland station in April 2010 nbsp 3016 at Maitland station in April 2017 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 1 2 In 2017 Steamfest attracted 50 000 visitors 3 The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic while the 2022 event was cancelled due to flooding at Maitland 4 5 6 7 Locomotives editHunter Valley Steamfest has seen different locomotives from over six different preservation organisations within New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory including one from the United Kingdom This list contains the locomotives that have attended the Hunter Valley Steamfest South Maitland Railway SMR 10 Steam Display item at South Maitland Rail Yard 1990 95 2006 07 and Steam trip in 2007 static display at the rally ground 2023 SMR 17 Steam Display item at South Maitland Rail Yard 1991 SMR 18 Steam Display item at South Maitland Rail Yard 1991 93 2007 and Steam trip in 1994 95 2007 static display with SMR 10 2023 Maitland rally ground SMR 25 Display in Maitland railway Yards in 1986 before being moved to Richmond Vale Railway SMR 27 Static Display 1987 Richmond Vale Railway Marjorie 1986 2015 SMR 24 1990 93 1995 97 SMR 25 1991 96 1998 99 SMR 30 2000 2003 2005 09 Ex New South Wales Government Railways 3001 NSW Rail Museum 1986 1988 3016 Canberra Railway Museum 2013 2016 NSW Rail Museum 2017 3112 Barry Tulloch 1988 89 1992 1994 96 2002 07 3237 Lachlan Valley Railway 2009 2015 3265 Powerhouse Museum 2010 14 2019 3526 NSW Rail Museum 2007 12 2019 2024 3642 NSW Rail Museum 1986 87 1990 92 2008 18 3801 3801 Limited 1987 1989 98 2000 2006 NSW Rail Museum 2007 2023 3830 Powerhouse Museum 1998 2009 5910 NSW Rail Museum 1986 88 5917 Private Owner 1986 2009 2014 2016 2023 6029 Canberra Railway Museum 2016 Private Owner 2018 NSW Rail Museum 2023 2024 Ex British Railways 4472 Flying Scotsman 1989 8 Ex Victorian Railways R766 Private Owner 2023Excursions editDuring the Steamfest trips to Broadmeadow Branxton Singleton Paterson Dungog and Newcastle Interchange have been operated by steam and or preserved rail motors 9 10 The Sunday Barrington Bullet used to travel to Dungog then to Stroud Road loop and return In 2015 a new trip to Port Waratah using the balloon loop there was introduced 11 A trip to and round the colliery loading balloon loop at Camberwell had been added by 2023 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 12 In recent years passengers have able to travel on the stock movement from Picton to Maitland albeit on the Friday before and Monday after the festival 13 14 The Great Train Race edit nbsp The Great Race 2016 Leaders nbsp The Great Race 2016 Outsiders One of the excursions involves a race between one or more steam locomotives and one or more de Havilland Tiger Moths In 2010 a triple parallel of 3265 3642 and 3526 was organised taking months of planning The locomotives raced against three Tiger Moths 15 and winner of the race was the oldest locomotive in the race 3265 16 A Tiger Moth eventually won the race for the first time in 2012 17 In 2016 the race was between four trains and four Tiger Moths 18 19 In 2023 the quadruple parallel run was held again to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Steamfest 20 21 Related events editIn 2004 Hunter Valley Steamfest received its own ground at the intersection of Church Street and the New England Highway adjacent to Maitland station The ground is called Maitland Steamfest Rally Ground and is managed by Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association Steam traction engines and portable steam appliances are stored maintained and refurbished by volunteers on site Traction engines are also run onsite and driven on local roads in the Maitland area Events and displays provided by the association have included traction engines portable steam appliances and equipment road steam equipment mini train rides provided by the Lake Macquarie Live Steam group vintage machinery interpretive tours and static displays Maitland Steam and Antique Machinery Association also provide event management and catering at Hunter Valley Steamfest and other events hosted at the Maitland Steamfest Rally Ground including Maitland Motor Heritage and Steam Fair and the Annual Postie Bike Rally 22 Maitland Park plays host for the Show n Shine car expo where hundreds of vintage veteran and classic cars are on display The car expo is held on the Sunday during Steamfest 23 24 As part of Steamfest the Richmond Vale Railway Museum south of Kurri Kurri used to be but no longer is open to the public with tours provided on the museum s own operational steam locomotive and with other steam related machines on site 25 References edit Maitland Steam Festival Continental Railway Journal issue 68 December 1986 page 228 Steamfest History Hunter Valley Steamfest Another fantastic Steamfest for Maitland Maitland Mercury 10 April 2017 Steamfest 2020 Cancelled Hunter Valley Steamiest Maitland Steamiest cancelled due to coronavirus crowd ban Maitland Mercury 16 March 2020 Steamfest cancelled for 2021 Newcastle Weekly 15 August 2021 Steamfest 2022 Cancelled Hunter Valley Steamfest Driver Robert 2010 Hunter Valley Steamfest The First 25 Years Hunter Valley Steamfest ISBN 978 0 9806771 1 9 Steam Timetable Hunter Valley Steamfest 27 April 2015 2014 Diesel Timetable Hunter Valley Steamfest 13 April 2014 Port Waratah Coal Run Steamfest Heritage Week Railway Digest July 1986 page 217 Hunter Valley Limited April 2013 Heritage Express http Hunter Valley Limited April 2014 Heritage Express versus planes in a Steamfest firstMaitland Mercury 23 February 2010 Steamfest s Great Race Comes to a Surprise End NBN Television 18 April 2010 Thousands flock to Steamfest Newcastle Herald 29 April 2012 Full steam ahead for anniversary Newcastle Herald 4 January 2016 Timetable 2016 Steamfest All aboard the ARTC Great Train Race at Hunter Valley Steamfest ARTC 19 April 2023 Retrieved 13 October 2023 Great train race highlight of Hunter Valley Steamfest Newcastle Herald 30 April 2023 Retrieved 13 October 2023 Steamfest 2010 Celebrating 25 years Quest Serviced Apartments 2010 Archived from the original on 7 September 2012 Retrieved 5 March 2010 All Things Auto Hunter Valley Steamfest website Archived from the original on 18 April 2010 Retrieved 5 March 2010 Show n Shine Hunter Valley Steamfest website Archived from the original on 17 March 2012 Retrieved 7 April 2012 Hunter Valley Steamfest 2012 Richmond Vale Railway MuseumExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Hunter Valley Steamfest at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hunter Valley Steamfest amp oldid 1211172531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
