Maitland Steamfest 2011: Take The Family To See A Train Race a Plane

by Susan Whelan on April 6, 2011

Maitland Steamfest offers a great family day out, and a historical look at the role of steam in the development of the Hunter area. There’s also a race between a train and plane, and a boutique beer train, so if you’re looking for something different to do with the family this weekend be assured that steam engine enthusiasts aren’t the only people enjoying Maitland’s annual celebration of all things railway.

When the last Newcastle coal-operated steam haulage freight service was closed down in 1983, local railway enthusiasts organised the first Hunter Valley Steamfest in 1986 and 26 years later the festival has grown into a popular annual event attracting crowds from well beyond the local area.

Focused around the Maitland Railway Station precinct, the festival features both moving and static engine displays, model train exhibitions, a Powerhouse museum display, activities for the kids and a carnival-like atmosphere with a variety of food and market stalls, street performers and music by live local jazz combos and brass bands.

Most of the street displays and activities are free or available at a nominal cost, making Steamfest an affordable day out for the family. A variety of specialty excursion trains arrive and depart from Maitland station over the weekend, offering opportunities for photographing and viewing the engines from the station platform at no cost. In 2011 the participating steam engines will be 3642, 3265 & 3526.

A highlight of the weekend is the Sunday morning Great Train Race between trains pulled by engines 3265 and 3526 and a Tigermoth aeroplane. Tickets can be purchased to travel on the participating trains or the race can be viewed from vantage points along the route from Newcastle to Maitland.

Make sure your kids have the full steam train experience and jump on board any of several rail excursions available over the weekend, including steam engine trips from Maitland to Newcastle, Branxton and Paterson. There are also a variety of specialty rail experiences including:

• Children’s Train - includes a picnic lunch and tour of Newcastle’s Fort Scratchley tunnels
• Kings Engineering Boutique Beer Lunch Train
• Barrington Bullet
• Richmond Vale Railway Dinner Train
• Great Train Race
• CityRail Parallel Photographers Run – book tickets on a CityRail train that runs parallel to steam engine excursions for fantastic photo opportunities and an up-close vantage point of a working Engine.

Full details of the general and specialty excursions, including timetable details, pricing and links for ticket sales, can be found here.

We have attended Steamfest as a family for many years and the true appeal of the event is that there is a range of activities and displays suited to a variety of tastes beyond a specific interest in trains and steam engines.

For further details, visit the Hunter Valley Steamfest website.