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 Bassendean  Exhibits  South-West Rail & Heritage  GM 1 Restoration Appeal  Restoration Midland

Help Rail Heritage WA bring GM1 to Western Australia

This is our target - install this iconic exhibit at the head of the 1917 Commonwealth Railways carriages which our volunteers have lovingly restored, in a new platform reminiscent of the drama that passengers faced at Kalgoorlie from 1917-1971 - "all change!" - a tumble of passengers and goods between the narrow gauge train on one side and standard gauge across the platform.

GM 1 Restoration Appeal Page can be found here.

Where will you find your rail heritage? - At our Museums

There is much to tell about Western Australia's railway history so we aim to make our museums, interesting places to visit!

Visitors come for many reasons -
  • Just browsing
  • Looking for specific information
  • School groups - for aspects of society, technology and enterprise
  • Kids' birthday parties
  • Group outings

Rail Heritage WA is proud of what has been achieved, but there is always more to do and new projects to begin. To see our museums, or to offer to donate items or your time, please read on.

The Railway Museum, Bassendean

The Railway Museum at Bassendean, Perth Western Australia is Western Australia's principal museum devoted to railway history. The collection is the only such one in Western Australia that aims to tell the story of all railways across the state - other collections focus on one aspect or a region.

The majority of the collection is from the former Government Railways, both WA and Commonwealth. However there are also items representative of the extensive timber lines and gold mines that operated in the state as well as the private lines such as the Midland Railway Company.

The collection spans the whole spectrum of railway history. From Katie which was placed in service in 1881 when the Fremantle to Guildford Railway was built through to more modern diesel locomotives. Therefore whether you are interested is the heavy freight V class steam locomotives or the tiny 20 inch gauge mine locomotive 'Freudie' there is something to interest you at the museum. Four different railway gauges are exhibited.

And we have extra attractions at our annual Open Days, usually in May and October.

Various passenger carriages and freight wagons that formed an integral part of the railway scene can also be appreciated. The 1947 'Australind' buffet car and the Dining Car can be reserved for functions - loved by children when hired for their own private birthday party.

Click here to find out full details of the Railway Museum.

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South West Rail & Heritage Centre

In partnership with volunteers in the South West, Rail Heritage WA is working to provide a museum of rail and local heritage.

Fortunately we have collected such a range of rail history that we can display a second collection to the growing population of the south west. This museum, located in the town of Boyanup, serves both to present our state's rail history to south west residents, and also to showcase rail in the local context with complementary displays.

This Centre is being rebuilt on the site of a former museum which unfortunately had to be closed for safety reasons. To visit, or to volunteer to help us, click here for more information.

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Midland Workshops

Midland was the home of the Railway Workshops for over 80 years. After their closure, the state government offered Rail Heritage WA a section of the workshops, with an expressed policy of locating a Railway Heritage Centre there. Unfortunately, this policy has been reversed and we had to vacate the premises, but whilst there, our volunteers did some wonderful restoration work. Read about this here.

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