Railway Museum (Western Australia) facts for kids
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P508 on display at Bassendean in April 2006
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| Established | 1974 |
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| Location | Railway Parade, Bassendean, Western Australia |
| Type | Railway museum |
The Railway Museum is an exciting place in Bassendean, Western Australia. It is also known as the Rail Transport Museum. This museum is managed by Rail Heritage WA. This group is the Western Australian part of the Australian Railway Historical Society. They work to preserve the history of railways.
When the museum first opened, it was sometimes called the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum. Online, people have used names like Bassendean Railway Museum. Today, it is mostly known as the Railway Museum.
Contents
What You Can See
The museum has an amazing collection of old trains. These include steam locomotives and other railway vehicles. It is the biggest collection of its kind in Western Australia.
The museum first started in 1969. It officially opened in November 1974. The Western Australian Minister for Transport, Ray O'Connor, opened it.
Types of Trains
The collection includes many different types of railway vehicles:
- Diesel Locomotives: These are trains that run on diesel fuel.
- Steam Locomotives: These are classic trains that use steam power. Many types that ran in the WAGR are here.
- Passenger Carriages: These are the cars where people used to ride.
- Other Rolling Stock: This includes various other railway vehicles.
The Museum's Archive
Inside the museum building, there is a special archive. This archive holds a huge collection of photographs. These pictures show much of Western Australian railway history. You can even find many of them online!
Fun Events
The museum often hosts special events throughout the year. These events are a great way to see the trains in action.
Past Events
Some popular events that have been held include:
- Steamfest: A festival celebrating steam trains.
- Railfest: This event often featured active displays. You could see both steam and diesel trains moving.
- Annual Open Days: These days allow everyone to visit and explore.
The West Australian Model Railway Club also has its home at the museum.
Other Railway Museums
There is another related museum in Western Australia. It is called the South-West Rail and Heritage Centre. You can find it in Boyanup.
